Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:50 pm


All times are UTC - 5 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 23 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: LEFTY'S 1st OM BUILD!!!
PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 12:50 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
With the start of this thread, I'm officially throwing my hat into the ring for the 2013 New Builder Challenge. This will indeed be my first guitar build, and I can't think of a cooler way to document, enjoy, and learn from it than this challenge! My "official" build plans are still slightly up in the air, but I do know that it will be loosely based on a Martin OM body shape & bracing pattern. The top will be German Spruce w/ Adirondack bracing, along with Panama RW (d. tuc.) back and sides I obtained a couple years ago. I also think that I'm going to build a right handed guitar, even though I play left handed. I believe I'll gain more by multiple right handed player's feedback of the build, than I would if I built a lefty for myself. This may change, but it's the way I'm leaning right now. Good luck to all of the other challenge builders, especially the other "virgins" building a guitar for the very first time while in front of an audience no less! As for the rest of you safely watching this from the stands, please enjoy the impending trainwrecks... eek , I mean build threads for this very cool and unique build challenge as the drama unfolds over the next several months!

_________________
Brad


Last edited by Leftyprs on Thu Aug 28, 2014 6:03 am, edited 7 times in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 11:29 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:52 am
Posts: 1388
First name: Zeke
Last Name: McKee
City: Goodlettsville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37070
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Good luck brad! Have you considered making it with a reversible bridge so that you could play it but then just swapping the saddle to make it a righty?? I know Harv leach has his "unibridge" which is like this. I'm thinking of including something like it on my build. I picture having a extra wide saddle slot that is straight and you just have a saddle intonated to righty and one to lefty. Does that even make sense hahaha.



These users thanked the author ZekeM for the post: Dmaxwell (Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:29 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:04 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
ZekeM wrote:
Good luck brad! Have you considered making it with a reversible bridge so that you could play it but then just swapping the saddle to make it a righty?? I know Harv leach has his "unibridge" which is like this. I'm thinking of including something like it on my build. I picture having a extra wide saddle slot that is straight and you just have a saddle intonated to righty and one to lefty. Does that even make sense hahaha.


Thanks Zeke. Good luck to you as well! I have thought about a reversible bridge, but not for my first build. I had one of Harv's guitars last year during the road show that had his reversible bridge design. Very cool idea, and good execution on it. I'm interested to play around with the bracing layouts of my first few guitars to see what kind of difference there is when the bottom two braces are flipped on a lefty.

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 5:51 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Here's a quick pic of most of the materials I'll be using for my build. Panama RW back/sides, paired with MadRose headplate & bindings, and BRW fretboard & bridge. I joined the top last night, and will post a pic shortly once I've cleaned it up a bit.

Image

_________________
Brad


Last edited by Leftyprs on Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:49 pm, edited 4 times in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 7:51 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
The joined top after being cleaned up a bit w/ a scraper & drum sander. I'm now working on the PRW back, and hope to have it ready for glue up this evening. If all goes as planned, I'll thickness the top and back tomorrow evening, and work on getting the sides bent this weekend. I don't currently have a mold made once the sides are bent, so I may be building one this weekend as well if my plan to "build in the air" doesn't end up working out like I'd hoped. There's only one way to find out!!! beehive

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 12:03 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
I decided to reheat the glue joint on the top and take another stab at getting a better glue line. The joined top seamed to be solid, but I wasn't happy with the visual line of the joint. I've reworked it, and will be glueing the top and back this evening. New pics to follow...

Image

_________________
Brad


Last edited by Leftyprs on Mon Jan 21, 2013 2:52 am, edited 2 times in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:10 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
I only have one question... Did it gel??? idunno

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 11:14 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
I believe the gel was successful! I went ahead and cut the rough shape of the top out. I also thickness sanded it down to .105" for now. I'll finish cleaning up the joined back tonight, and I hope to get started on the rosette & side bending this weekend.

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 3:42 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
I have a few new tools on the way that should help with my build, and the speed I can get it completed. I'm excited to get my hands on them, but I wish I had them in hand now!

