Some of you guys that have been around for a while might remember that I posted some pictures of my acoustic guitar build. it may have been as long as 5 years ago. After dealing with all the things that life brings I'm finally finished with it. It's scratch built and has taken me a total of almost 8 years off and on to build. I know there are a few people here that would appreciate it. It seems like a lot of gun guys are guitar guys too.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

A lot of work and know-how goes into one of those puppies. I have a storage unit with blanks, necks, bodies, luthier tools and supplies. I kept Dan Earlywine and Stew-Mac busy.

It looks good.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I know the folks at StewMac very well.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

Congratulations, it looks pretty.

Do we get serenaded with a YouTube clip later?

Thank you. I wish I could demo it but I need to learn to play first. REALLY.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

That looks very nice, alde. Gotta ask ... how does it sound and play? If it does those things as well as it looks, you did good!

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So long ... Ken

Thanks, it sounds pretty darn nice. It has a real bright sound. I have a bit of a buzz if I play up the neck on the low E but that will be easy to fix when I redo the setup in a couple of week's. It needs some time to get use to being under string tension and settle in. It has already gotten better over the last 4th hours due to the top rising a bit. All normal and built into it.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

As you know, it'll change as it is played and as time passes. I would say that what you've created is definitely something to be proud of!! Instruments need to be played, and sadly I've got a couple that have not been played much in the last few years. Gettin' old sure doesn't make it easy for old hands and fingers to be very dexterious! Of course, not playing accelerates that problem too! Wear that thing out!!

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So long ... Ken

Very nice work!

Not a guitar man, but I do appreciate fine craftsmanship. That is truly beautiful! Well done!

That makes you an official luthier. Congratulations on finishing a long term project. Now make a recording so we can hear the final product.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Always admired those who shape and fit wood.
Our Underground yard was next to a shop that made cabinetry and canoes.
I hung out just for the smell.

I have a "scratch" built neck and body hanging in the closet, been there for xxx years. The finish threw me, I scraped it off and hung it up. I don't have spray equipment to apply a proper finish.

What kind of wood, trim, tuning machines etc., does it have.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

In the 70's I met a girl that paid her way through college by buying brand new Martin guitars, play them an hour every day to season them then sell them to pro musicians. She usually had two going at the same time.

This was a cottage industry at the time. Then it was figured out that, line up a row of guitars with a stereo speaker in front of each one and play classical music 24/7 and a reasonable volume. They were seasoned in 4 to 6 weeks.

Being out of a job, she married and had 5 sweet kids that were sang to sleep, accompanied by her last Martin.

Ivan

Well you're whach we call down yonder a "neat loothyer" as it were!

And for your next project, you need to make a 12-string guitar.

I saw this photo of a favorite guitarist (Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane) jokingly practicing piano at gunpoint with his mother, and thought of your statement.



BTW: he runs a guitar camp if you want to learn, though probably not at gunpoint.
About Jorma Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch

The only guy I get to play (harmonica) with anymore has been to his camp several times and speaks very highly of the camp & Mr. Kaukonen.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

Is that a piece of antler you have covering the truss-rod opening on the headpiece ? (If it has a rod ?)

Guitarist; post your comments on this theory.
Having noted the "seasoning" of an acoustic by more and more playing; I recall being told one time to place a radio playing music, by your guitar when at rest, and it will take on a mellow seasoning more quickly.
You think B S, double B S, or some truth to the practice ?

By the way, alde, if you can build a "self-player", I'm in the market.

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wanna do right-- not right now

Thanks all. I should have listed the woods in the original post. The back and sides are Indian Rosewood, the top is Italian Spruce (Alpine), the binding and truss rod cover are Koa and the tuners are Gotoh.

After playing it for a couple of hours it's already getting better but I do need to work on the setup some more. I'm doing it all from a book and Internet info.

It was my first and may be my last. I was thinking of building an OM but it's just too much for what I have going on in my life now. Maybe in a year or so though.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

I was in the performing, sales, repairing, restoring and guitar building business most of my life. I knew most of the major guitar/bass builders and manufacturers in the world and have been to many of their factories and I have never seen nor had any of them mention seasoning a finished instrument. When it has been buffed, strung and set up it is out the door.

