Official Luthiers Forum!

Yup, finishing!

I am never happy with my work - Folks seem to buy my instruments regardless. Maybe I get too micro.

This is a 27” baritone based on my Mod-dread body shape. The top is a Pacific Rim sonically graded Lutz top over Bocote. The strings will be a custom dadderio, 60-15 PB set tuned a half step higher than standard. This way the 6th string has a similar shimmer to the other 5. I’m generally a skin player and a .070” just kinda goes “thud”.

Anyway, more pics after assembly.

Cheers, M

Finishing for sure

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Agreed!

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Getting paid.

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

Pore filling for me and now looking back it's sooooo easy to get great results with ep*xy but before I learned how it was the most frustrating part of loofering for me.

I also had trouble cutting the nuts slots at the proper angle and not too shallow or with a hump in the middle of the slot. Also looking back none of this is hard it was just a problem for me once upon a time.

Finding those little gaps between the binding and the rebate which even though small seem to always appear.

Dave

Finishing is one of my favorite parts. I think though that it is absolutely related to the amount of effort it took to get to an acceptable result. I can’t look in the mirror and ask if it was worth it. Don’t pull that thread!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_________________
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

Do you use epoxy for your pore fill? I like to mask the top, coming in about 1/16” inside the purfling lines. Learned this trick from Brian who used to frequent the OLF. When applying epoxy to the back and sides, take a minute and rub some epoxy into the purfling/rabbet joints using a gloved index fingers. You can also burnish in epoxy around the rosette. I usually have to do 3 passes with the epoxy, so I get three chances to fill the tiny, otherwise invisible gaps. Pro-tip, I use grain alcohol in a needle bottle to help release the masking tape from the top.

PS Silvertip with the fast hardener is my preferred…

M

Are you still doing uv-cure polyester?

Yes, though I’ve modified how I apply it compared to how I first learned in Brian Howard’s shop. I have also been a little wishy washy on porefill lately. I used Silvertip for the first time recently and really liked it. For most instruments though it’s UV cured pore filler.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_________________
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars

Funny,I just made up a custom set for my "baritone" (26-1/2") and ended up with the same gauges.

For me the toxic environment of exotic micro particles.

_________________
It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

The paycheque?

Starting a new one .......

Not to be a contrarian or worse... but the best part of it for me has been I got to do something I absolutely love and look forward to doing every single day for the last nearly 20 years. It doesn't hurt that it's paid off my home, car, etc, bought my business partner a beautiful home on five acres in the woods and filled my studio with cool guitars and amps.

More importantly I've met and become friends with some great people and a few are like family to me now at a time when my family is all gone and I am one of the only ones left.

We now have three dogs in our shop, all larger dogs, all rescues and they all love Uncle Hesh especially when I have treats

Most of all I get to see someone sit down, try out their guitar after we have repaired it and set it up and watch them be thrilled and excited especially in uncertain times like these.

I feel like a very, very lucky guy that I got to be a luthier and especially a working in the trade luthier who does this for a living.

I'm headed into the shop in Ann Arbor (just outside of it now) now and I am taking one of my Suhr Teles in to raise a nut slot with light cured dental fillings. I cut it too low last night but the dental filling fix will last longer than I do. Can't wait to be back at my bench surrounded my my four legged pals and making folks happy helping them achieve their musical goals.