Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey fellow guitar builders and hobbyists:
This is my latest, the paint is still a little soft and it could probably use some more buffing. I tried to make it look old and cheap. Its a copy of a 1940 Gibson L-00 that I found some pictures of online. I put a really thin finish on it and its still shiny like "it had been sittin' under a bed for the last 60 years". The guitar plays real easy and sounds like it should ( I think). Its just plain comfy and fun to sit on the couch and noodle around with. I wish I had someone around here that could be persuaded to really give it a workout as I think it is just the ticket to play some down home mississippi blues on, it would be great to hear what its capable of!
Anyway, this is number 23 for me 17 have found homes but I still have 6 to go. I think the economy being sour has slowed down the purchase of expensive toys. Maybe it will get better soon.......

Oh yeah, specs:
Lumberyard mahogany
Ebay adi
cheap plastic binding
cheap tuners
Zpoxy
KTM9
The whole thing didn't cost $150 to build


Anyway,
Thanks for being here, carry on----- Mikey

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The Biggest Little City, Nevada
www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

Hey Mikey that is exactly the kind of guitar that if I could have only one it would be one like this one - very cool bro!!!

I love L-OOs as you may know and the concept of slouching on the couch with a nice L-OO is not foreign to me at all...

I think that you captured the essence of an L-OO here. BTW they were never meant to be expensive guitars when they were being produced, often in batches of 6 in Kalamazoo and some have speculated that the "L" stood for "learner" or these where considered entry level guitars. Some more trivia for you is that L-OOs could also be found in southern jails and prisons and how they got there was probably because they belonged to the inmates and the inmate's visitors brought the guitars on visiting day.

Finishes were on the thin side, bracing was very rough and pretty much manufacturing concerns ruled over trying to make an expensive guitar.

Yours looks like the real deal to me - very nice job!

I agree, that goes to the heart of a good guitar right there!
Lots of fine music born from good sounding yet affordable guitars like that.

Joe

Mikey,
Great looking guitar!

Is it ladder braced or X braced?

Dovetail or bolt on neck?

Regards,
Brad

Mikey, That is a great guitar. I love the vintage look. Tony

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Tony Flippo

I assume those are the Stew-Mac Golden Age tuners. Are they decent, for $40?

Great looking guitar! I'm planning to start an L-00 later this month. If it turns out half as nice as yours I'll be a happy picker.

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George :-)

Like Zach, I am curious about the tuners. How do these compare to other open gear tuners that you have used? I have an old parlor guitar that needs restoration and those tuners look to fit the bill perfectly. The original tuners are trashed and need replacing.

Thanks-

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

John and Zach:
The Stew Mac tuners are a little bit disappointing, although they "look the business" they are not as smooth as perhaps the 510's. In their defense, the knobs are a shade of off white that is perfect for an old guitar. The tuners look great for their intended useage and will work well, they just have a little slack in the gear train. All in all I would use them again.
As to the other questions, this set of plans is available for free on the web, just google them up and have them printed (PDF file) at a blueprint place. The plans show an "x" brace design. I used a bolt on neck 'cause I'm too lazy to go buy a dovetail bit for the router.
Thanks for the positive responses... Mikey

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The Biggest Little City, Nevada
www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

It sure looks good to me! Nice work!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

At those rates who needs to outsource their work to china

I love these old guitars. They just have that lived in look that you want for a kick around.

Thanks for sharing

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Disappointment is an empty box full of expectation

I'm impressed......and $150?.....wow!

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

I like it Mikey! Hey Mikey, He likes it!!!

Seriously, you captured the vintage vibe and I really like that.

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jw ( o)===:::

Thanks for sharing, including your sources (lumberyard - I love it). Great looking old, I mean new, guitar.

Ed

Just a quick note about the little L-00. The first guy that walked in last night bought it. Whodah thunk it?

Coupla bucks closer to payin the rent........... Mikey

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The Biggest Little City, Nevada
www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

I could see that one being sold very quickly. There is something magical about these old looking things. Nostalgia maybe?

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Disappointment is an empty box full of expectation