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Steve's Baby Bird
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10145&t=47893
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Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon Aug 29, 2016 7:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

I've been so busy with setups just haven't had much time so nothing cosmic but I did get another, properly measured, neck prepped. Image

Author:  SteveSmith [ Tue Sep 06, 2016 5:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Rosette is installed. Mad rose center with ivoroid. Some Naptha on the top to get an idea of the color.

Image

Image

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Tue Sep 06, 2016 9:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

wow7-eyes

That top is. Beatiful. The rosette fits really nicely with the color.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Sun Sep 18, 2016 5:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Haven't posted for a while but I'm making progress ribs are ready for linings and top is ready to brace. Got the back braced today
Image

Author:  SteveSmith [ Sat Sep 24, 2016 7:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Got the Koa head plate on and peg head cutout. Last year I used a simple S on the headstock of a mandolin and liked it so I made a slightly larger version from MOP for this one.
Image

Ribs are ready so all the bus driving is done. Olive wood is hard! Top and back are braced and ready to carve.
Image

Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon Sep 26, 2016 11:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Dang, I just noticed I put the tone bar on backwards - again. idunno Now I'll have to change it even though I firmly believe it makes absolutely no difference.

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Mon Sep 26, 2016 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Do what you want but I wouldn't change it. After all, that is part of you signature sound with this model. That is how you get the tone you're after (just make sure to do it on all the others of this model too. . .).

Author:  Don Williams [ Mon Sep 26, 2016 12:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Bryan Bear wrote:
Do what you want but I wouldn't change it. After all, that is part of you signature sound with this model. That is how you get the tone you're after (just make sure to do it on all the others of this model too. . .).


LOL...

Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon Sep 26, 2016 12:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

What annoys me is that I keep reminding myself that the tone bar comes off the treble side of the X and I still do some of them this way. I guess because I don't really think it makes any real difference in the sound than I just must subconsciously blow it off.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon Sep 26, 2016 6:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

I figured if I changed it I might remember next time. Took a whole 20 minutes.
Image

Author:  DennisK [ Mon Sep 26, 2016 6:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

SteveSmith wrote:
I figured if I changed it I might remember next time.

:lol: Probably true. My memory key is that the tone bars run parallel to your picking arm when holding the guitar.

Looking good so far! I love olive wood.

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Mon Sep 26, 2016 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

I hate to tell you Steve but now it is backwards. I thought you were joking the first time.


Made you look

Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon Sep 26, 2016 8:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Bryan Bear wrote:
I hate to tell you Steve but now it is backwards. I thought you were joking the first time.


Made you look

Ha ha. Nice try :)

Author:  SteveSmith [ Tue Sep 27, 2016 7:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Dennis, I like the olive wood too. It's surprisingly hard and is very similar to working Bubinga although it seemed to bend easier.

One thing I noticed when I removed the brace on the redwood top is staining along the glue line and next to the braces where I had used a damp rag to clean up the squeeze out. When I removed the tone bar I scraped everything level but looks like the staining has soaked into the wood. I have not experienced this with spruce so forewarned is forearmed. Fortunately I've already put a coat of shellac on the top and I'll use more shellac after I cut the binding channels but before I glue in the binding.

Author:  J De Rocher [ Tue Sep 27, 2016 3:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

What kind of glue did you use for putting the braces on?

Author:  SteveSmith [ Tue Sep 27, 2016 5:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Titebond original

Author:  Bryan Bear [ Thu Sep 29, 2016 4:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Steve, stop and check your math on scale length and bridge placement. On the child size guitar thread, Ken second guessed your math on the 25.4" scale lopped off at the third fret then I remembered you having to make a second neck because the first was too short. It got me thinking that you may have miscalculated your scale length. You may have it all right but I would hate to not say something in time. By my calculations 25.4" minus the top 3 frets is 21.358" not tthe 22.something you quoted above.

Hopefully you have it right and I am worrying about nothing:)

BB

Author:  SteveSmith [ Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Nope, you're right and thanks for pointing it out. I did it in my head and put it down wrong. It's 10.66" to the 12th or 21.32" scale more or less. I'll cut the fretboard and get it exact before I finish trimming the neck or glue the top to the ribs.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Mon Oct 03, 2016 6:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

The back and top braces are carved. Also got the fretboard slotted. Image

Image

Bryan, I measured the slots - they're spot on.
Image

Author:  chucksurette [ Mon Oct 03, 2016 9:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Looks good Steve. Did you buy the fret slotting blade from Stewmac?

Author:  SteveSmith [ Tue Oct 04, 2016 5:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's 2016 Challenge Entry

Thanks Chuck. Blade is 0.024" cut and came from High Mountain Tonewoods.

Author:  SteveSmith [ Tue Oct 11, 2016 12:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's Baby Bird

My wife has named this guitar the Baby Bird since it is so small, hence the name change for the topic.

In honor of the name change I have a hummingbird inlay I want to use on the headstock and have several choices of how to position it both with or without my "S" logo. We have option 1, 2 or 3. I know which one I like but curious to see what all of you think.

Option 1
Attachment:
HdStk Option1.JPG


Option 2

Attachment:
HdStk Option2.jpg


Option 3
Attachment:
HdStk Option3.jpg

Author:  J De Rocher [ Tue Oct 11, 2016 12:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's Baby Bird

Definitely #2 for me. Centering the hummingbird makes it the focus of attention and it leaves room for your S logo which looks nice. Second place is #1 for its simplicity. I don't care for #3 because of the blank space in the middle.

That's a nice inlay.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Oct 11, 2016 1:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's Baby Bird

J De Rocher wrote:
Definitely #2 for me. Centering the hummingbird makes it the focus of attention and it leaves room for your S logo which looks nice. Second place is #1 for its simplicity. I don't care for #3 because of the blank space in the middle.

That's a nice inlay.


+1

Author:  SteveSmith [ Tue Oct 11, 2016 9:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steve's Baby Bird

Ok then #3 is out - that was my least favorite as well.

I prefer#2 but my wife likes #1 which was also my second choice. Since I plan to keep this guitar to perform with I think I'll do the version she likes ;)

Oh, and the inlay came from DePaule - excellent work as always.

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