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I just completed a Curly Redwood Eir cut-away.I got the woods from Brad Goodman and they were beautiful high quality.I`m not sure I did them justice. I did my best.There were a lot of building firsts for me on this build, which is only my third.Maybe I took on more than I should have.In some areas ,such as the finish I know I did.I think it would be interesting to hear about building firsts from some more folks.Especially how some of our more experienced builders handled some of ther firsts.
So here goes.First cut-away.This went pretty well,until I tried to install Black Acacia bindings.They bent fine ,but seemed to become real pretty and one broke in half at the inside bend of the cut-away.I used some fairly large bar clamps and managed to get it back together.I can`t even find where it broke now,so I guess I lucked out.
Another first for me was to try and create an identity.So I tried my own headstock and bridge design. I also changed the shape of the heel on the neck. Another first was a spray finish, which was Cat Urethane.Here I feel I failed badly.I had it wooped up to a real high gloss by hand,but I was the victim of witness lines,so I buffed it back down to a semi-gloss.It seems it`s pretty hard to get the propper finish without the proper equipment as Rick Turner had stated in a previous post.The voice of experience is valuable.So all in all I`m moderately pleased and feel I`m getting closer to making a decent guitar,but I`m not there yet. This is a first for posting pics,I hope they come out.
James W B
Thanks to Hesh for a Beautiful Brazillian Rosette.You DA Man

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Skin bro she looks GREAT!!!!

And that is a lot of firsts too and I think you did great on all of them. From here the finish looks great too and maybe when a little time passes and you forget what you went through it will look better to you too.

Great looking top as well.

Nice job!

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Looks good , and very ambitious too! I have already made up my mind to try to do one new thing on each build , so it doesnt get too overwhelming ... looks good from here though ! Jody

Sure looks great to me. I don't witness any lines! Congratulations on another good finished guitar. Nice job.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I really like your finish, James. It reminds me of the finish you'd find on a Lowden or Avalon. I hear you regarding trying to finish without the right equipment though!

Thanks James.that finish is really easy.You simply mess up on the intented high gloss finish,and rub it back to a satin finish.Actually Robbie O is the guy who said to rub a high gloss back down to a satin instead of just going for a satin.It seems to give the wood more depth,and brings out the grain a little more.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I think that your bridge and your headstock came out wonderfully. I was amazed by the bridge. Great job.

I think it is a great guitar, especially for all of the firsts that you did on it.

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-Rob Eckert
Ann Arbor, Michigan

Thanks Guys.Todd you were one of the very first people to respond to my very first post a long time ago.I really appreciate the comments.As far as the Redwood goes,having been raised in California,and seeing these gigantic and beautiful trees up close,I only hope I did them justice. A Redwood top has a big and beautiful sound .
James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Very nice guitar James. You did great on the cutaway!
Gorgeous curley redwood too, a topwood I
want to try soon!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Nice job James! I also like the headstock and bridge designs. I too am still experiencing many firsts on building guitars, and dealing with my impatience and temper doesn't help. Binding has got to be my biggest weakness. How does it sound? ENJOY ! Clinton

VERY nice looking guitar!

I have had my problems bending the purfling for the inside cutaways also, and had even thought about posing a question to some of the others on how they accomplish this feat. Sometimes they go fine, other times they kick my rear end getting them in there without something rolling over inthe process.

Learning how to fix your problems is one of the key things to building. Mistakes are going to happen and breaks will occur. Fixing them is the whole success story.

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Reguards,

Ken H