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Here’s my first
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Author:  bionta [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 5:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Here’s my first
I finished my first build a few days ago. Yesterday I brought it to a New England Luthiers meeting and they didn’t throw me out (nice folks there) so I thought I’d post a couple of pictures. I had the happy opportunity to have it played by a couple of fine players and I made a video of a professional guitarist playing it, so if I can get his contact info I’ll ask him if it’s ok to post the video here. He liked the sound but suggested the action was too stiff on the lower frets. I was a little too chicken to get the nut slots low enough but I’ve tweaked them since and it does feel much nicer to me.

Anyway, here are the vital statistics:

- Built to the OLF OM plans with very minor tweaks for my preferences.
- Honduras mahogany b&s from RC Tonewoods (was nice wood to work with, I screwed up the side bending six ways from Sunday and they still turned out great).
- Sitka top from Alan Edie
- can’t recall where I got the fretboard. I bought it from either Stew Mac or LMI a long time ago, pre-slotted. I think it’s ebony.
- carpathian elm burl veneer rosette
- headplate, bridge and bindings are walnut, left over wall paneling from my uncle’s den that I’ve been hanging onto since around 1968 or ‘69. (You just never know when an odd piece of wood will find its destiny.)
- finish is French polish by the Tom Bills method (approximately). I still need to rub it out with the polishing compound so it has some pad marks here and there.
- lousy iPhone photography by yours truly.
- made so many mistakes along the way that I learned a ton. (And enjoyed every minute.) Of course the guitar has its flaws that I’m trying hard to resist cataloguing for everyone who sees it. But it exceeded my goals for my first build which were:
1. Be recognizably guitar-shaped
2. Not implode when I put strings on it and tuned it up
3. Be playable enough to not make my playing worse than it already is
4. Sound at least as good as the $30 plywood junker I bought to practice fretting and setups.

Many, many thanks to folks here who helped me along, whether they know it or not.

I can’t wait to build another one.

Image
ImageImage




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Author:  Chris Pile [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Very nice. Welcome to the community!
Author:  sdsollod [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Nice job! Thanks for posting.
Author:  Alex Kleon [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Nice work, Robert! Any chance of a rosette close-up?

Alex
Author:  bcombs510 [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Nice job, it looks great!


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Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Congrats on finishing #1 [:Y:] Don't obsess too much over the little problems, just start #2 laughing6-hehe
Author:  dzsmith [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Gorgeous!
Author:  bionta [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Thanks guys. Boy! Your positive feedback really makes me want to get back to the shop and start #2.

Here is my (basic) rosette.

Image


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Author:  Glen H [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Nice rosette...great job on the whole thing!
Author:  JSDenvir [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Looks fabulous Bob. Way to go. Now on to number 2 :-)

Steve
Author:  Colin North [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
[:Y:] [clap]
Author:  truckjohn [ Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Very pretty guitar you got there. You did a very nice job. A lot better than the average #1.
Author:  Hesh [ Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
She looks fantastic and YOU should be very, very proud my friend!

There is nothing like playing one that you made and enjoying the sound that you crafted. [:Y:]
Author:  bionta [ Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Hesh wrote:
She looks fantastic and YOU should be very, very proud my friend!

There is nothing like playing one that you made and enjoying the sound that you crafted. [:Y:]


Thanks! It really is a thrill to play the guitar I made myself, that’s for sure.


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Author:  douglas ingram [ Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Its also good to set the objectives that you did. Too many first time builders want to reinvent the guitar without any understanding of what they are working with!
Author:  Brad Goodman [ Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Nice going!

What are the plans for the second one?
Author:  jfmckenna [ Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
And so the journey begins :D
Author:  George L [ Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Nice work! Welcome to the addiction. [:Y:]
Author:  mountain whimsy [ Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Well done. Love OMs! And yours looks great!

-Tony
Author:  bionta [ Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Brad Goodman wrote:
Nice going!

What are the plans for the second one?


Thanks for the encouragement.

For #2 I’m thinking I might build a 12 fret, shorter scale version of the same guitar. I bought two of everything (b&s, top, neck) at the same time so I have a nearly identical set of materials. I’m thinking that I can learn something first hand about the effects of scale length by keeping the rest of the guitar as similar as possible. Although I guess braces may have to move a little bit and I might also add a cutaway (another big learning experience). I also hope to get a few things right that I messed up on #1 - like the bindings. I’m not totally happy with my headstock design or the bridge either.

I think I just outlined about 6 more guitars I’ll have to build to get to all that stuff. And then... I started out wanting to build an arch top ...

Did George just say something about addiction?




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Author:  Quine [ Wed Oct 18, 2017 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
That's your first?? Wow
Author:  James Orr [ Thu Oct 19, 2017 12:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Congratulations, Bob!
Author:  Bryan Bear [ Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Congrats, that came out nice! It is a great feeling stringing up and playing your first. You should be proud.


You said you are thinking of making a 2 fret and you mention you already bought the neck. If you mean neck blank then disregard, but if you bought a precut neck you will have a hard time converting to a 12 fret. Just something to keep in mind.
Author:  bionta [ Fri Oct 20, 2017 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Here’s my first
Bryan Bear wrote:
Congrats, that came out nice! It is a great feeling stringing up and playing your first. You should be proud.


You said you are thinking of making a 2 fret and you mention you already bought the neck. If you mean neck blank then disregard, but if you bought a precut neck you will have a hard time converting to a 12 fret. Just something to keep in mind.

Sorry I wasn’t clear. I bought a stick of Honduran mahogany at a local hardwood lumber yard. I made 3 heck blanks and it was so nice to work with I’m going back for more soon.

Thanks again for the kind words and good advice. I’ve gotta say, the luthier community, both online and live & in-person, is just fantastic.


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