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 Post subject: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 5:53 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2014 10:35 am
Posts: 356
Location: Hopkinton, MA
First name: Robert
Last Name: Ionta
City: Hopkinton
State: Massachusetts
Zip/Postal Code: 01748
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I finished my first build a few days ago. Yesterday I brought it to a New England Luthiers meeting and they didn’t throw me out (nice folks there) so I thought I’d post a couple of pictures. I had the happy opportunity to have it played by a couple of fine players and I made a video of a professional guitarist playing it, so if I can get his contact info I’ll ask him if it’s ok to post the video here. He liked the sound but suggested the action was too stiff on the lower frets. I was a little too chicken to get the nut slots low enough but I’ve tweaked them since and it does feel much nicer to me.

Anyway, here are the vital statistics:

- Built to the OLF OM plans with very minor tweaks for my preferences.
- Honduras mahogany b&s from RC Tonewoods (was nice wood to work with, I screwed up the side bending six ways from Sunday and they still turned out great).
- Sitka top from Alan Edie
- can’t recall where I got the fretboard. I bought it from either Stew Mac or LMI a long time ago, pre-slotted. I think it’s ebony.
- carpathian elm burl veneer rosette
- headplate, bridge and bindings are walnut, left over wall paneling from my uncle’s den that I’ve been hanging onto since around 1968 or ‘69. (You just never know when an odd piece of wood will find its destiny.)
- finish is French polish by the Tom Bills method (approximately). I still need to rub it out with the polishing compound so it has some pad marks here and there.
- lousy iPhone photography by yours truly.
- made so many mistakes along the way that I learned a ton. (And enjoyed every minute.) Of course the guitar has its flaws that I’m trying hard to resist cataloguing for everyone who sees it. But it exceeded my goals for my first build which were:
1. Be recognizably guitar-shaped
2. Not implode when I put strings on it and tuned it up
3. Be playable enough to not make my playing worse than it already is
4. Sound at least as good as the $30 plywood junker I bought to practice fretting and setups.

Many, many thanks to folks here who helped me along, whether they know it or not.

I can’t wait to build another one.

Image
ImageImage




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These users thanked the author bionta for the post (total 2): JSDenvir (Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:19 pm) • Haans (Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:04 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:01 pm 
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Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:04 am
Posts: 5743
First name: Chris
Last Name: Pile
City: Wichita
State: Kansas
Country: Good old US of A
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
Very nice. Welcome to the community!

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These users thanked the author Chris Pile for the post: bionta (Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:07 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:09 pm 
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Koa
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Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:08 am
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Location: Raleigh, NC
First name: Steve
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Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Nice job! Thanks for posting.

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These users thanked the author sdsollod for the post: bionta (Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:27 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:33 pm 
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First name: Alex
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Nice work, Robert! Any chance of a rosette close-up?

Alex

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These users thanked the author Alex Kleon for the post: bionta (Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:27 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:39 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Nice job, it looks great!


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These users thanked the author bcombs510 for the post: bionta (Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:27 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:44 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
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Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
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Congrats on finishing #1 [:Y:] Don't obsess too much over the little problems, just start #2 laughing6-hehe

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These users thanked the author SteveSmith for the post: bionta (Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:27 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 6:52 pm 
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Gorgeous!

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These users thanked the author dzsmith for the post: bionta (Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:28 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:27 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2014 10:35 am
Posts: 356
Location: Hopkinton, MA
First name: Robert
Last Name: Ionta
City: Hopkinton
State: Massachusetts
Zip/Postal Code: 01748
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks guys. Boy! Your positive feedback really makes me want to get back to the shop and start #2.

Here is my (basic) rosette.

Image


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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:46 pm 
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Koa
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Location: United States
City: Tyler
State: Texas
Nice rosette...great job on the whole thing!



These users thanked the author Glen H for the post: bionta (Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:39 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:20 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:07 am
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Location: Cobourg ON
First name: Steve
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Country: Canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Looks fabulous Bob. Way to go. Now on to number 2 :-)

Steve



These users thanked the author JSDenvir for the post: bionta (Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:39 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:47 pm 
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[:Y:] [clap]

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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.



These users thanked the author Colin North for the post: bionta (Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:50 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Mon Oct 16, 2017 8:58 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2009 10:27 pm
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Location: South Carolina
First name: John
Last Name: Cox
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Very pretty guitar you got there. You did a very nice job. A lot better than the average #1.



