Official Luthiers Forum!

It's quite a feeling playing a guitar you built yourself for the first time.

This is a Sapele/Sitka OM (slightly deeper body). it started out life as a kit, but ended up being pretty much my own creation. Finish is by Joe White. He does great work!

Features? Side Port, Headplate is quilted Sapele with a Cocobolo wedge and MOP "H" inlay by me . Curly maple bindings on body, fretboard and headstock. Slotless bone pins (ramped and slotted the bridge), and last but not leat, an oval soundhole (I won't be doing this again :p )

I'm very happy with the guitar. It's pretty tight (heavily braced, top a bit too thick I think), but I expected this, or at least I should say I didn't go out of my way to avoid it. My stated goal when I started building it was to learn the basic steps/processes involved with making a guitar, and to figure out what I didn't know (if that makes sense). I wasn't terribly concerned with tonality.. I figured I'd start focusing on that starting on build #2 and going forward.

As expected there were a lot of challenges, most of which I overcame. I want to extend a big "Thank You!" to Joe White, who went above and beyond helping me deal with a pretty nasty 'accident' that was going to result in an ugly patch. He saved the day on that (I'll describe that all in detail when another 'share your mistakes' thread comes up). I also owe a debt of gratitude to Rick Davis. He's been a huge help and inspiration to me. And it's worth mentioning the contributors to this forum (and the Kit Guitar Forums). All of it has been immensely valuable. ok.. I'll stop being sappy now.

Playability is really good (better than I could have hoped for a first guitar). Intonation isn't perfect, but it's darn close.. better than any of my store bought guitars (Martins, Collings, Taylors).

Here's a quick picture.

I'll take more and link a photo album when I get a chance. I wasn't able to do much photography today because it was getting dark, and we had some interesting weather moving in.

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Jim Hansen

first one?! wow!
Congratulations, this is one seriously good looking guitar And maybe it was a pain to achieve, but the oval sound hole fits perfectly in there really beautiful guitar, nice job!

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Olivier Gauthier
Montreal, QC

Very impressive work! Congratulations.

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

Wow is right!!!
That is one good looking guitar Jim, and that oval soundhole really sets it apart!


Great job,
Joe

Hey Jim, that looks superb. Now I hope you're not going to try to tell us you've never done any woodworking before....

Most impressive!
How about a shot of the back?

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Thanks for the nice comments everyone...

And Dave, I won't try to convince you i've never done any wordworking, as I've been exposed to it for most of my life (my father was a hobbyist), but I've never actually done much work with power tools at all. I tend to prefer hand work where possible. I seem to have an aptitude for that (when I get near power tools, bad things tend to happen :p )..

And Steve, here is a picture of the back.

I'll try to get some better closeups an such when I get the right lens for my camera, and after I've glued the fingeboard extension down and done the final setup (probably not until I do my first string change).

Edit: There are a few more pictures in my build journal in my sig, but they aren't very good pictures.

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Jim Hansen

First Class Jim!!! I'm very impressed. You've got a fine looking guitar!!!

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Beautiful guitar Jim.

Congratulations!

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Great looking instrument, Jim. Congratulations!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

great looking guitar! congratulations.
phil

I like that oval soundhole also. Great work, Jim.

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

Very nice work!!!

Congratulations, Jim! I saw this in person and just loved the oval soundhole. Fantastic first guitar!

I also saw the great job that Joe did!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com