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Hey, guitar gurus

I finally finished my first build! Wow, when I first took this project on I thought it wasn't going to tough, and with my background, I would be able to walk through it with out much trouble. I have built a few electrics. I am a second generation cabinet maker, and I have two fully equipped cabinet shops at my disposal. With all of that what could go wrong, I even have a book, plans, and all of you guys to help walk me through it all. This was most certainly the 25 year old maturity creeping out of me during this line of thinking. I can honestly say that I know for a fact I am pretty competent wood worker as well as a problem solver, but this project has humbled me to the fullest. I have been punished for all of my various faults as a wood worker through out this build and ultimately it has made me a better wood worker for it. I started this project without a plan at all. I found a board of Brazilian Rosewood for near nothing and decided heck I should make a guitar out of this. I subsequently bought all of the necessary materials and went to town. I learned the hard way, that if I would have spent some time really thinking about the process and read the book prior to building I am sure I would have completed this guitar much sooner. Jigs I thought that I could free hand my way through everything. If I would have built some jigs and got ready for the build prior to cutting up anything I would have been much better off. I am professional, and at work I would never think I could get by with this attitude, maybe my largest error was putting a dead line on it. By me putting a dead line on this project and thinking about how long things should take caused me to do work over and over. Its funny that when I started reading on this forum, I could never understand why some of these guys would build so many guitars. I now get that it is a learning process and cannot be mastered your first go around. Building acoustic guitars is definitely not easy but is definitely possible as long as you work smart, plan, and enjoy the build process. I tip my hat to anyone who has completed one. I am only revealing my errors to others to help encourage that even someone who has experience and every tool he needs can struggle building instruments.

OK now that I got that off of my chest about my guitar. It is an OM body shape with a curly maple bound 4 piece BRW back and sides. The top is Adirondack spruce and is bound with a double bwb stripe and curly maple. The rosette is myrtle burl with a snakewood outer ring. The mahogany neck is "1 piece" with a curly maple center stripe with black on each side of the maple. The fingerboard is maple bound BRW that has been scalloped. The headstock overlay is maple bound BRW with a snakewood accent on the top, and the back overlay is dyed myrtle burl also. The bridge is EIR with snakewood pins. The sound is fantastic. I am very pleased with the sound it is very harmonic, bassy, and louder than any OM I have played yet. Honestly out of all of the things I have built since I was 10 this is by far the rewarding thing to date.

Thank you for reading and checking out my work

Robbie

All images can be clicked on to open them up to a larger size.

That is pretty remarkable. That BRW is just gorgeous. Any reason why you scalloped the fingerboard?

I would never have guessed that was your first guitar, nor would I think you were lying if you said it was you 100th. Great work.

Wow thanks man I appreciate the compliment! Well the reason for the scalloped fingerboard is that I wasnt exactly blessed with big hands. Honestly they are about 6 3/4 from palm to tip! Since I dont have big hands, I cannot achieve the same leverage as someone who has larger hands. I have tried to play thick strings, various hand strengthening things, and nothing has worked. I have decided to deal with my short coming and engineer around em. So the scalloping allows me push more on the side of the string than down to bend. Also it forces me to have a little lighter of a touch which helps my speed some too. I am some what of a bluesier guitar player so bending is key for me. I went one step further and made this guitar 25" scale length to decrease the downward pressure necessary for a clean note.

Rob

That is an absolutely stunning guitar. And your first build! Too cool. I'm 24 and on my first one as well. Just need to shape the nut and saddle now!

Glad you're happy with the sound. So when it came to bracing, how were you influenced? I'm sure a number of things collectively including this forum but just curious to what book you wre sort of following, etc.

Possibly the first acoustic I've seen with scalloped fingerboard. I've been wondering how that'd work out on an acoustic.

As mentioned, sure looks outstanding for a first build. Congrats!
(and where did you get that gorgeous BRW?)

Congratulations! Not only did you complete your first build, but you learned something about the guitar building process and about yourself! All valuable lessons learned.

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

Having access to a cabinetry shop and being a second generation cabinet maker helps a LOT. I made my first guitar using very little tool and a tiny bedroom as a shop. I also did not have any experience with cabinet-making. I am sure I could do better if I had access to a cabinetry shop.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Beautiful work !
Now the hard part-making # 2

Mike

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Mike Collins

Indeed... after that guitar, what does one do for an encore?
Congratulations...very nice instrument!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Honestly as far a bracing went, I used cumpiano`s book for some lay out and rough dimensions. Since my guitar is 25" scale legnth I noticed that I need to adjust the bracing layout for the bridge plate to land where it needed too. I also read on here some dimensions of the other guys OM`s they have made and tied it in with what I have. I knew that cumpiano`s was going to be a little heavy and I knew that if I went a little over what other people did I would be safe. As far far as the BRW goes my local supplier had an old wood collector unload some of his stuff to them and I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I dont even want to say but the board cost me 60$ and the fingerboard cost me an additional 10. Yea I cannot believe the deal I got. I have been going there since I was little with my dad so I got it for what the owner bought it for.

Wow, very nice guitar and you have an adventure to remember to go with it. I think you will find #2 easier as you won't repeat the same mistakes, though if you are like most of us you will find some new things to have problems with.

Fred

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

Robbie, beautiful guitar! It must be a real feeling to string it up and hear it for the first time - and to sound great no less!! Bravo