These users thanked the author truckjohn for the post: bionta (Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:50 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:24 am 
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She looks fantastic and YOU should be very, very proud my friend!

There is nothing like playing one that you made and enjoying the sound that you crafted. [:Y:]

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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:52 am 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2014 10:35 am
Posts: 356
Location: Hopkinton, MA
First name: Robert
Last Name: Ionta
City: Hopkinton
State: Massachusetts
Zip/Postal Code: 01748
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Hesh wrote:
She looks fantastic and YOU should be very, very proud my friend!

There is nothing like playing one that you made and enjoying the sound that you crafted. [:Y:]


Thanks! It really is a thrill to play the guitar I made myself, that’s for sure.


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These users thanked the author bionta for the post: Hesh (Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:51 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:12 am 
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Its also good to set the objectives that you did. Too many first time builders want to reinvent the guitar without any understanding of what they are working with!

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These users thanked the author douglas ingram for the post: Hesh (Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:51 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:30 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Nice going!

What are the plans for the second one?



These users thanked the author Brad Goodman for the post: bionta (Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:55 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 7:37 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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And so the journey begins :D



These users thanked the author jfmckenna for the post (total 2): Hesh (Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:51 am) • bionta (Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:55 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:02 am 
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Nice work! Welcome to the addiction. [:Y:]

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These users thanked the author George L for the post: bionta (Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:55 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:50 am 
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Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2013 3:25 pm
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Well done. Love OMs! And yours looks great!

-Tony

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These users thanked the author mountain whimsy for the post: bionta (Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:55 am)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:52 am 
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Cocobolo
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Location: Hopkinton, MA
First name: Robert
Last Name: Ionta
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State: Massachusetts
Zip/Postal Code: 01748
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Brad Goodman wrote:
Nice going!

What are the plans for the second one?


Thanks for the encouragement.

For #2 I’m thinking I might build a 12 fret, shorter scale version of the same guitar. I bought two of everything (b&s, top, neck) at the same time so I have a nearly identical set of materials. I’m thinking that I can learn something first hand about the effects of scale length by keeping the rest of the guitar as similar as possible. Although I guess braces may have to move a little bit and I might also add a cutaway (another big learning experience). I also hope to get a few things right that I messed up on #1 - like the bindings. I’m not totally happy with my headstock design or the bridge either.

I think I just outlined about 6 more guitars I’ll have to build to get to all that stuff. And then... I started out wanting to build an arch top ...

Did George just say something about addiction?




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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 12:59 pm 
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Koa
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Location: Hudson, MA
First name: Kevin
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That's your first?? Wow



These users thanked the author Quine for the post: bionta (Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:28 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 12:14 am 
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Congratulations, Bob!



These users thanked the author James Orr for the post: bionta (Fri Oct 20, 2017 4:57 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:45 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Congrats, that came out nice! It is a great feeling stringing up and playing your first. You should be proud.


You said you are thinking of making a 2 fret and you mention you already bought the neck. If you mean neck blank then disregard, but if you bought a precut neck you will have a hard time converting to a 12 fret. Just something to keep in mind.

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These users thanked the author Bryan Bear for the post: bionta (Fri Oct 20, 2017 4:58 pm)
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 Post subject: Re: Here’s my first
PostPosted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 5:04 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2014 10:35 am
Posts: 356
Location: Hopkinton, MA
First name: Robert
Last Name: Ionta
City: Hopkinton
State: Massachusetts
Zip/Postal Code: 01748
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Bryan Bear wrote:
Congrats, that came out nice! It is a great feeling stringing up and playing your first. You should be proud.


You said you are thinking of making a 2 fret and you mention you already bought the neck. If you mean neck blank then disregard, but if you bought a precut neck you will have a hard time converting to a 12 fret. Just something to keep in mind.

Sorry I wasn’t clear. I bought a stick of Honduran mahogany at a local hardwood lumber yard. I made 3 heck blanks and it was so nice to work with I’m going back for more soon.

Thanks again for the kind words and good advice. I’ve gotta say, the luthier community, both online and live & in-person, is just fantastic.


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These users thanked the author bionta for the post: Hesh (Sat Oct 21, 2017 12:40 am)
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