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Steve S' Challenge Special_Final Photos and Video uploaded
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10133&t=37257		 Page 6 of 7
Author:  SteveSmith [ Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Ok, so here's some photos with a decent camera.

The new spray booth - I am surprised how well the exhaust works on it.
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Final coats are on and the guitar is in the drying cabinet
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3-piece blank for the end pin and strap button
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The model in the foreground is a take-off from an HD-28.
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Almost done. Glued in the MOP dot. I'll finish cleaning it up tomorrow and do the strap button too.
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Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Got the end pin shaped.
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Burnished with a piece of maple veneer and wiped on some fretboard oil
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Starting the strap button
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button and end pin all done

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Author:  StevenWheeler [ Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Hey, I want a mini lathe with a three jaw chuck.
Nice job Steve. Good one-up-manship with the MOP dot and matching strap button.

Bridge pins?
Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
It is a sweet little lathe, it's a left over from a previous job where I made prototype parts for electronic assemblies. The bridge pins would sure be doable but I already got a bone set from ebay for real cheap. I was looking for an end pin on ebay but after seeing you make yours I thought well I could do that too ;)
Author:  SteveSmith [ Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Ok, I've been busy. Got the PolyWhey finish done and I'm plenty satisfied with it. I also leveled and crowned the frets and the fret ends are beveled and polished. Still have knock the edge off the fret ends with a file and then polish the frets proper. I'll glue the bridge tomorrow then it's nut, saddle, tuners, intonate and play. I just might make it by the deadline.

The frets did not hold in the Bastogne walnut; I had originally hammered them in a 0.024" slot and used fish glue to lube them and lock them in. About 1/2 popped up some so I went back and clamped them down and CA'd them in. I won't try to use the Bastogne walnut for a fretboard again but I'm sure it will be ok for this one.
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Author:  Bryan Bear [ Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Wow! That settles it, next time I have one finished, I'm trying brushed poly whey.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Bryan Bear wrote:
Wow! That settles it, next time I have one finished, I'm trying brushed poly whey.


I already like it better than EM6000 but only a few years of wear will tell for sure.

You should be able to get the same results with a brush, maybe more sanding. Keep in mind this one has ZPoxy pore fill and 2 coats of blonde shellac under the PolyWhey.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Fri Dec 28, 2012 12:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Frets are done, bridge is on. It's late, I'm going to sleep.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Been a pretty sucky afternoon around here. [headinwall]

I had everything done, had the nut and saddle roughed in and was stringing up the guitar when I started hearing the dreaded crack/pop sounds. gaah I finished stringing it up anyway since I only had 2 to go. It sounds pretty good. But .......... after close inspection the bridge did not get glued on right. So off came the strings and off came the bridge. Cleaned up the old glue and it is drying right now. I'll go down after dinner, get it re-prepped and reglue it. Hopefully I can finish setup tomorrow with no drama.

No photos cause I just didn't feel like fooling with them right now. I did take some so I'll put em in later.
Author:  WudWerkr [ Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Aww maaannn ! :shock: Hang in there , you still have time . [:Y:]
Author:  cphanna [ Fri Dec 28, 2012 7:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Hey, Steve, don't give up. The first guitar I ever built was about twenty years ago. I had a similar experience. All seemed to be going well. My guitar (a classical) was sitting on a stand, and I was playing it for a few minutes every time I walked by it. Then one day I came home from work and made myself a cocktail. I sat down in my chair and looked at my guitar. Something didn't look right. A breeze came in through the open screened window and the bridge (still tied to all the strings) fluttered in the breeze. It was totally dis-connected from the top! Hmmmmmmm. I downed my cocktail in a gulp. I cried. I cursed. Then I laughed. Then, the next day, I went back to the shop and cleaned everything up and re-glued the bridge. It is still holding to this day! That particular guitar has a host of other problems, but the bridge holds! Onward and upward, I say. DON'T GIVE UP!

Patrick
Author:  SteveSmith [ Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Thanks for the encouragement. Bridge is back on - hopefully it will be a bit more permanent this time.
Author:  Tony_in_NYC [ Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
At least you were able to recover quickly. Looking forward to seeing it all done.
Author:  Clinchriver [ Fri Dec 28, 2012 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Steve, just read the entire thread pretty cool stuff. I did not know you where doing a build. duh

I got my White Oak O finished and strung up. I have been playing it for about a week. We need to have another get together somewhere sometime.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special
Clinchriver wrote:
Steve, just read the entire thread pretty cool stuff. I did not know you where doing a build. duh

I got my White Oak O finished and strung up. I have been playing it for about a week. We need to have another get together somewhere sometime.


I've recovered from the bridge fiasco and am doing the setup right now. Glad to hear you got the O done. I'd like to see and hear it. I'm ready for another get together too. I've got some back and side sets to trade and, of course, the Challenge guitar to show.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_I'm done!!
Finished the setup and I'm done. Sounds pretty good to me. I'll do photos and stuff tomorrow or Monday. Here's a crappy photo from my phone as a teaser:
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Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Dec 29, 2012 4:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_I'm done!!
Edit: I figured it out, just have to go back and edit the first post.

So can someone tell be how to edit the subject line in a thread? I've tried doing it in the window but it doesn't change when I submit it.
Author:  DennisK [ Sat Dec 29, 2012 5:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_I'm done!!
Congrats on finishing! Looks great. Nice use of flatsawn runout grain for the headstock, I'll have to keep that in mind for future designs :)

Can't wait to hear it. That falcate pattern certainly does look cool. Not sure I'll ever try it myself... I'm more into the touchy feely style building, rather than pre-planned carbon fiber calculations. But I do always love hearing guitars with non-standard bracing patterns.
Author:  Jaybird840 [ Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_I'm done!!
She's a beauty, eh? Nicely done!!!
Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_I'm done!!
Thanks folks. Here's a few progress shots from the last few days. I'll be taking final photos tomorrow when I have some good light.

Gluing the bridge down with my shop made vacuum clamp.
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Fretboard finished. I use EVO frets because they wear better.
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Bridge attached the first time - looked good
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I think the headplate has a slight bluish cast but it doesn't show up in the photo. Note the ferrule for the D string tuner has cracked the finish. The hole was a bit undersized, I'll fix it later.
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After I figured out the bridge was not on good then it was time to remove it. This heating blanket makes it pretty easy. I made the controller.
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Closer inspection shows several areas where the HHG gelled before I got everything down - just a bad glue joint on my part.
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Some of the wrinkling in the finish from taking the bridge off. Fortunately most of it shrunk back down as every thing dried back out.
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All cleaned up and ready to reglue. I used all of the 3/16" locating pins because they help hold the vacuum and keep the glue out of the box.
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Author:  Bryan Bear [ Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_I'm done!!
I have really enjoyed this thread, hurry up an post the videos! Thanks for letting me watch, and for the offer to drive to TN to use your vacuum set up.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Sun Dec 30, 2012 9:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_I'm done!!
Hey Bryan, come on over any time.

Here's the photos. Sound clip or video (if I can figure it out) should be up tomorrow.
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Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_Final Photos and Video uploaded
And here's the video:
Author:  WudWerkr [ Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_Final Photos and Video uploaded
Very Nice .. Love the sound , Love the build ! [:Y:] [clap]
Author:  Tony_in_NYC [ Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve S' Challenge Special_Final Photos and Video uploaded
Sounds great! Guess that falcate bracing worked out! How do you feel about it?
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