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Finally, after 5 months of noodling and doodling with this guitar, I am finally finished with it!

Here are some specs:
25.34 SL
Brazilian Rosewood back and sides
Adirondack spruce top
Bloodwood bindings with b/w side and back purflings
Abalone rosette and top purflings bordered with B/W purfs
Fossilized walrus ivory nut, saddle and pins (from Bob Colosi)
Waverly tuners with black pearl knobs
Greven pickguard
Baggs I-Beam pickup
nut width and neck profile a copy of the client's early '60's Gibson slope shoulder D
And the cherry on the icecream....the Crabtree peghead inlay done by the very talented Craig Lavin! Colors are a lot richer in real life, and there is a glare on the peghead I couldn't get rid of, so the pic does not do Craig's work justice. And an F stop to me is something that keeps my "F" from rolling down the hill.











The black pearl tuner knobs match the water in the bay, and the sky in the inlay almost perfectly matches the toned top. It's got abalone diamonds in the fingerboard. The peghead shape is that of the client, along with the fingerboard end. I was really apprehensive as to how it would all come together, but I think it worked out OK.

This guitar has been a long one in the making, and I am glad that she is finished, other than the FWI strap button that has to go on, and a final setup.

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Brad Tucker

WOW Brad my friend she is a real beauty!!!! That sapwood/BRW is killer too.

Great job!

Home Run, Brad! That looks great. Fine work!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

You no have soundclip?

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

I wondered if we'd see that inlay again. Sweet guitar, Brad. Keep up the good work.

Steve

Great job on that build Brad! Glad the inlay compliments it well. That's the most important thing. The inlays should work with the guitar, not compete with it...

I am sure it sounds as good as it looks. I love the sapwood..
Hey- did I ever thank you for that Thankgiving text message? Was that you?

Well, if I didn't, thanks!!
Craig L

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Thank you for the compliments.
Frei, sorry, no soundclip...it's all I can do to take a picture.
Craig, your inlay blends perfectly. The color of the sky is almost a perfect match to the top, the red in the crab's claws are brought out by the bloodwood bindings, and I chose the black pearl tuner knobs to pull it all together (and I *carefully* placed those bushings ).

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Brad Tucker

Brad - beautiful work. It looks awesome. Kudos to Craig too.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Very fine work Brad!

Warmest regards,
Terence
www.guitarbench.com

very nice looking dread brad Gotta like adi and brw

maybe you can pass on a word of caution to the new owner .. dont be using a peg winder when changing strings .. he/she will likely take the finish off the side of the peghead on the D/G strings ... I have a custom ground (shallow) winder for guitars where the peg buttons are close to the wood.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Nice work Brad

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Thanks for the suggestion, Tony. You bring up a very good point, and I will be sure to pass it along to him.

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Brad Tucker

I just thought I would give you guys a quick update on the Crabtree. I delivered it to his home Sunday, a four hour drive. We walked into his shop and I handed him the case. He sat it down, and excitedly but slowly opened the case. When he saw it he jumped into the air, about as happy a man as he could be. After he looked at it sitting in the case for a few more seconds, he jumped into the air again! Picked it up, looked at it from all sides. Then, after playing it for about 10 seconds, he sat it back in the case so he could yell with joy and jump again (I'm not exaggerating this at all!). Then he picked it up again and played it for quite some time. Suffice it to say that he was extremely satisfied with this guitar. Both of us has put a lot of thought, heart and soul into it, and I think I felt as happy as he did.

I will just have to say that I ended up making a very good friend in the process of building this guitar. People often ask me why I don't generally ship guitars, but deliver them for the most part. I think that building one is very rewarding, but in all honesty, it almost pales in comparison to actually seeing someone open a case and look at a guitar made with your own hands, play it for the first time, then react with such joy. Then, return home realizing that you have gained a new friend in the process. That's why. Of course, I can't deliver them all, but I do it when I can just for that reason!

And, a special thanks to you, Craig Lavin. Your inlay on this guitar was the icing on the cake!

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Brad Tucker

Brad it was a pleasure working with you!
Glad to hear your client loves it, and nice to know that there are great guitar "bakers" out there that I can help "ice" the cake for! I always explain what I do when people ask, by using the baking idea- I explain that if someone was a master cake baker, but not icing art expert, then could send the cakes to me for the icing work, but of course it's guitars...

Guess he has his cake and can eat it now..

Craig L

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Well, he was eating it up Sunday night! I'm about to give him a call and see how he's doing. Craig, I wish you could have seen his reaction. It's the stuff that keeps you going when things get frustrating. You'll have to take my word on this one!

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Brad Tucker

There's nothing better than helping someone make their music. Nice work, Brad!

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com