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Thought I'd share this one I just got strung up. EIR from rctonewoods and German Spruce top. Bloodwood binding.

After struggling with finishes for too long - I decided to send this one out and man, what a difference. This one was finished by Josh House who hangs out here on the forum sometimes with his UV finish system and I think he did an awesome job.

Guitar has a Shatten active pickup.

Neil

She's a beauty! Love the back of the peghead.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Very nice! That back is very interesting. Finish looks superb.

Aaron

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Aaron Craig

Simply stunning - if it sounds as good as it looks you have a suberb guitar there!

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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.

Beautiful. I am a big fan of bloodwood binding.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Bold step using that wild EIR! But no guts, no glory, right?
I built with a set like that--once--and it took extra effort just to make it behave.
It was worth it, but still trouble.
Is the rosette, which is particularly nice, also bloodwood?

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Looks great man. That is some really pretty EIR

Neil: Congrats on a super job. That back looks like reflections in a pool of water.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Wow, I love the figure in that back wood. Nice build.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Nice work Neil!

Would love to see more detail of the back of that peghead. It looks like you've used a stacked heelblock so is it a scarf joint at the peghead? If so, would be interested to see how you did the contrast on the back.

Shane

Thanks for all the nice comments.

Steve
Yes, the crazy figure EIR gave a bit of trouble but not too much. And it sounds and looks good so guess it was worth it.

The rosette is also bloodwood made in segments so that the grain goes towards the centre of the soundhole. And then trimmed with zipflex. First time I've used that. Pretty easy to use.

Shane
The neck is a scarf join. The back of the headstock is done after the neck is carved. I just lay on the black veneer.

Neil

Nice!!!
Great work, and, stunning back!
How do you like the pickup?

The pickup sounds good to me. Not quite as good as a microphone but pretty darn good. I'm not a fan of that piezo quack sound and the Shatten pretty much eliminates that. There's a slight hint of it in the mids.

But having now heard it, I'll be putting one in one of my personal guitars.

So the answer is - it sounds good.

Neil

Nice work, Neil. I really like your logo. Was the trouble you had with the EIR due to warping and if so did the set come to you that way? How thick is it?

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Beautiful back, almost has a natural tobacco burst to it.

The figure seriously makes it look like a classical mandolin bowl. Very pretty guit.