Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a friend who asked me to build an axe for his 10 year old for Christmas. Since he is paying for the materials, I guess this is officially my first comission. Of course he asked me to keep the price as low as possible. The top is one of the 2 for $25 specials from R C Tonewoods. The back, sides and neck are Maogonay from Menard's. Nice little figure to it. Total price of materials on this O size 24.75 scale beauty is $161.
The boy is a hockey nut and the Blackhawks are the local pro team so I thought he might like the crossed sticks (Hickory) and puck in the Bloodwood background.
This is also my first try at multi line purflings and a bound headstock.

That is very nice! Good job. Someone will be really happy.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

That is a cool guitar. Any hockey loving 10 year old would be loving it.

With all the detail and attention that you put into this, your friend got a real deal. I hope that it was worthwhile for you, too.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Steven I think that you knocked this one out of the park or should I say right into the net/goal. Your guitar looks fantastic in all respects!!!! The purfling work is excellent too as is everything else. You should be very proud my friend!

Nice job

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

That is too cool !!

Love the hockey sticks.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Really lovely work, Steve. I love the rosette, that is a total killer! I bet it sounds a lot better that your typical $161 guitar.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Really COOL!

You've been building quite a long time, right??? Sure looks like it.

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Steve Walden
Aspiring Builder,
Bartlesville, OK

That will be one pround boy.....or he should be for that mater! Nice work!
What kind of finish did you use?

Very nice work Steven!

I'm sure the little boy is going to love that guitar!

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Very, very nice! I'd like to find that one under MY tree!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Very clean ! Nice job.
Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

MAN! That's nice!
Lucky kid.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

What they all said. I love it!

Very Nicely Done Steven
What number is this one?

That is awesome. Great rosette!

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

He shoots! He Scores!! Beautiful work Steve. Love those hockey sticks,eh.

Vince

Awesome guitar Steve! If it sounds remotely close as good as your last one then it must sound as good as it looks. Love the rosette!

I think the biggest accomplishment though is getting it finished so far before Christmas! If it were me, I'd be stringing it up Dec 24th about midnight

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John Ressler

Gentlemen,

Your all so kind. The rosette was rather enjoyable to make. Thanks to Ken Franklin and Al Carruth for sharing their techniques. This is number six and was started 11 months after I started my first. Numbers 3 and 5 are still in finishing. I learned to set things aside when they frustrate me. That is why this is finished with satin poly over Stew-Mac clear pore filler and Micro-Meshed to 3600. A quick and easy finish to ensure I wouldn't be hanging out with John at midnight Christmas Eve.
Now who's coming over to play it so we can find out how it sounds?

I think that is one of the coolest rosettes I have seen. We don’t get near enough quality hockey in Florida. This really made my day.

Oh and the guitar looks great too. Nice job.

John

I really like the finish.....What do you mean by "poly"? What kind of poly?

Minwax Wipe On Polyurethane. Six coats rubbed, sand with 3M Gold 400 grit after coat 3 and 6. Micro-Mesh 1500, 1800, 2400, 3200, 3600. Micro-Mesh is the bomb. I'll be using it on my finishes from now on.
Here's a pic with it's big brother to give folks a feel for the size.

Oh Oh Oh Oh Pick me pick me to play it first!!!! Please Please Please.......

Very nice Steve. I hope to stop by on Tuesday to give this thing the once over.



OK Guys, Steve started building guitars about 1 year ago and had basically 6 completed. The first I think was a kit. The rest are scratch builds. SIX in the first YEAR! Holy Cow...as Harry Cary would say. Each one is much better than the previous one...and the previous one was pretty darn good to start.

Looks as good as I thought it would! See Ya!

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Joe