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This is one fine playing guitar! Many thanks to Michael for the plans and clarifications, to John Hall for help on bending, and all of you for sharing your knowledge at various stages along the way.

Large Leaf Maple back and sides from Jason at CVT
WRC top also from Jason
Cocobolo f/b and bridge from Bob at RCT
Eucalyptus bindings also from Bob at RCT
5 Piece neck in mahogany, tiger maple, and brazilian RW from Chris at Hanalei Moon
Brazilian RW pins for purfling also from Chris
Rosette and headstock plate are EIR
Top bracing is red spruce
Finish is Emtech 8800, Behlens pore filler, Emtech 8800, Emtech 6000 from Jeff at Target Coatings

She is setup and pretty much ready to go. I have a little moisture in the wood in a few areas that has left some blotches, but these should disappear in time.

This one goes to my Dad for Father's Day. I'll be flying to Utah in a couple of weeks to hand deliver it. Hope it handles the change in humidity okay.

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

Wow, very nice Ken.

Is that the EM6000?

Edit, I just read (instead of picture gazing) your post. Nice work! Your father is going to love it.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

What a nice looking guitar, and what a fine present.
Dad is going to be rightfully proud.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

A study in sweet understatement... Lovely guitar!

Ken, I love the maple B/S. Hey, you know, if yur Dad doesn't like it... well I'm a Dad too.
Tony

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Tony Flippo

Wonderful looking guitar, Ken. All the parts make a lovely whole.

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

Terrific looking guitar, Ken! The maple is beautiful and I love the coco bridge - both material and shape. Keep up the excellent work.

Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

GREAT looking guitar Ken my friend!!!

How did you get those two lamps inside the box and showing through the back?



The finish looks fantastic!

Your Dad is going to be happy as a clam with this fantastic effort/gift!

Really nice instrument Ken ... The choice of the curly Eucalyptus with the Maple is great; they really compliment each other. Congratulations....

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Peter

That is one fine looking guitar Ken, your dad is indeed a blessed man!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Absolutely Beautiful !!! .

Lars

Very nice guitar and nice Father's day gift!!!!

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http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

Ken, this is a gorgeous piece of work. Your father is going to fall over when he gets it!! It can also double as a mirror for him when he isn't playing it

Ken, your guitar is gorgous!!! Beautiful work my friend.

I'm curious, it looks like the nut spans the top of the truss rod cover. Can you tell any difference at all in the tone of the D and G strings?

Thanks again for posting the pics.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Gorgeous! That is some stunning wood. Your Dad will love it.

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

I can only chime in with everyone else: very nicely done, and very nice combination of woods. Your Dad's a lucky guy!

Joe

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all the kind words. I've bugged a number of you for help, and you should see the results of your tutelage!

Rod, the finish is EM6000. I shot a couple of coats of EM8800 and leveled prior to shooting the EM6000. On the neck, I shot the EM8800, pore filled, then shot another coat of EM8800 prior to laying down the EM6000. The eucalyptus and rw pins are rather porous, so I filled them with gap filling CA after the first shot of EM8800.

Hesh, I like to build 'em light! You like that translucent back and top?! Actually I had to include those pix to show a nice finish is possible for us move-the-cars-out-and-shoot-it-in-your-garage guys!

Darryl, The truss rod and spacer wood sit below the nut, so there is no hollow cavity under the nut. I don't notice any issue with the D and G strings.

I intentionally understated the treatments. My Dad is 84 years old and had a cabinet shop for years. He much prefers nice woods to bling, so I kept all inlays and purflings very simple so nothing would draw attention from the wood. I had to make certain the craftsmanship is up there because he will be inspecting every inch of it! It's about time he retires that old Ibanez of his anyway!

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

That's a beautiful looking guitar Ken and the wood combination is stunning.

Thanks for sharing

Mat

Ken - That is stunning!

Wow!

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

Really nice guitar Ken, looks real good. Which vendor supplied the lamps?

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Fine-lookin guit you made for your dad. What a great gift for an 84-year old!

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

That's a very nice thing to do for your Dad, Ken!
I'm sure after inspection,he will love it ! It looks Great with
that maple back and sides and beautiful finish. Very nicely done !!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

What a stunner! That is a beautiful instrument, Ken. Congratulations! I know your dad is a proud owner!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Ken,

Cedar and maple - one of my favourite combinations. Fabulous guitar and I should think a very happy dad. Well done.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

What a beautiful guitar Ken
Congratulations

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Dan