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 Post subject: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 3:49 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:11 am
Posts: 2142
So I guess I’m on a satin/flat finish kick. I really like them.
This one is brushed varnish McCloskey’s Man O’ War spar varnish. Yup there’s a reason they call it that -it’s some tough stuff they use it on boats.
So the wood for this guitar is a beautiful set of Koa which was just barely thick enough to make guitar.
I paired that with some of Brent Coles of Alaska specialty woods ultralight Sitka spruce and also used some very light Sitka for the bracing. To help keep the weight down I used Spanish cedar for the neck with a Gibson style truss rod which I think is pretty much the lightest adjustable truss rod you’re gonna find.
It weighs in at 3.7 pounds which is pretty light for a guitar that size
Ziricote for the fretboard ,head veneers, bridge and binding.
25.4 inch scale
Stew Mac Waverley tuners with Koa buttons

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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:20 pm 
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Contributing Member
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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
I like it. Keep up the good work.

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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 4:23 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7240
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair
Nice, I like the purfling.

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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:01 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 10:00 pm
Posts: 980
First name: Josh
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Beautiful work as usual!


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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Mon Oct 18, 2021 8:58 pm 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 12971
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional
Very cool Brad you have a great design eye!

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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:00 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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First name: Brad
Last Name: Combs
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Lovely. How is the varnish applied? Instructions say brushed. Did you choose the marine grade for the durability? I also noticed in the data sheet:

"Unlike polyurethane clear finishes which become brittle, crack and peel when used outdoors, this marine quality varnish remains flexible and absorbs the expanding and contracting seasonal movement of the wood."

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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:46 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:11 am
Posts: 2142
bcombs510 wrote:
Lovely. How is the varnish applied? Instructions say brushed. Did you choose the marine grade for the durability? I also noticed in the data sheet:

"Unlike polyurethane clear finishes which become brittle, crack and peel when used outdoors, this marine quality varnish remains flexible and absorbs the expanding and contracting seasonal movement of the wood."

I have use this varnish before .
I apply it with a brush.
seems to work great I tried a few others also.
love the color gives great Amber
Definitely ages a lot better than nitro as far as checking and cracking


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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 3:31 pm 
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Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 6:19 pm
Posts: 163
First name: Tom
Last Name: Armstrong
City: Portsmouth
State: Virginia
Zip/Postal Code: 23701
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Brad wrote “So the wood for this guitar is a beautiful set of Koa which was just barely thick enough to make guitar.”

I’m in the same boat as I have 2 sets of koa that are rather thin. What did yours measure?

Tom


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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 8:55 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:11 am
Posts: 2142
Gasawdust wrote:
Brad wrote “So the wood for this guitar is a beautiful set of Koa which was just barely thick enough to make guitar.”

I’m in the same boat as I have 2 sets of koa that are rather thin. What did yours measure?

Tom


The backs were around .100 before joining and cleaned up to .085 and the sides were about the same....


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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 10:46 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 8:54 am
Posts: 854
State: Texas
Country: United States
Focus: Repair
Very cool! Hadn't thought of using ziricote for the bridge, how easy was it to work and carve? Might make a good substitue for rosewood when it isn't available.


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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Wed Oct 20, 2021 9:25 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6232
Location: Virginia
The colors all round are great on that one.


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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 7:53 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:11 am
Posts: 2142
DanKirkland wrote:
Very cool! Hadn't thought of using ziricote for the bridge, how easy was it to work and carve? Might make a good substitue for rosewood when it isn't available.


Other than the fact that it gums up sandpaper-it works nicely.


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 Post subject: Re: My J-44-1/2
PostPosted: Thu Oct 21, 2021 7:56 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2017 8:43 am
Posts: 1700
Slick man


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