Official Luthiers Forum!

I've always been a little reluctant to share on this forum because of the amazing work I see going on here. I'm an amateur builder who has learned from this forum and others like it. This is my fifth instrument. My first was a Stew Mac OOO kit followed by a KMG OM kit. My first "not a kit" guitar was a small jumbo with blood wood back and sides. Then I had the urge to replicate one of those Kala Ubasses out of mahogany. I had fun building that and it sounds pretty good.
I was asked by a friend to build him a guitar after I finished the bass uke. He wanted something with shell top purfling and I wanted to try using a set of the curly redwood that I picked up out of the classifieds here. This is what I came up with. There are definitely things I can improve on, but I can honestly say that I do feel that I'm improving with each instrument, which is my main goal.
The specs are
Curly redwood top
Walnut back and sides
Koa bindings
Abalone top and fretboard purfling
Mahogany bolt on neck
Ebony fretboard and head plate
Walnut bridge

The pics aren't great. My camera is a little out dated, not that I would do any better with a new one.

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Kyle

Nice work. Great design!

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Doug

Don't let fear or common sense stop you from trying to build something

Looks superb! Very refined and a beautiful top.
No need to worry that your work will look out of place. Mine really does look amateur and I still show it

looks amazing!! did you do anything different because of the figure in the top? seems like all that change in the grain would possibly make the top less stiff? Maybe not. Id love to hear your input on the stiffness of it and if you had to modify your standard technique to use this top

Beautiful looking instrument!

I see no need to be hesitant to post your work... To me it looks right at home here with some of the better builders.

Cheers,
Bob

Very very nice. I only wish you would post more pics. Would love to see some close-ups of the peghead and binding. Again very very nice work.

Oh yeah what kind of finish?

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Thank You and Best To All

Nice. Me likee.

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

Thanks for the kind words. The finish is French polish.
It's harder to hide the mistakes if I show you the close ups. Here are the close ups that I took. The app I use to reduce the size also seems to reduce the quality of the pic, so sorry if they look a little out of focus.

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Kyle

Big WOW on that one. I love the color on that crazy redwood top.

Very pretty guitar! Nice work.

I have seen this guitar in person and the pictures do not do the top justice. It is a truly remarkable piece of wood and the workmanship is top-notch. Don't be afraid to show it, Kyle.

Ed Minch

Wonderful build Steve!
The Redwood has got some "pop" to it!
I love the fret board bling.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Beautiful. If my 5th looked like that... took me till my 20th I'd say. I've built with walnut and figured redwood before it's a beautiful combo though figured redwood does scare me a bit due to it being brittle, did you notice anything like that with your guitar top? BTW the guitar I am talking about is going on 13 years old now and still okay. Don't mean to scare you but just curious about your experience using it.

very nice!

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

The top on your guitar is outstanding. This is why I like the craft; it's hard to top mother nature (no pun intended) and you've appointed this piece of tonewood in stunning way.

Beauty, Steve.

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

After seeing this now I'm afraid to show my work!!

Really beautiful! Love the rosette! Wendy

Looks great! Lovely figure in those woods. Well done.

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George :-)

Thanks again folks. The figured top does make me nervous but fortunately the person taking this instrument is a friend and understands the possibilities with such a top.

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Kyle

It requires great taste and design sense to match a wildly figured top like that to the other woods in the instrument. In my view, you have done it perfectly. I would be proud if I owned it and I would be even more proud if I had made it. I think it's fabulous.
Patrick

Beautiful work!! Nice color combo!! Looks perfect!!

A friend told me last night that you should strive to be an amateur in whatever you do. An amateur in a positive light is someone who does something because they love doing it and not because they depend on it.

Beautiful. That is a real show stopper.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC