Official Luthiers Forum!

Just recently got #3 finished up. Thanks to all who post here, I refer to forum often when I get stuck (which is unfortunately all too often). Specific thanks to Stephen Kinnaird. He looked over my second guitar a while back and shared some suggestions which I believe made a difference in the sound on this one (for the better!) Although it is not the most conservative looking guitar it gave me an opportunity to try / learn some new things. The friend I built it for had only one request in the design...make it Texas. He seems to be happy so far. The specs are:

OM - 25.4 scale based on Kinkead Book. (getting a little more loosely based on the book with each build)
Top: Bearclaw sitka
Back and Sides: Mesquite
Neck: Three piece Mahogany / Black walnut
Bindings and Backstrip: Black walnut
Headplate, Fingerboard, Bridge: Pau Ferro

The soundhole size is as close to the area in sq inches as I could get to the soundhole on the plans using freehand on graph paper. I have no CAD skills at all so I'm sure it's not exact, but it's pretty close. Suggestions and constructive criticism are welcome. I am just getting started and want to learn more. Thanks for looking

Donald

I love it. Growing up in Texas, we had a mesquite in the backyard that was growing sideways. We had to put a stump under the trunk to keep it stable. Made for a really good climbing tree. Good job and great choice of Texas woods.

I love it. Growing up in Texas, we had a mesquite in the backyard that was growing sideways. We had to put a stump under the trunk to keep it stable. Made for a really good climbing tree. Good job and great choice of Texas woods.

That's a cool scheme I would never guess you were from Texas. What is Mesquite like to work with, it looks cool.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
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Matt: Thank you for the kind words.

Fred: The mesquite was, in my limited experience, easy to work with. The sides bent smoothly on a fox bender with a blanket, I thicknessed with a drum but planing the back for the join was very smooth. Gluing, sanding, pore filling and finishing all went pretty smoothly in my opinion. I was a little concerned in the beginning when I tapped it. It didn't have near the ring that my coco set I have waiting for me does. However the final sound of the guitar is pretty smooth and round. It's not a very bright guitar but hasn't lost the trebles either. How much of that has to do with the wood versus other things I did I'm just not experienced enough to say.

Awesome - I love it !


congrats !

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

Hey Donald, you are welcome my friend!
This is certainly a cool guitar, even if you don't live in Texas.
And it sounds great!

I did have one idea...put a little pearl star in the proper place in the Texas soundhole to represent your client's home town.
You'll have to devise some way to suspend it--either from the side of the hole, or maybe a slender prop rising up from the back?
Set a bit below the surface of the top so a pick will not hit it.


Or not....

Good to see ya at LINT last Saturday!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Yeeeee Hawwwww now that thar's whut I call a git-tar!!! She's a fine looker fer shure Donald. Being a 5th generation Texan, I have to say I do appreciate the soundboard colors and the soundhole.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Very cool guitar, truly what custom guitars are about. Danny Ferrington has a book of custom guitars that he made for many famous players, one, for JD Souther has a Texas theme, he did the top of the headstock like the top half of Texas, with the star for JD's home town, and the bottom half of Texas is the end of the fingerboard by the sound hole. Yours is cooler though.

Texas has got to be the only state that this would work for, I don't think any one will do a New Jersey version celebrating their home state pride. (I am from NJ, so I am allowed the jab)

I have been curious about mesquite for bridge, bridge patch and fingerboard, any experience using it for these purposes? I think it is out hardest domestic lumber.

Great guitar
Rob

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Very nice Donald! Makes me wanna sit around a campfire.

Again, thanks to all for the compliments.

Steve: Good idea on the star but all I have for materials right now is duct tape and bailing wire.....hmmmmm.

Rob: Thanks you for the compliment. I'll have to look up that guitar. This is the only thing I have done with mesquite and I have very little build experience. I wouldn't want to lead you down the wrong path but maybe someone else could chime in on that one.

Edward: Thanks but the campfire makes me a little nervous. I've burned way too much mesquite in campfires out at my buddies ranch. I'm afraid if the wrong mesquite "log" hit the fire you might see a grown redneck cry.

When you can say, you'll never see another one like it, then you've done something right. Very unique, well done.

I really like it. The bearclaw makes it looks worn or antique. Very creative. I bet you have been thinking about this for some time with the inlays. I love guitars that have some thought behind them.

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Jason Moe
LaCrosse WI 54601

The antique look was the reason for using the bearclaw. I'm happy that came across in the finished product. Thank you much for noticing and taking the time to post.

very cool. I like the antiqued paint job....looks weatherred.

what type of dye did you use ?

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

John I used blue, red, and black transtint dyes in water rubbed on the surface using cotton cloth. Multiple passes with each color until I was happy with depth of color. Sanding between passes for anywhere the coverage started to get too even. The black was used in a very diluted mix. Just enough to make the water look a little dirty. That was used in the "white" areas of the flag. The thought process was to antique that area as well has help the bearclaw stand out a little more.