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The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=28491		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Phillip Patton [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:45 pm ]
Post subject:  The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Hey all!
Right now I'm making a steel string guitar for myself, and I'm trying to keep costs down as much as possible. I find it to be a fun challenge to try to make as good sounding a guitar as possible for as little money as possible. Or I'm just cheap. idunno :mrgreen:

Anyway, I'm using western red cedar from Menards for the top, and quartersawn mahogany (from Menards) for the back and sides. The neck will be Menards mahogany also. I'll probably use osage orange for the bridge. The only parts I'm getting from out of town are the soundboard braces (spruce), and the fingerboard (rosewood). Also the purfling, tuners, truss rod, rosette, etc. I'll probably use walnut for the binding, and osage burl for the headstock veneer.

Some pics of what I have so far:

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I started making a desert ironwood radial rosette, but then decided I wanted something that would contrast more with the cedar.

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Stay tuned.

Phillip
Author:  Haans [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
And a very nice start you have, Phillip. From my point of view, I like your rosette better than the radials...
Keep up the good work, and take your time. You will be rewarded with a very nice guitar!
Author:  Jim Kirby [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
That's beautiful stuff! Plan sounds good.
Author:  Bob Garrish [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Interesting choice not bookmatching the top. It does give it a pretty neat look having the offset streaks, though.
Author:  Hesh [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Great looking progress Phillip and my hats off to ya too for the frugality!!! [:Y:]

I've never been to a Menards but there is one in Toledo near where I live now so now I have another reason to check it out.
Author:  douglas ingram [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
I'm heavy into frugal lutherie, and I must say I like how yours is looking so far!
Author:  Pat Hawley [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
OK, I gotta ask.

Did you mean to not bookmatch the top? Not that I think it looks bad - as Bob pointed out, it's interesting. But I am curious to know if it was one of those things we all do at some point like bending two upper sides.

I applaud your frugal approach - I get a kick out of that as well. Something about turning low value material into a high value finished product.

Pat
Author:  the Padma [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Yo Phillip

Yer my kinda guy buying at Menards and all but hmmm...why didn't you get your spruce there as well? Like they have 2x6 which are usually spruce.

Just wondering.

That hog looks rice nice. Me often wondered why everything has to be book faced. Good for you.

Blessings
duh Padma
Author:  K.O. [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
I like it,I sort of feel you might have done it on purpose, makes a four piece top look two piece board matched as a nod to its budget heritage.

Easy to be wrong though ain't it...
Author:  John A [ Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
No Menards around here - no cedar that looks like that either ! I think you are working with some pretty nice woods, and it will be hard to distinguish from the "premium" wood orders.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:15 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Good choices, and nice work, so far. Stay with it, take your time, and enjoy the process. Oh yeah, keep posting progress!
Author:  Hupaand [ Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
You didn't say how much it cost. My cheapie was an all mahogany, including bindings, with no rosette. It's turned out to be one of my favorites.
Author:  Quine [ Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Looks like nice wood. The frugal luthier idea makes more and more sense to me these days
Author:  Phillip Patton [ Thu Aug 05, 2010 9:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Thanks for all the comments fellas!

I'm guessing I have about $10 of materials in it so far. [:Y:] The greatest expense will be the tuners.

The cedar is from a 4X4 fence post, so the top is made from 5 pieces. I could have made it look book matched, but I would have had to have another seam, and I just decided to take the easy way out.... As I said, this one is for me, and I don't care if the top is book matched.

Here's another one I made with the same cedar:

viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=27979&hilit=all+cedar+guitar

Today I'm bracing the soundboard. The bracing is scrounged also, though it didn't come from Menards. It came from Grizzly. It's the scrap wood they use to protect kerfing when they ship it. Really nice stuff. bliss

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Any input you all want to make as I work on the bracing would be appreciated. :)
Author:  Phillip Patton [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Well, I've made lot's of progress, but messed up the purfling when I tried to bend it, so kind of stuck until more arrives... But here's some more pics:

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Author:  Phillip Patton [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 4:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
More pics:

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Author:  unkabob [ Sat Aug 14, 2010 8:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
I am not alone!

Bob :ugeek:
Author:  Cocephus [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 8:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Whoa!
It looks as though you have it going on, dude!
Very fine work!
And I thought I was one frugal SOB.

Now, what`s this about Menard`s having mahogany? That`s a new one on me and I mean to tell you that I`ve talked to every retail center and lumber yard around 3 counties and I get the look like I`m from Mars or something! The best I can get is dunnage.
Must have info. PM please!
Coe Franklin
Author:  the Padma [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Most lumber yards / building centers carry Hog, and don't even know it...ask for door jambs.

blessings
duh Padma
Author:  Terry Stowell [ Sun Aug 15, 2010 2:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
the Padma wrote:
Most lumber yards / building centers carry Hog, and don't even know it...ask for door jambs.

blessings
duh Padma


Mahogany door jambs? Really?
Author:  Phillip Patton [ Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Cocephus wrote:
Whoa!
It looks as though you have it going on, dude!
Very fine work!
And I thought I was one frugal SOB.

Now, what`s this about Menard`s having mahogany? That`s a new one on me and I mean to tell you that I`ve talked to every retail center and lumber yard around 3 counties and I get the look like I`m from Mars or something! The best I can get is dunnage.
Must have info. PM please!
Coe Franklin



I heard about Menards carrying mahogany from someone here on this forum. I didn't believe it either until I checked it out.
I sent you a PM with more details.
Author:  Phillip Patton [ Thu Aug 19, 2010 5:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Some progress:

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Just have to shape the neck, and sand the body a little more, and I'll be ready to start spraying!
Author:  John A [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 7:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Looks awesome !
Author:  mtracz [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 1:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
Awesome, for sure!!!

You inspired me to look for a Menards. I found one near home and scored some of the same cedar and mahogany.

Thanks!!!

_Mike
Author:  John A [ Fri Aug 20, 2010 2:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: The "Frugal Luthier" strikes again!
No location around me....
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