Official Luthiers Forum!

Just finished another heel carving. I'll post a series of photos on the tutorial site if anyone is interested.
Kent

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

That is just unbelievable. Amazing, really....I'd love to see the tutorial, although I sincerely think that's quite a bit above my level of artistry.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Guaranteed....my first attempt at this wasn't anything like this......and I sure didn't try carving my first design on a fully completed neck full of inlay. That tends to raise the stress level a bit
Start small...practice shallow relief technique and designs on scraps of wood. Try a simple peghead carving first.
There's no easy way to do this.....you just get better and faster each time.
Kent

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

WOOOOOW. thats beautiful Kent. I would really love to see a tutorial on this !!! Cant wait to see it !!

lars

I have never played on anything like that. What do people tend to think of the feel of the neck? I love the carving's, by the way!

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

gotta say i absolutly love your work
i dont think theres a person here that wouldnt look this up
keep the pics coming
you couldnt blend art and craft in a more impressive way
thanks

Awesome design and execution...!

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http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Kent,

It is a pleasure to look at your carvings! Please post more if you can.

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Ken

Wow Kent - that's stunning. Do you by any chance have a picture of a completed guitar with a similarly carved neck - I'd love to see a completed 'work of art'

Christian

My experience in instrument carving, in the past, is primarily with banjo necks.....and I've been dealing with a banjo maker company for almost 30 years and have ironed out most potential issues with possible disruption to a player. The company , as far as I know, hasn't had issues or complaints...or I'd know about it.
I am a pretty good guitar player but a fairly sad banjo player, but the designs on my banjos don't seem to hinder my pathetic style of play. The patterns I carve on necks are purposely shallow at the ridge of the neck and with a good finish leaves very little to no resistance for the thumb or valley of the thumb to slide freely. Most players have a light to slight thumb pressure touch on a neck anyway.....or at least should.
A carved pattern is also mostly confined to the heel area that has no real effect on the player. With this in mind, I would also recommend that a design not extend halfway up the neck.

I have only carved 3 guitar necks. 2 for me and 1 for a client that is currently putting his guitar together. My 2 necks are still setting on the counter and have very little carving up the neck...most is on the heel.. One is a classical and the other a OM neck. I hope to start the OM project after Christmas. I'll post pictures...if and when I get done. I'm so swamped with orders that I may not get back to guitar making for a while.

Tis the season.

Kent

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

really amazing work. A tutorial would be great.

Amazing! A tutorial would be great.

BTW - Would you hire yourself out for neck carving? If so, please PM or email.
Thanks!

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

I did post a few progressive pictures on the tutorial page.
Kent

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com