In fact the only wood that appreciably improves over time is spruce.

The 'engine' that drives a stringed instrument is the top. Classicals use cedar as it has a quick attack and a fast decay as the notes aren't meant to sustain and crash into one another. Like a dampened piano,'note on-note off'.

Spruce has less attack but more sustain.

Neck, back, sides, bracing and kerfing woods are selected for their resonant, strength and durability properties while the type of spruce selected age differently.

I have handled many vintage guitars, some that were put away and ignored for decades and those that had seen many a fret job and both sounded fine.

As far as gun knowledge, I am a remedial student here but guitars and their associated gear have been my area of expertise. Feel free to ask me anything.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Rusty, I appreciate that very much. I do have a question. I tried to copy the profile of the neck on my Seagull S-6 Folk which is comfortable for me. Playing the just finished guitar feels completely different and uncomfortable. I have a feeling it's just setup. Once I got the bridge glued I was in a hurry to get some sound out of it and rushed it. Will a proper setup improve the feel and playability of the guitar? I am also getting a little fret buzz high up the neck on the low E string.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

Setups work wonders but they are not curealls. There are several possible factors at play when a new guitar plays poorly or feels odd.

Diagnostics over the web is tricky so I think I will give you my number.

PM coming.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

Wow! Looks really pretty. Although I play a little guitar and do a little more woodworking on a scroll saw, I would never have thought about attempting to build one. Nicely done!

What other woodworking do you do?

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2 Blessed 2B Stressed

Thanks. I have just started building wooden ship models. Other than that none really.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

When I started playing guitar I was told all I needed to know was how to strum a few chords, so that was all I learnt. I didn't think I was much of a guitar player either until I read Graeme Nash's Auto biography "Hard Times" where he admits he can only strum guitar too.

Now if someone who was leader of The Hollies, wrote much of their 60's output, then went on to form Crosby, Stills and Nash (and Young) can be that successful just strumming then why can't you or I?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
True enough. Elvis knew 3 1/2 chords.

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I too like to tinker on guitars, doing setups and repairs. I did build an electric guitar from scratch using a Fender Strat as a template but with two Gibson Humbuckers. The solid maple body has a brilliant tone. However, I did buy the neck. Call it cheating if you will.

Okay I know Elvis knew how to play E, B7 and A but what was the other half chord????

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Music/Sports/Beer fan

I did a bit of setup on the guitar today and what a difference. It sounds awesome if I must say so myself. Now to learn to play.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

Come on Rusty, you know better than that! :-) All you need to know is how to turn the volume control wide open! :-)

Just kidding!

Nice looking guitar. I consider myself a pretty good woodworker but don't think I could tackle that.

I have an old Gibson acoustic guitar from the late 40's or early 50's. I got it from a guy who needed some cash and I paid him $25 bucks back in the late 60's. Worth somewhere around $1500 today. Pretty good investment if I could find a collector.

You have finally completed that project.

It looks fantastic.

GB's

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Doesn't hasta call me Johnson

Hey I've been looking for you since '59. Give ya $30 for that old beater Gibson. Should take care of the interest right?

It's about time ehh?

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AL
Pax Per Potens

I had a three quarter size Gibson and two Gibson Lap Steels. Wish I still had the three quarter size to mess with. Never took lessons, could read music but usually played by ear and just for my own enjoyment. Same with a Hammond organ.

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

That would make a great fingerstyle guitar. You can get a pretty decent guitar these days for not too much money if you want to play around. It is a fun pastime.

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AL
Pax Per Potens

A few years ago I found some guitar parts in someone's garbage, including a mini-squire, a guitar notorious for the difficulty of achieving intonation. There was also a Strat squire that someone busted up on stage (my guess) but the neck was perfect. I laid the 24-fret Strat neck over the mini-squire, discovering that the 12th fret fell in exactly in the same place on both necks regarding its distance from the bridge. That meant no intonation issues.

I mounted the Squire-strat neck on the mini-squire body, also using a neck wedge I bought from Sew-Mac. This el-cheapo guitar has the best action of any of my guitars, sounds really good and is a pleasure to hold and play. I've used this guitar in several jam sessions and on one unpaid gig. No issues.