Official Luthiers Forum!

Well, after first resawing the granadillo almost 2 years ago, this guitar is finally done...I have to give MANY THANKS to Lance K. who supplied me with advice, know-how, encouragement, and tools on a regular basis - helping me through this thing. I know there are A GREAT MANY areas where I want/need to improve as I move forward, but I feel as though this guitar really captures where I am now, and the spirit of the effort. Had I sent it to Joe - well, then it would have been out of the park...next time..

Anyway, the specs...
B&S (and back headstock veneer): granadillo (which cracks if you look at it wrong)
top: a particularly silky set of Sitka
bracing: sitka
fb: madagascar RW
fb binding, headplate veneer, bridge: Brazilian RW
body binding: honduran rosewood
nut: fossilized walrus penis ..seriously, its pretty stuff
rosette: granadillo binding, red abalone, spalted maple...I got to dive for the abalone, and the fashion some of the shell into a rosette, so that made it extra special.

Overall, the thing sounds great - better without the soundport plug in. I have some final issues to work out - like a buzz in the nut on the low E, but hopefully that comes out quickly...

For a pickup, I used piezo cable under the saddle. The raw signal is articulate and not muddy - clear across the frequency range. outside of the guitar, I have a "stompbox" preamp and signal boost, with a set it and set it basic EQ. An electrical engineer at work designed the circuit for me, and we are still working on customizing it a little more to ensure that it is not artificially and unknowingly filtering any of the frequency range. Thus far, we have only done SPICE analysis, but as soon as time avails, we will actually get the guitar on the scope and establish a comparator...should be good..

Anyway, thanks for looking,
Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Wow.

THAT is very impressive for a first effort .. you should be very proud !!!!

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

Absolutely stunning guitar Stephen my friend and it also shows a lot of style too!! I like it!!!

And as Coach Tony said - for a first too - very impressive!

I do feel sorry for the poor old walrus though........

That's awfully nice Mr. Z.
Where you source the Oosik?

Steve

I got the oosik from Katulik carvings on Ebay...(actually, it was a broken section), and the walrus to gave it up did so a long time ago...

Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Stephen, really lovely work all round. That cannot be your first acoustic... seriously, masterful!

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Outstanding! A fine looking instrument.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I hate you...

I'm kidding, of course, but seriously... That is a beautiful piece of work... When will my guitars look anything like that?

Very nice work for #1... I wish I had someone as accomplished as Lance nearby to confer with - or anyone ... really
Im going it alone - hopefully my #1 turns out nearly as nice as yours has!
Cheers
Charlie

Not at all shabby, Stephen!

Isn't it a great feeling to finish your first one?

Gonna give us a sound check?

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

That looks awsome...........I love the jumbo like bodies

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" Blues is a low down achin chill, if you ain't never had it, I hope you never will."

Robert Johnson

Stephen…That is a great looking guitar…nice job!!!

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Rich S

"The inconvenience of poor quality will linger long after the thrill of a bargain has been forgotten"

Hey Stephen, WOW!!! Are you sure this is your first guitar? That is an incredible accomplishment! I just finished my first and now I feel I should go back to the drawing board. Oh well, I've started my second, learned SO much from my first, so am excited about this new project. Great job Stephen, can't wait to see your next!! Dennis

Absolutely amazing. The quality of first guitars is unbelievable. That looks nicer than many luthiers 100th
Very well done

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Stephen, that looks amazing. I really like the shape and color combos.

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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

Beautiful work, Stephen! You're going to scare the other noobs.

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

i'm working on my 1st granadillo b/s set. Bending the sides is becoming a nitemare. Drilling the tuner holes in the granadillo headplate WAS a nitemare....it splintered like drilling threw a butterfinger candybar... But i'm going to make it happen. It's a learning experience. I love your guitar and I hope all the rest of us end up with nice looking granadillo.

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Jason Moe
LaCrosse WI 54601

very nice .

is that one of lance's body designs? really like the shape.

The walrus would be thrilled to have his 'boner' on display on this masterpiece, i'd love to hear how he(i'm guessing this one is referred to as male) sounds.

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Frank

That really is very beautiful.

WOW!

Mat

Beautiful work Stephen. Once again the bar is raised!

Vince

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the encouragement, and am otherwise passing out to get my next one or two or three started. There is just something SOO magical about stringing it up for the first time and hearing it sing...IMHO more rewarding that building electrics and basses.

Frank, this guitar will be the new Lance Kragenbrink E2. I have the software tools to draw and change guitar shapes easily, so Lance and I worked together to create his 'ideal' small jumboish guitar - I just pulled a bunch a spline points around . He was gracious enough to let me build one first, and happily so.

Stephen

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www.ziegenfussguitars.com

Excellent work! I love the shape and will probably do something similar for my next guitar, whenever that may be.

You should be proud!

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

I agree with everyone on this! Truly amazing first guitar. Great job

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I've seen those pictures several times...it's incredible how good of a job you did, and it being your first acoustic. All I can say is "Wow!" Keep up the good work my friend!

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Jake

~Make a joyful noise unto the Lord~