Official Luthiers Forum!

I started it at the end of July so I've cooked through it pretty fast.

This is a gift for my father in law. It's his 60th birthday. It was sort of a colaborative effort by me, my wife, her brothers and sister and our kids (grandkids). Each one came to the shop and did something on the guitar. The kids helped glue in the liners, shaped some braces with my ibex plane. My sister in law did the rosette. One of my brother in laws made the bridge etc... It was a lot of fun.

This is based off a 1927 Gibson Nic Lucus Special, thanks to Tim McKnight for the body tracing. Scale is 25.6 with 14 frets to the body.
A first for me is the sound port. I really like the suttle difference (to me anyway) the sound port brings. My F.I.L really likes it alot.

Here are the specs:
Cuban Mahogany B&S, Hand picked by the ZootMan, JJ Donohue, Anthony Zlathic, And Hesh Breakstone. Thanks guys, it is a great set of wood.
Adi Top and braces compliments of Hesh (thanks buddy! Great top)
Tazzie Blackwood fretboard, headstock veneer, bindings, tail wedge and bridge.
Cuban Mahogany rosette with b/m/b purfling lines (same for top and back purflings).
One piece Hondo Mahogany neck with Allied truss rod and CF reinforcing bars.

There is very little 'finish' on the guitar right now as I was running out of time. Just 3 seal coats of shellac, not even the pores are filled. I will finish it at some other time, when Dad is ready to give it back.

Here are some pics:

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Rod,
What a cool little guitar, and awesome gift! Man, I wish I had you as a Son-in-law. Great looking all the way around, and finished in one month is Very impressive. How does it sound? I may hit you up for a tracing of the body one of these days as I love the shape. Good luck getting that back for finishing, it looks good as is!

_________________
Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Way to go Rod

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Looks great! What a nice gift, really cool that your family all had a hand in it. I really like the body shape too.

That's a real sweet looking guitar Rod.
How does that design compare to the L-OO if you know?

Ah you're a good boy Rod. Must have brought a tear to his eye when he found out the collaboration of people involved. It looks really great! A very cool body shape and the Tazzie Blackwood looks awesome.

Way To Go!
Danny

Looking good, Rod. Nice to see the new proud owner also...a great gift indeed!

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

love it bro. looks awesome. good taste in wood and color choices in my opinion.

_________________
sweat the small stuff.

I was a bit worried about it too, Chris. But I came to the conclusion this way. He doesn't gig, he doesn't play much more than a couple of hours a week (at best) and this fret board felt about the same hardness as the EIR fretboards I have on hand. Now this certainly is not the choice I'd have made had this guitar been for a working musician, but I think it will hold up just as well as EIR fretboards. We'll have to see.



Thank you JJ. And thank you for helping pick out this great set of Cuban. It's really a great set of wood. I thought of you guys often when working it



Thanks Danny. There were tears all around. It was a wonderfull afternoon to celebrate.



Thanks Chris. I think this design is somewhat more "round" in the lower bout versus the 'newer' L-00's. I'll have to take a look at my L-00 plans to see any other differences.

Thanks, Tracy, Jim, Edward and Heath

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Beautiful guitar Rod! I love the black and white shots, and your father in law is looking very pleased indeed!

Great job all around,
Joe

Thank you, Joe I did get your PM, send my your address and I'll mail you a tracing of the body shape. You too Tracy.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Rod, that is a beautiful guitar. I love it!

_________________
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

Very handsome instrument! Fast perhaps, but chock full of nice details, like the soundport. The old man seems to be holding up well, too. Kudos to you for the gift to him.

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

Love the NLS Rod, and your father-in-law looks a little satisfied!

I'm just finishing up a NLS now, L00 size, nice fat guitar.

_________________
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008907949110

Beautiful job and end product, Rod. I really like that the whole family had input in the project. A very special gift.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Rod, now that is just my sort of guitar, understated and beautifully put together. Your FIL must be one very happy man, he certainly looks it. Like cigars, B&S just don't get any better than Cuban!

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Now that's a jewel in your crown Rod! Very touching pictures. Was it a surprise?
Terry

_________________
It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I have always loved that body shape!! Very nicely done!

Glenn

Very nice Rod.

Mike

That REALLY makes me want to build a steel string!!!

_________________
http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

That's a beautiful guitar bro! Top drawer!

_________________
I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Rod, Beautiful guitar. Great story.......and beautiful family. Story sums up what makes everything special!

_________________
Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Thanks again folks, for all your kind words



Yes Terence, it was a total surprise. He was totally blown away.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

That's a sweet guitar Rod. How wide and deep is it? I've been thinking about doing an NL. Any chance I could get one of those tracings?

_________________
Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

I love the shape! Very nicely done. What are you using for a case?

_________________
Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com