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Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale
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Author:  johnparchem [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 3:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

I just strung up this Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale 00. It is a tradition build for me with a Martinish style X-Bracing, no carbon fiber or epoxy. The pore fill is System 3 Silvertip epoxy, I apply it and sand it back until I can level sand it with no sand throughs. I sealed it with Seal-Lac (shellac) and sprayed post-cat Royal Lac.


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Author:  Michaeldc [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

Looks great, John!

Sweet wood combo! How's it sound?

Author:  SteveSmith [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

That's pretty. I really like the sap wood on the back.

Author:  bcombs510 [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 3:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

That’s a real beauty, John. I too love the look of the back, really nice. How’s the sound? Looks like your cat approves. :D


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Author:  doncaparker [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 3:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

Gorgeous, John!

I'm in the middle of my first pore fill with Silvertip. I'm curious as to how many coats you had to do on this one before you could sand flat with no sand-throughs.

I was finding my "sea legs" on this one (several test scrap pieces preceded this, but this is the first guitar), and it took me more coats than I thought it would, but it is looking pretty sweet at this point. I really like this method of pore filling.

Also, can you offer some color commentary on the post-cat Royal Lac? I'm going to put Enduro Var over the Silvertip on this one, but I have used normal Royal Lac before, and I am thinking of trying the post-cat version on my next guitar. The short cure time is an attractive feature, along with the fact that it is a shellac product (I have mostly French polished guitars so far, before this current one).

Thanks for any additional info on the finishing. Any process that yields such a gorgeous guitar deserves attention!

Author:  Colin North [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 5:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

That's a handsome beast John. Love everything about it!

Author:  Colin North [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 5:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

That's a handsome beast John. Love everything about it!

Author:  Chris Pile [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 5:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

Two big thumbs up from me!

Author:  jshelton [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 6:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

I don't post often but I think that's a magnificent job. What a beautiful guitar!

Author:  Clay S. [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 6:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

lovely guitar. Is that a curly mahogany neck?

Author:  johnparchem [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 8:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

Thanks all for the kind comments. I did play it and was happy with the way it sound. I look forward to this week as I tune in the setup and the guitar as time to settle into having strings.

doncaparker wrote:
Gorgeous, John!

I'm in the middle of my first pore fill with Silvertip. I'm curious as to how many coats you had to do on this one before you could sand flat with no sand-throughs. ...

Also, can you offer some color commentary on the post-cat Royal Lac? ...

Thanks for any additional info on the finishing. Any process that yields such a gorgeous guitar deserves attention!


It usually takes three applications of Silvertip for me. At least one application and possibly 2 of them is really showing my bad prep work, low or high spots. Basically I sand through chasing the shiny places or a sand through just happens.

My process for Royal-lac is to spray 4 coats and try to level the next day with 800p sandpaper (dry sanding) I will repeat this process one or two days. Usually by the second or third day it levels nicely. Then I spray 3 or 4 more coats and let cure for a week.

Clay S. wrote:
lovely guitar. Is that a curly mahogany neck?
Thanks! yes it is mahogany.

Author:  Bri [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 10:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

DANG! I’m in awe.

B

Author:  George L [ Sun Jul 12, 2020 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

Nice work, John. That finish looks stellar.

Author:  jfmckenna [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

That's a honey right there, a real keeper!

Author:  Brad Goodman [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 3:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

She's a beauty!

Man, those are some heavily scalloped braces...….

Author:  johnparchem [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 3:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

Brad Goodman wrote:
She's a beauty!

Man, those are some heavily scalloped braces...….


Thanks, they are a bit taller than they look at their lowest. I took them down close to my minimum as the top was still stiff. I am not used to working with Sitka, both top and braces. The bridge rotated more than 1 but less than two degrees under string tension.

Author:  ballbanjos [ Mon Jul 13, 2020 7:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

Very nice! I've been using the older Royal-Lac via French polish and have been pleased with the results. Yours looks great. Koa is one of my favorites.

Dave

Author:  johnparchem [ Wed Jul 15, 2020 9:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

Thanks Dave,

Although I am somewhat embarrassed of my playing ability, this video clip allows one to hear the guitar in DADGAD and also standard tuning. The guitar has been strung less than a week.

https://youtu.be/9pP1Og_dljg

Author:  Colin North [ Wed Jul 15, 2020 10:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Strung up Koa/Bear Claw sitka 00 12 fret short scale

That guitar sounds absolutely wicked John!

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