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Hi all,

I have almost finished a build using some recycled timber and thought I'd share some pics. The back and sides are from an old Australian Silky Oak dresser from about 1910-1920 that was beyond repair. It had been "restored" several times by less than skilled amateurs and was a bit butchered. When I found it, I noticed that the top was quarter sawn and looked big enough to get a back and sides out of it. The neck is some recycled cedar that a friend had stored for about 20 years and was about to use it as replacement fence palings (scored about 10 quarter sawn "palings" from him) and the top is some Celery Top Pine that was given to me to experiment with. I've also used some of the cedar for the bracings on the top and some old QLD maple offcuts for other bits. Admittedly t is a big experiment but so far the box sounds really nice and bright. Anyway, here are some pics and when she's done I'll see if I can get some recordings done too.

Martin

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

I love that oak - gorgeous!

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Wow!

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Nice looking oak... I really like the idea of recycled wood used in building...It appears you already have the bridge attached... If that is correct, how will you be able to level and buff the finish...?...

Very nice!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Martin: Nice rescue.....!!! May it live on for another 100 years or more. CONGRATS.
Tom

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

Beautiful work luv it cheers from kc

Sent from my SGH-T999L using Tapatalk

Very interesting project. Just got to love that Oak!
Looking forward to the soundclip, got to be good!!

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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.

Thanks all for the comments.



Hi Jack,

I finish my guitars with 6-7 coats of Danish Oil and then hand buff 2 coats of Wax. So, no buffing on the wheel etc. I go for a satin finish, I like the more natural look.

Thanks

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

Nice job Martin. Looks like you have a couple of old wardrobes ready to go too!

What brand of Danish oil are you using? They seem to differ quite a lot.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

What Trevor said.

I use two coats of Danish oil to bring out the grain and then five to eight coats of wipe-on poly.
Early on I tried ten coats of Danish oil but after two or three coats, it was very slow drying. I use Watco Danish oil.

Bob

Hi Trevor, I use Rustins Danish Oil. I apply with cotton rags, then rub back with 0000 grade steel wool between coats and make sure it is dry (minimum 4 hours but with all this rain atm, about 8).

And those wardrobes are tempting but then I'd have nowhere for my tools! Always on the look out for timber that can be re-purposed.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

Thanks, Martin.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

Looks beutiful, Martin.
I'm thinking recently that I like it when the binding blends into the colour of the back and sides. Yours is a good example of that. Less bling, more style. I like it.

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.

Looks great. I'd never guess that was a pine top. How's the sound?

Fantastic! Great job.

Thanks, haven't strung it up yet but the box is tapping nice and bright. I'll attempt to get some recordings done when it is finished.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

OK, finally finished this build. The guitar is pretty responsive but the tone is a little muted compared to my other builds. I did use cedar bracing on the top and I suspect it has something to do with that. The overall feel and sound of the guitar is good and it has started opening up after a day or so of playing. I hope to get some recordings done soon.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

...i wouldn't rush to blame cedar for that, it transmits vibration like a champ

Oh, good! I have another build I wanted to use cedar bracing on. This one will be completely recycled timber. An old Tassie Oak desk that was thrown out on the side of the road will make the back and sides and an Australian Cedar (Toona ciliata) top that was apparently a shelf in an old home. I love the idea of this recycling.

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

Nice looking guitar! I like your satin finish. Looks great.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

This is my first post, all I want to say is that I love this guitar, I love the fact that it is recycled or should that be "up cycled" I have made a couple of instruments from my old front door, not as neat as yours though.

Wow, what an interesting build Neil. Love the pinless bridge. Would love to see some close ups of that and also know what timbers were used etc. It looks great!
and thanks for the compliment!

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Martin Taylor
http://martintaylorguitars.com.au

Yeah, show us some pics, Neil.

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.

I am struggling to post multiple pics but here goes.
I can only seem to add two pics at a time.
Briefly. The guitar is one of two similar and a ukulele I made from my old front door. The back and sides were made scantling style i.e. 4 planks for the back, and the tops were from the infill panels which was a wierd sort of very stringy wood I think Meranti the rest is some sort of very pale Mahogany. The bridge and the head plate and scratchplate are from old Walnut Parkray floor tiles. The neck is a Sapele drawer front and all the trim is from both sources. The black beading and the fretboard are the only purchased items.