Official Luthiers Forum!

Excellent work. The headstock looks good with that joint!

It's really looking good so far...
Do you have the sides bent yet? Typically, the top and back don't get braced until just before they are glued to the sides. Less time braced and unattached means less chance of humidity problems. As long as your shop RH is constant, you should be OK, but it is something to keep an eye on.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Thx, Rodger. No, I haven't yet. My brother is shipping me his bender this week. Since I braced the top and back three or four weeks ago and my loft is fairly constant 45% I think I'll be ok. Hopefully.

As I wait for my brothers bending iron to arrive, I think I'll start preparing my next guitar. I have acquired a beautiful top set of Carpathian Spruce and a back/side set of old sinker Honduran mahogany. I'm planning on the same design more or less of the Stahl Style 6.

Thank you everyone for sharing your experience and techniques. I marched forward against some very compelling advice. I have to say as nerve wracking as it was, it was also very exciting. I believe I have a nice juicy piece of BRW in my possession. Now if I can make the other side come out like this one did tonight, I will be very happy. I know I have a long way to go until its done. Fingers always crossed.

Dry fitting the top and back to the rims. I'll glue up on the weekend. I think I'm chickening out about using hot hide glue for this particular glue up. I just can't imagine working quickly enough without drizzling the glue everywhere to get a good glue joint.

Once again, talent trumps doubt. Great job. Keep it up

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Thanks Joe. My doubt is almost unwavering...

You must've had a good budget for planes. Those Leigh Nielsons cost more than my bandsaw, table saw, drill press, and chop saw combined. A lot more. Nothing wrong with quality hand tools though. Wish I could afford that Brazilian too.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

I bought the planes about 15 years ago when I was a furniture maker. I'm glad I didn't get rid of them along the way.

I've been busy even though I haven't posted photos lately. So, here's a bunch. I'm pretty excited about progress. When I tap on the closed box, it rings and sustains really nicely. We shall see how that translates once there are strings on it. Probably 2-3 weeks away. I'm still sorting out how to finish it. Probably a French polish.





















Some more photos.





The bilge…
















Even more photos…























More to come...

Looking great. I also admire that tool chest in your first post....Mike

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Another day, another dollar.

Back on your first page, you use a coping saw to make the cut at the back of the head. I nice 7 ppi ripsaw would make short and accurate work of that cut (no coping required) and a good one would set you back 10 bucks and an hour of your time with an easy sharpening.

Also, how did you ensure that the fretboard was at the right level with respect to the bridge when you glued the top on on? Did you jimmy things while you clamped it? And did things change when glued the back on??

Great looking wood, design, tools, workmanship and end product.

Ed Minch

Hi Ed, Thx for your comments. Since this build has a bolt-on mortise and tenon neck, It's not all glued together yet. I'm still working on the bridge and saddle. Hopefully I will get the angle right.

Thanks, Mike!

Status update: Working hard on the guitar, not as diligent on the thread uploads. Here's the latest stream of photos. Today I finished sanding the whole guitar and applied several sealer coats of shellac. Tomorrow I will pore fill. It's very exciting. It starting to really look like a warm, juicy guitar!

Sanding the bridge/belly contour.


A good joint.


Laying out the nut.


A jig to get an idea of what it might sound like. I think it's going to be good… Hoping, hoping, hoping…




Gluing the fretboard overhang with HHG.


The last naked mug shots.




Getting ready to apply seal coats.

Some more:



My pad.


Sealer coat on neck, back stripe and bindings.


My volute.


Stay tuned...

Looking really good, it wasn't a bad idea for you to use BRW on your first!

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Thanks, Roger! Still a ways to go, but I'm feeling good about the results so far.

Pores filled on body. Now on to the neck. She sure is a purdy color.

Looking awesome so far!

I gather by those dirty fingered rubber gloves that you went with the old school pumice pore fill method?

Thanks, Greg! I used a medium brown can of pore filler from Lmi. Pretty messy hence the gloves.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey Steve, what's going on? This was moving right along until you started putting on finish. I'm quite anxious to see it completed.
Any progress?

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Looking quite beautimous at this point.

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

REALLY appreciate the effort it takes to document a build like this - GREAT JOB!!

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Thank You and Best To All

Congrats on using a Larson pattern!