Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi All!

I've been lurking about here for a couple of years now reading, absorbing and realizing just how much I don't know about this thing called lutherie. A year and a half ago I had the opportunity to take my learning to a new height and became a student of Tony Karol's of Karol Guitars in Mississauga, Ontario. Just this past week I finished my first build under Tony's insightful mentoring. What an amazing experience this has been for me. And what a wealth of knowledge Tony unselfishly shares with his students. My sessions in Tony's shop were the highlight of my week for the past year and a half and I have to admit now that it has come to an end I fear I run the risk of some serious withdrawl and postpartum depression. Tony - thanks so much for the knowledge you imparted, your sense of humour and the promise of future builds your teaching has provided. The course was a 50th birthday present from my wonderful wife and was the realization of a journey I attempted to start as a teenager 35 years ago (a failed attempt at building a guitar in high school brought to a screeching halt by a beagle who thought the neck looked like a bone too large to pass up on! ).

So, while it isn't my first solo build, it is my first build and I am thrilled with her!
A few spec before the pics:

Shape: Tony's Signature model (a modified OM) with a Florentine cutaway, soundport and Laskin Armrest
Back and Sides: Madagascar Rosewood (from Uncle Bob - thanks - it's so sweet!)
Top: Lutz (from Tony's stock which I believe came from Shane Neifer of High Mountain Tonewood Company - a spectacular sounding top - and looks great under a finish!)
Neck: Mahogany laminated with Toasted Curly Maple centre strip and black veneer
Fretboard: Madagascar Rosewood with Ebony/Maple binding
Headplate and Backstrap: Brazilian Rosewood
Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood
Binding: Ebony with b/g/b purfling
Rosette: Brazilian Rosewood with paua abalone shell and b/g/b purfling combinations
510 Gohto tuners
Headstock inlay: my modification of an existing celtic dragon design crafted by Andy Depaule's artisans

She sounds great with a loud rich voice. The bottom end is deep and full and she has great sustain. I cannot get over how wonderful the harmonics ring.
The one area where I didn't do such a good job was with the 12th fret marker. This one I did completely on my own and I was happy with the shell work (considering it was my first try at inlay) but I was as tight on the cavity routing as I would have liked. As Tony pointed out to me, it wouldn't have been an issue had I chosen to go with an ebony fretboard. But none-the less, the challenge was a great learning experience - how can one learn if they never make mistakes.

Enough rambling ... some show and tell:

A few more pics to finish it off.

Cheers!
Rick

Hi Rick,

Beautiful Guitars.

Folks I have seen this guitar close up and it's a beauty, and sounds great too.
Needless to say it was really cool hearing your guitar play it's first notes...

Great Job Rick !

Luc

So nice Rick! Way to go, you should be proud!

And way to go Tony. You Rock, Teach!

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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

Nice one Rick, very nice guitar, the withdrawals must be bad though....

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Congratulations Rick to that wonderful Instrument and what a wonderful gift from you wife !!!.

Lars

Very nice guitar Rick. Did you use Evo fret wire on that one?

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Luc - thanks and stay in touch, it was a treat working alongside you at Tony's - you make some wonderful guitars!
Rod, Colin, Lars and Steve - thanks for the comments. Oh and Rod - thanks for sharing your wife's pics of the Olympics on the Off Topic Discussion forum - what a blast that must have been!

Steve - regarding the fret wire I will check with Tony and let you know (Tony will probably chime in here at some point and may answer the question for you directly so you might want to check back in on the thread again later)

Cheers!
Rick

Hi al .. the fretwire is not EVO .. its Dunlop 6130 (replacement for refretting Gibson's), I like the size and feel alot - it has displaced my old fave of SM 141 ....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Beautiful guitar, Rick! Congratulations...

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"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong"
- Joseph Chilton Pearce

Real nice Rick! And great selection for a teacher as well.

Guess the color in the picture fooled me.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Good looking guitar Rick, I see a little of Tony's influence in the workmanship and style, you sure couldn't ask for a better teacher. I am working with a student for the 1st time myself and find it a cool thing to do, sharing this great craft is real good feeling.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Look at the head on that one on the left.....

Congrats to you Rick and Coach Tony too!!! Beautiful guitar with about the sexiest cut-away that I have ever seen!!

Fantastic work Rick!

What you talkin bout Willis ???

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Congrats Rick. Beautiful instrument, with lots of challenging bits, looking very well executed. Another "local boy(s) makes good"!
(BTW I like 6130 too! )

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Dave
Milton, ON