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Hi all. ok so I got some photos back today. let me know what you think. good and or bad ! . the customer who bought it just called me and said that he´d had it in front of a loudspeaker for 2 days in a row to let it set in. after this the string height has increased !! He says that it has increased so much that he has put an icecream stick under the saddle to compensate. I will have alook at it tomorrow. ! is this normal ? when he got it it was perfect in every way ! I understandthe wood will settle in etc but if it raises with about 2-3 mm !! ?? he says the top looks perfect and there are no dips etc.
Click the images for larger view ! .

Here are the specs on the guitar.

Lutz top from our buddy Shane.
Koa bindings from Bruce Creps at notablewoods.com amazing Koa !!!
Mahogany B/S and Neck
Gotoh 510 tuners.
A big thank you to Stephen at colonial woods for the help and advice he gave me !! and for his awesome bracewood that is inside this little thing.


Lars.

attachment=0]steel-gitarrer40.jpg[/attachment]

Just beatiful, Lars. What is the darker wood on the laminated neck, walnut?

[quote]What is the darker wood on the laminated neck/quote]

Thanks alot for the kind words Edvard. The darker wood is Ovankol. Didn´t have any koa with right thickness !

lars

Stunning, Lars, just stunning.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

What a beauty!!!!....Now what are you going to do for an encore?
Did you De tune the guitar to get your tuner buttons to match direction for the photo shoot.....or are you a master IN TUNE tuner button alignment guy too?

Kent

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

http://www.kabart.com

I would be more concerned that his loud speaker was located too close to a heating vent then just vibrations from a speaker to cause change in action. I always tell customers to make sure they have their guitar in the case religiously for a few months when they first get it and to monitor the humidity. If they have a climate controlled studio even better. Another possibility I suppose is that their was no tension on the truss rod and the neck has set to the point where it feels the tension, that of course would be an easy fix. Just tweak the nut.

Beautiful looking guitar

edit: wait a second, the string height increased and he had to raise the saddle with a popsicle stick?

[quote]Did you De tune the guitar to get your tuner buttons to match direction for the photo shoot/quote]
YES

[quote]wait a second, the string height increased and he had to raise the saddle with a popsicle stick/quote]
Well no misstype ! The strings has lowered to the point that he had to put a piece of popsicle under the saddle.
He now called me to say he´d also filed some on the 12th fret as it gave some bussing now, and that he´d also fiddled some with the trussrod. !! . Not sure I am happy with him doing all this, even if it now is his guitar ! I would have been more happy if he simple would have sent me the guitar for some final setups. But thats to late now I guess.

lars

[quote]wait a second, the string height increased and he had to raise the saddle with a popsicle stick/quote]

Well no misstype ! The strings has lowered to the point that he had to put a piece of popsicle under the saddle.
He now called me to say he´d also filed some on the 12th fret as it gave some bussing now, and that he´d also fiddled some with the trussrod. !! . Not sure I am happy with him doing all this, even if it now is his guitar ! I would have been more happy if he simple would have sent me the guitar for some final setups. But thats to late now I guess.

Please do give me more advice regarding this

Lars

Lars, this guitar is exquisite! You are really developing your own style. I love the headstock and the pickguard. It must be a very proud feeling to see your baby up there on TV singing to you. Way to go!!

Lars,

I'm not a guitar repairman, but I've done a lot of failure analysis in the past. I think you want to approach this step-by-step, trying to understand what has happened. I would first try to get a straightedge on the frets, with the strings at full tune, just as it came back from the customer. Determine if the neck is bowed. If you have or can make a straight edge of the right length, where does a straight edge resting on the frets hit on the bridge- it should be right at the top of the bridge, or close to that. What are the string heights at the nut and 12th fret. Even though the customer says the top is fine, check the contour of the top in front and back of the bridge- are there any strange humps or dips? After finding everything you can about the dimensions with the guitar as delivered, take the strings off, and continue your investigation. Where does a straightedge along the top of the frets hit the bridge now? How flat are the frets? What is the angle between the sides at the neck heel and the top- has it changed since you built the guitar? If the neck is bowed, try and adjust the truss rod to straighten it out. Where does the straight edge along the frets hit the bridge now? Let us know what you find, maybe some of us can help understand what is going on if it's not evident. Personally, I'd appreciate it if you take the time to fill us in on what you find, it's good experience to listen to...Good Luck!

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Lars if you maintained 45ish% RH when you built the guitar and the client does not humidify at all, and it winter in Norway too meaning dry with forced air heating systems wreaking havoc it's likely that the guitar is drying out, the dome of the top is collapsing and as such the action is getting too low to the point of buzzing.

This sounds like the ole client is letting their guitar dry out thing again... and so soon too. Perhaps educate your client, provide them with an aftermarket humidifier, hand them your written warranty and point out your expectations of the client for care and feeding of your shared child and even make a winter saddle too anticipating that the client will not always humidify well.

Personally if one of my clients has messed with the saddle, frets, truss rod and THEN called me I would be upset.... It may have been that the guitar simply needed to be rehumidified and now you have to do that AND undo all the stuff the client did....

gozierdt good popints indeed, will look into it and let you all know the outcome !

Hesh I was at lars Rasmussens place today "got some cocobolo sets that lookt awesome he sold me" He said the same thing you did. that as I have my guitars in a constant 45% humidity and then the client let it sit in a ( asit is now about 5% humidity room with loudspeakers on for 2 days. the top is shrinking and therefor the doom of the top is lowering. So what I will do is get the guitar back and let it sit in my 45% room for a few days then check it. then we´ll see what can be done to it.

Lars

Just spoke to the customer again and he said the guitar had been 2 days in a room with no humidity at all wish is the same as to say - in a room with about 0-5% humidity. so I will take it home in a few days and put it back in its right enviroment

really handsome work Lars. Your photography is top notch as well
John

Lars Bro,

Beautiful!! The lines on that guitar are...... well, just right. The pick guard and bridge work really well together. You have a great eye. We will require a close up of the rosette though.

I'll really be impressed when I see ABBA playing one of your guitars. Are they still alive? Do they even play guitar. Whatever. Yo Ho Ho.

Cheers,
Danny

Lovely, Lars!
Never assume that your customer knows anything about instrument care.

Absolutely stunning Lars!
Rick

I love the headstock. It is absolutely gorgeous but then so is the whole guitar. I wish we could hear what it sounds like.
Chuck