Official Luthiers Forum!

We strung up my first Wednesday night and had a small coming out playing session. Last night she was played before an audience of about 40. Well received, but these peeps are friends. I am pleased, very warm and woody. This guitar is going on a critical playing tour including 2 recording sessions, I will post clips. Numbers 2-4 are well on their way. Thanks to all. T

Hey:
I like it. good job
Bill

Looks good from the photos, besides if you are happy with it, nothing else matters. I am sure if you are like most of us your second will follow soon. Good luck with your building.

Fred

_________________
Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

nice to see you did some original design. Thanks for posting.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Looks great, nice work!

_________________
http://www.PeakeGuitars.com

Thank you gentlemen, I appreciate the comments. John, I really did enjoy the less conventional parts of the build. Here are a couple pics of the rosette and the bridge. T

NICE!
Not copying a factory design is refreshing !

make some more.
Mike

_________________
Mike Collins

That is a fantastic first effort!!! I really am amazed at how nice some of the first builds turn out -- my first few guitars were terrible. I also applaud your desire to think outside the box. Beautifully done!!!

Fine looking guitar. Cool rosette.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Congratulations on a good first effort. I may rain a bit on your parade, though! The OLF's greatest strength is also it's greatest weakness: You asked for a critique and you haven't gotten any. You've gotten lots of support - which is good and necessary...but no critique. I'm going to offer some. You made a nice 000/OM-style guitar but, where you went "unconventional", I don't think you implemented a coherent design. In my opinion, the bridge and rosette don't really work aesthetically, they look like they were stuck on an 000/OM and call attention to themselves as separate entities. Also, the fret position dots on the fingerboard are just way too big...again they call attention instead of fitting into a pleasing design flow. You may want to look at Michihiro Matsuda's work, for example, which can be crazy unconventional but has overall design integrity. You appear to be a talented builder and I'm sure we'll be seeing more from you. Keep working on developing that critical design eye.

I too feel the position markers should be smaller.

_________________
Build log

Ditto on the position markers and the headstock.

I think the rosette is really cool though but, I really want some sort of purfling on the borders, probably just a thin line of black, possibly just a .010" black to sharpen up the lines - very tough to do though. Not sure how I'd handle the extra sector though that is my favorite part. Would have to see both, one with it outlined and one with the whole rosette outlined.

Great job overall though, just think where you'll go next!

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Tim, I agree with the others, dots are waaayy too big. They jump out at you. The bridge is very cool as long as not too heavy and the foot print not too large. That along with the rosette tells us that you have some pretty good design skills. I just think you didn't carry it through to the rest of the guitar.

Otherwise a beautiful instrument. Can't wait to see the next one.

_________________
Tim

Thanks for all the feedback, thankfully numbers 2, 3, and 4 were actually designed before I began working on them. This one does suffer from the design on the fly syndrome, aesthetically it was truly an experiment. Tomorrow it travels to Minnesota where it will be put through a brutal sound quality critique by a the most advanced player I know. Really looking forward to his feedback and a few recordings. Thanks again to all, T.

Funny I didn't even think of the dots until they were mentioned. My eye went right for the rosette and bridge.
Well done, congrats!

Congrats on finishing your 1st ! Number one is a huge accomplishment. A lot of originality but
I have to agree with the others on the bridge ,hs, and those monster dots! I went from regular Martin type dots
to half that size,down the line to micro dots to none(a naked board) which is what I like now.
Keep building and improving and I hope she sounds very good for you which is the most important thing!

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Looks beautiful, Tim! Like another poster, I too did not notice the size of the dots on the fretboard until it was mentioned. I think they look fine and the rosette is very nice, too! Good job. Kudos for having the cojones to venture beyond the bounds of traditional styling on your first!

i like it a lot.
congratulations. the rosette is awesome.
i like the bridge. if it's too heavy, carve it thinner next time.
headstock looks great with the rosette.
i did notice the big fret markers, but thought they added a home made,
or homespun twist to it.
thumbs up from me!

That is a very pretty guitar. If it were on a stand at a guitar shop, it's style would beg me to play it. How long did it take you? You obviously have talent... Keep going!

Mike

Thanks for all the thoughtful comments. To all that are encouraging me to continue building, fret not, I am completely addicted. MIke, I built the guitar on Saturday's and have 70 hours in it. T

Well done tim .

I am on the same bunch as says, dot are big, personally I would make rosette, dots, bridge slimmer ! . for being the first, its really nice though. and its on the first we get to learn these things. I am on my 9th or so now, but I have my first in my bedroom so I can stare her down . I bet your nr2 will be even more nice looking.

Lars

I love it. You have a great aesthetic and I think if you refine it you can very very well known for it. Keep learning and that will most likely happen. Look up Jersey Girl guitars and you might find some ideas you'd like to incorporate in your instruments. About the dots.....for this particular guitar I don't think they work, but big dots can add some childlike charm to an instrument with a different look. I think you should pursue that if you wish. Big dots can also add opportunities for engraving as you have a bigger canvas in which to doodle I genuinely look forward to seeing your abilities evolve into something really cool.

Ian

Yo, Tim,



Nice rosette ...
regarding the dot markers...size don't matter to your ears.

blessings
Padma

_________________
.

Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


.

Is that a Spanish V joint at the headstock? I didn't notice that before.

I veneered the back of the head stock, there were some strange tangents between the laminations of the neck and the tuning machines. T