Craftsman 10" Band Saw (Couldn't pass it up for $119.99 on their website today!) I've already ordered a few Lenox Dimaster blades to help bring it up to par [:Y:]

Image

Dewalt Router with micro adjust plunge base

Image

Image

5" Craftsman Professional Vibrafree ROS with cyclonic dust collection system

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:02 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:52 am
Posts: 1388
First name: Zeke
Last Name: McKee
City: Goodlettsville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37070
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Very cool brad! I've heard some good things about those new dewalt routers. Ive been very tempted to get one myself. I like how versatile they appear, the convenience of a laminate trimmer with the benefits of a plunge router. [:Y:]


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 4:11 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 1:32 pm
Posts: 3470
First name: Alex
Last Name: Kleon
City: Whitby
State: Ontario
Zip/Postal Code: L1N8X2
Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Let the saw dust begin!! [:Y:]

Alex

_________________
"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:29 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
I've been busy with work, my son, and my pregnant wife, but I've squeezed a little time in here and there. Here's a pic of the joined back, and another with a marquetry strip laying down the center to get an idea of how it will look. I "plan" on routing the backstrip channel and bending the sides this weekend.

Image

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:28 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2012 2:04 am
Posts: 92
First name: William
Last Name: Holmwood
City: Brighton
Country: England
Focus: Build
Nice work. Has your router arrived yet? I am thinking about buying the same one.. I was originally planning on buying a Makita laminate trimmer, but for an extra 40-50 quid, I'm leaning toward the Dewalt. Any opinions on it thus far?

Will


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:26 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
wtholmwood wrote:
Nice work. Has your router arrived yet? I am thinking about buying the same one.. I was originally planning on buying a Makita laminate trimmer, but for an extra 40-50 quid, I'm leaning toward the Dewalt. Any opinions on it thus far?

Will


Will, I just received the router in the mail today, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. Looking at all of the reviews available, and talking with a few folks around here, you can't go wrong with this Dewalt/plunger combo. It seems to be the best of both worlds for guitar building etc...

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:37 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Just put a couple thin coats of very light blonde shellac on the top, and oh what a difference a bit of shellac can make! Hello medulary rays!!! bliss

Coat is still wet in this pic, and not nearly as dark as the lighting makes it look.

Image

Here's another pic of the top that is more representative of the true color after shellac sealer

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 2:23 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
As long as I'm posting pics, here's a quick pic of my tonewood stash currently. I do have a few more sets on the way though eek A really nice & dark Wenge, some figured H. Mahogany, and a couple nice Adi tops. I really need to build some larger shelves to make room for more wood. I'll just add it to the list... gaah

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:03 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2012 2:04 am
Posts: 92
First name: William
Last Name: Holmwood
City: Brighton
Country: England
Focus: Build
[/quote]

Will, I just received the router in the mail today, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. Looking at all of the reviews available, and talking with a few folks around here, you can't go wrong with this Dewalt/plunger combo. It seems to be the best of both worlds for guitar building etc...[/quote]


Yeah that's what I was thinking, it does seem to have good reviews. I think you've just convinced me. Looks like the way to go. Just need to save the money now! Good luck with the build. Enjoy your new toys!
Cheers mate,
Will


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Oct 26, 2013 10:49 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Well, it appears I won't be making this month's deadline, but I did finish installing my first rosette ever. I'm still waiting for the glue to dry before I clean things up a bit, but I think it came out ok for my first shot at it.

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 12:19 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 12:46 am
Posts: 1247
First name: Beth
Last Name: Mayer
City: Tucson
State: AZ
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I like that rosette! Where'd you get the purflings?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 1:46 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Beth Mayer wrote:
I like that rosette! Where'd you get the purflings?


Thanks Beth! I think I bought them from a guy on EBay a year or two ago. I'll see if I can find him again for you. Below is a quick pic of the rosette cleaned up a bit. I still need to fill in a few spots and recut the sound hole once I reinforce it.

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 8:27 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Red Spruce/ Panama Rosewood OM

Decided to switch to a Red Spruce top on this one. I'm getting ready to glue up and start carving the braces. Heating up the glue pot as I write this...

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 9:50 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu May 17, 2012 6:14 am
Posts: 195
First name: Brad
City: St. Louis
State: MO
Country: USA
Focus: Build
This was my first crack at bending sides. Went off without a hitch:)

Image

_________________
Brad


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Tue Jan 28, 2014 12:51 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 11:52 am
Posts: 1388
First name: Zeke
Last Name: McKee
City: Goodlettsville
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37070
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Nice! Good to see you still at it!


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 23 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com