Official Luthiers Forum!

Friends on OLF....

I'm a little torn about writing this post as I'm not really sure how I feel about the situation.

I am building a commissioned guitar and am having a "friendly fight" with the customer over what he wants for the rosette.

He has sent me a design that has 24 tightly fitting curved pieces that I don't think I'm ready to tackle at this point in my build capabilities and tools that I currently own.

I have tried to suggest other options - but we've come to a stalemate and I'm on a deadline and need to get this build back on track.

One option I have considered is to have someone cut the pieces for me so I can do the rosette as he wants - but I don't know where to go to get this done - and a price to get this done.

I'm not looking for a theological debate on the issue - just want to know where I might be able to go to get the rosette pieces made IF I choose that route.

I have attached the rosette design.

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

can't help you on your question, but that IS a pretty cool design

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If trees could scream, would we be so cavalier about cutting them down? We might, if they screamed all the time, for no good reason. - Jack Handey

What material? Pearl in black mastic and it's fairly straightforward.

Paul, the first thought that popped into my head was "CNC".
Perhaps our own Bob Garrish could help?
http://www.saintlutherie.com/

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Indeed a cool design. I'd "just do it" Inlay the rosette background, cut out each "wave" with a jeweler's saw, file them until they're all more or less the same, and then inlay them one at a time into the rosette. Then router the purfling rings, happily removing any scruffy edges. Maybe charge him an extra $50-100 for a day of tricky work, but it really doesn't look that difficult, and it will make a nice show piece on your web site

I'd probably go with the tried and true score-with-razor-knife-then-router inlay method, but you could do the glue-on-the-pattern-and-freehand-router method too, if the pattern matches the cut out pieces exactly. It's actually only 11 pieces to inlay after you get the background in. The top wave is behind the fingerboard

But if he wants shell for both the waves and the background, that's a whole different ballgame. In both material price and difficulty in cutting seamless pieces. What are the planned materials?

This one of mine has a veneer background (cut in 2 half circles), which is very pretty and easy to score into, but also very thin. I have to be careful not to sand it past the initial leveling until finish prep time, so I have as much thickness as possible to work with. Also, it has some gaps that are filled with ugly light colored sanding dust now, plus a cracked purfling strip... but it's my first one so I'll be keeping it myself, and thus would like to keep my minor errors along with it.

i'd go with dennis' advice.
it would take me more than a day to make that one though.
maybe leave a little gap between the pieces, and use some of that black epoxy that stewmac sells?
i've been thinking about trying that stuff.
good luck with that one paul!
at least your customer doesn't want little dolphins leaping off the waves as well!
hey, that would be sweet!

You can have it cut on a laser. My partner works in a shop where they do trophy and plaque work where they have one. I get them to laser my logos for headstocks all the time.

Might be an option.

Neil

I agree with the others that the desired material would influence a decision. If its wood I would consider using ebony as the background and inlay the other wood into it, so that any gaps could be easily hidden with dust/glue.

Edit: I hope the following isn't what you refer to as 'a theological discussion'...if it is, my apologies, and back to the 'regular programming'...
Edit end.


I don't build on commission, (strictly hobby here..) so you can take my 'two cents worth' as exactly that.
My opinion: 'Whoa!'
Is this the kind of customer you want?
I'd be very leery of entering into any sort of 'business relationship' with this person; I foresee lots of dissatisfaction and problems 'down the road'.
Just say 'No!' and suggest that the customer contact another builder who is more interested in carrying out the customer's 'vision'.
Unless you are desperate for the money, there's no reason to put up with this sort of attitude from a potential customer. Just imagine the reaction this person would get from some 'famous builders' (in my imagination, I see the movie scene between this person and Wayne Henderson....) and act accordingly.

Cheers
John

Could you make a template out of plexiglass that had a fixed point in the middle and would rotate so you could rout each flame. You would use a bushing on the router. you could then make a second template for the backgrounds pieces.

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http://goatrockukulele.com

Thanks for the replies....

I forgot to say that will will be all wood.

The rays will probably be Tiger Myrtle (to match the sides/back) or Madrose (to match the fingerboard) - and the background will probably be Maple.

I personally think this should be reversed - but these are the woods we will probably use.

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Search for fretsaw marquetry techniques. The type where you cut through both veneers with the same cut. It's the same method used to cut fancy vine inlay on the Neck of this Lute:

http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/43.htm

Craig Lavin

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Paul, I can laser cut that design easily. PM me.

Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Well there you go! Quite helpful, Dave, as per usual.
I might just have to think up some tricky rosettes just to send your way!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Yep - looks like Dave is going to be able to help me out.

It's great to have a support community like this!

Thanks to all!

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

No problem guys, glad I can help! It doesn't take long to do on the laser engraving machine.

Anytime you have something you need doing Steve, let me know!

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"