Howdy,
Some of you might remember a couple months ago I asked about the feasibility of making an all cedar (western red cedar) guitar. After getting some input I decided to give it a try, knowing that the finished product would be somewhat fragile.
I just strung it up for the first time, and wanted to share some pics and my impressions.
This was a very "cheap" guitar. The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again.
Back and sides were cut from a 6X6X8 fence post I got at Menards. The post was quartersawn, and pretty clear.
![[:Y:]](./images/smilies/smiley20.gif "Thumbs Up")
Had to use multiple pieces to get the width I needed for the back.
The top is also multi-piece from a quartersawn 4x4 post, also from Menards. Very pretty, and some areas have 70 lines per inch.
The top bracing is a mixture of Douglas fir (also from Menards), WRC, and spruce. The X braces are the DF. It worked out fine, but it was not as easy to carve as spruce or cedar, so I don't think I'll be using it again, unless I can find some finer grained stuff....
The back braces are WRC, in a double X configuration.
Binding is ebony, bridge and fingerboard are Indian rosewood. Headstock veneer is black walnut.
Nut is corian, saddle is aluminum.
The head stock and heel block are made from some old mahogany I salvaged from the legs of an upright piano. The neck shaft was left over from another project.
I would guess I have about $75 in materials in this guitar, most of that being the tuners.
It sounds good. Probably my best so far. I shaped the braces based on how my previous one turned out (it was over-braced) and I think I hit the nail on the head with this one. I also made the soundhole bigger.
The action at the saddle is a little high yet.
Thanks for looking,
Phillip
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