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No. 01 Complete – Sitka / Myrtle OM
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Author:  dmills [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:39 pm ]
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Well, after a significant gestation period (closed the box during the Christmas holidays), I finally finish my first last week.


 


Top – bear claw Sitka


B&S – Spalted Myrtle – more great zoot from Bob at RC


Rosette and End Graft – Afzelia Burl


Bindings – Walnut


FB and Bridge – EIR


 


A huge thanks to all of you for all of the suggestions and comments over the last year.  It would have been impossible without your help.  So, I think I’ll take a few days off and then begin obsessing over no. 2.


 


Apologies to all of you with studio strobes and seamless backgrounds.



 



 



 
Author:  Michael Lloyd [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:52 pm ]
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Very nice indeed Doug. Love seeing these great combinations with the choice of woods being used.

Beautiful!!! Thank for sharing.
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:55 pm ]
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Wow, Doug, that's beautiful.
First, eh?
Fantastic job!

Steve
Author:  Bill Greene [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 1:57 pm ]
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Doug that's gorgeous, and I echo Michael above...it's a great choice of woods being used. With the intricate rosette, it works incredibly well together.

I know it keeps being repeated, but man those first effort guitars continue to impress. Beautiful work.

Just curious: are you satisfied with the sound, tone, etc.?
Author:  JJ Donohue [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:00 pm ]
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Stunning, Doug. I love the choice of woods as well as the classy rosette. Very elegant with clean lines and details...well done!

What's the finish and how does it sound?
Author:  old man [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:00 pm ]
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I'm impressed, that's a really nice looking geetar. Good job, Doug, outstanding.

Ron
Author:  RobertJeffery [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:04 pm ]
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Can you post a sound clip???
Author:  RobE [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:27 pm ]
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I'm jealous. That is a beautiful guitar. I hope my first comes out as well as yours did.
Author:  Bruce Dickey [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:28 pm ]
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I like it all, and wow, check out the end of the fretboard. First Class.
Author:  Irwin R [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 2:35 pm ]
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Wow...quit your day job!!  or.... go back to your planet and leave us alone....That's absolutely stunning!!
Author:  Andy Zimmerman [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:12 pm ]
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That is one stunning first guitar.
Great rosette. Amazing the you did one like that on your first
What is the finish. Nice color to the top. What did you do for that golden
tone.
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:32 pm ]
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Outstanding is right! I love everything bout it!

Keep 'em coming!
Author:  Anthony Z [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:53 pm ]
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Doug that is one superb looking guitar! I really like it...especially the rosette. Congrats on an amazing first!!
Author:  Bob Long [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:29 pm ]
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This is one beautiful guitar Doug! The rosette, the binding, the killer
Myrtle B&Ss, all very well designed!

Long
Author:  Dave White [ Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:46 pm ]
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Doug,

Very nice. Onwards and upwards
Author:  Dave Rickard [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:28 am ]
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WOW
Author:  Bobc [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:42 am ]
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Doug what a great looking guitar. Fanastic first.
Author:  LanceK [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:44 am ]
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Whoa! Thats your first! Man that is nice!
Author:  curtis [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:07 am ]
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beautiful...respect is due!!
Author:  SteveCourtright [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 2:20 am ]
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Cheers, Doug, that sure turned out fantastically! I remember this guitar from the Illinois meeting. That french polish turned out really super. You should be proud! How does she sound?
Author:  Dave Anderson [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:42 am ]
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Very cool Spalted Myrtle back! Looks great Doug. Super job on your first, WoW !
So,What are your plans for #2 ?
Author:  JohnAbercrombie [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 4:24 am ]
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Absolutely super job!
Very tasteful choice of woods and appointments.
John
Author:  dmills [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 6:39 am ]
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Thanks for the comments guys. 


 


Finish.  I French Polished the body and used Tru-Oil on the neck.  The shellac I used was the LMI “very light blonde” flakes which imparted a very nice warm glow to the finish.  Learning to FP was very enjoyable and the final result for a first attempt turned out quite nice.  I would also highly recommend the Tru-Oil finish for necks.  Super easy to apply and feels very good to the touch when moving up and down the neck.


 


Sound.   I’m sure my opinion is biased.  Very good treble response and very open sounding which I guess is fairly typical of the OM body shape.  The bass response also seems to balance well with the treble which was a concern of mine during the building.  I scalloped the x-braces and tucked the bottom ends but thinned the Sitka top plate edges at the lower bout to about .105 to .110 during the thicknessing which may have helped the projection and bass response.  


 


The only other guitar I’ve had available to A/B it against is my old Alvarez Yairi dread (1981, DY-54).   My wife and the couple of friends that have listened to the two together prefer the OM’s tonal response.
Author:  CarltonM [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:33 am ]
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Looks like it was worth the long gestation period. Very nice, Doug!
Author:  Cocephus [ Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:05 am ]
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Niiice, Doug!  
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