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Lots of trouble with the finish on this one. My basement flooded during the first week after I sprayed this. The moisture ruined the finish...so its been stripped and refinished twice before I got something I liked. The black top ended up to hide the color in the top that would not bleach out from the original two finishes. Top is 6 piece douglas fir, back sides and neck are walnut with poplar laminet on the neck. Braced like an L-5 for sound/tone reasons. It will be ready for polish in about 3 weeks.

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Joe

I was wondering what happened to that thing. Cool F-holes. Kind of wicked flame-ish.

Looking really nice, Joe.

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

Another "Blackie"! Looks good Joe. Walnut looks very rich with the white binding. Nice combination with the black. Bracing seems heavy but I'm sure feedback was your concern. Good stuff!

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Dave
Milton, ON

Dave,

Thanks. Yes bracing is heavy to reduce feedback and to support the huge humbucker routings. I really did not want to do this color combination as I recall you had done something simular. But the further I went along, the less options I had to hide the issues with the top. Those being that the two previous finishes cause heavy staining of the grain in the douglas fir top. When I tried a second translucent finish after stripping the first, all the old color in the poors poped out and cause strange markings. Opaque was the only option I could figure to make it look correct. I almost did a dark burst on the back, but in the end, the walnut looked so nice. Too bad it has so many pieces to make it wide enough. But hey...I have only used scrap wood to build all theses instruments so far. I figure I might as well perfect my craft first then spend some money on the good woods.

I know I didn't come close to your beautiful blackie, so "have no fear"... I am just a "grass-hopper".

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Joe

"I am humbled Grasshopper..."
Seriously, no problem .... I got the idea from Hesh & his lovely blacktop on myrtle a while back!
You'll love it all buffed out & the hardware on!

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Dave
Milton, ON

Lookin' good. What plans are you working from? I'd love to get my hands on some L-5 plans.
Jason

No plans. I have many guitars and know what I like about each of them. I just started building them to suite my taste. This is basically a 59 Gretsch shaped body that I started with. 16" width. I guess I used the benedetto book to get me rolling, but all in all it has just been a trial and error method. Draw it out on paper and make sure it 'technically will work" and then build it.

Joe

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Joe

This is my first archtop I made a little over a year ago. Same mold/body shape. Different headstock, inlays, bracing and woods.

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Joe

That's funny Joe, the one I'm working on right now is a 16" archtop based on my 6120's outline but using Benedetto's book. I wanted an ES-175 so I figured I'd just build one (kinda). I happened to have a 6120 to trace so there ya go. Does anybody happen to have a picture of an L-5's bracing?
Jason

yep, 6120 from 59. I have an L5 bracing pic. It looks very simular to my bracking.....let me see if I can find it.

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Joe

would the top happen to be a 4x4 from depot?

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It is better to try and fail, than never try at all

Sounds nice, can't wait to see it.

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Ken

What a great 1st build!

Yes, that was a 4x4 douglas Fur post I found. It was perfectly flatsawn..or quartersawn depending on how you turned it. It worked pretty darn good.

I can say this, the black guitar is a fantastic sounding instrument plugged and unplugged. It really has a wonderfull tone...even with the over-braced top.

Joe

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Joe

can you give me some your thoughts on the douglas fir. I have two 4x4's in my shop that I had/ have similar plans for. I just can't get over the weight and density (not scientifically tested). how did it carve, was it easy to accidentally split, did you test and measure stiffness and such? Would you build with it again(4x4 or instrument grade)?
Thanks
Robert Dunn

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It is better to try and fail, than never try at all

Robert,

If this is one of your first archtop builds, I would say go for it. While it can be a bit splintery, its was not really hard to carve at all. Certainly easier than maple. And it sounds good.

The weight is not an issue. By the time you carve inside and out, the top ends up pretty lite. While it is heavier than other spruce varieties, its all relative.

The biggest issue with Fur is that the dark grain is harder than the light colored grain. Its can cause the surface to look somewhat corigated (like a box) if your not carefull. I have heard you can cross sand which attacks the hard grain, then come back with a block and sand with the grain to remove the scratches etc. I did not do it that way and had a bit of trouble with the finish shrinking into the wood on the soft spots.

Joe

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Joe

thanks joe

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It is better to try and fail, than never try at all