Members Freeman Keller Posted January 10, 2019 Members Share Posted January 10, 2019 I've agreed to build a guitar for forumite Danocoustic. I've explained to him all the reasons why this is a bad idea (for him) but he insists that some things just aren't logical. So, after some back and forth messages we've agreed on some basics and I've started on the guitar. What Dano wants is a basic Orchestra Model (OM) sized guitar with a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides. If Martin was building this it would probably be called an OM-18 with some other letters after the name. I happen to have a very nice piece of Sitka that I picked up some time back and some pretty good Honduras mahogany, plus a couple of neck blanks and lots of other pieces of wood. I wiped some naphtha on the wood, sent a picture to Dano and he approved [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"large","data-attachmentid":32437218}[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"large","data-attachmentid":32437217}[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","data-attachmentid":32437219}[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","data-attachmentid":32437220}[/ATTACH] The piece in the foreground is some Brazilian rosewood left over from a previous project, I told Dano that I thought I could get a rosette, head plate and butt splice out of it. I don't have enough Braz to do all the binding but I did have East Indian and it would be very hard to tell the difference. I got an OK from Dano so we have a basic plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted January 10, 2019 Author Members Share Posted January 10, 2019 In the past I have used a plunge router base for a dremel tool to cut my rosettes and the channels but it has always been marginal. One of the things I do each time I build a guitar is think about a tool or device or jig or something that would have made the last one easier or better and add that to my tool box. Well, the rosette on the last one was a b*tch so I decided it was time to upgrade my rosette cutter. I had seen the one John Greven used and it was available from LMII so there is now one in my tool box. Its a pain to set up and actually had some issues the way it arrived, but after spending the day fooling around, er, practicing, I was ready to trust my piece of Brazilian rosewood (you don't just run down to the lumber yard and get another piece if you screw up) [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","data-attachmentid":32437228}[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","data-attachmentid":32437229}[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","data-attachmentid":32437232}[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","data-attachmentid":32437230}[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","data-attachmentid":32437231}[/ATTACH] Whew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AlamoJoe Posted January 10, 2019 Members Share Posted January 10, 2019 I am gonna follow this thread like the plague follows a carrier...Relentlessly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danocoustic Posted January 10, 2019 Members Share Posted January 10, 2019 !!! Freeman, that is beautiful. Folks, we discussed the level of trim/ornamentation in some detail, and it appears to me that our intrepid luthier got it just right. I'm so excited right now, I forgot how bad my mouth hurts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted January 11, 2019 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2019 Just to keep this moving, I started cutting up pieces of mahogany to make a neck. First was to clamp the stick to a big fat block so it wouldn't tip over and sawing off a piece to be the head [ATTACH=JSON]{"alt":"Click image for larger version Name:\tIMG_4877.JPG Views:\t1 Size:\t122.7 KB ID:\t32438288","data-align":"none","data-attachmentid":"32438288","data-size":"full"}[/ATTACH][ATTACH=JSON]{"alt":"Click image for larger version Name:\tIMG_4878.JPG Views:\t1 Size:\t132.1 KB ID:\t32438289","data-align":"none","data-attachmentid":"32438289","data-size":"full"}[/ATTACH] then flipping one piece over and gluing it to the other [ATTACH=JSON]{"alt":"Click image for larger version Name:\tIMG_4879.JPG Views:\t1 Size:\t137.3 KB ID:\t32438290","data-align":"none","data-attachmentid":"32438290","data-size":"full"}[/ATTACH] If you look closely there are two toothpicks sticking thru the wood (right next to one of the orange clamps - that holds them in alignment while the clamps are applied. Otherwise you have a cool high school physics demonstration - a 16 degree ramp lubricated with some yellow glue and some tangential forces means it wants to slide all over the place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Emory Posted January 11, 2019 Members Share Posted January 11, 2019 In my early morning fuzz brain I thought "somebody wants to trade an Om for a Danocoustic?" (thought like fender telecoustic or that junk). What a relief to see this build thread. Oms are good, esp for yoga practitioners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danocoustic Posted January 11, 2019 Members Share Posted January 11, 2019 In my early morning fuzz brain I thought "somebody wants to trade an Om for a Danocoustic?" (thought like fender telecoustic or that junk). What a relief to see this build thread. Oms are good' date=' esp for yoga practitioners.[/quote'] You could probably get four or five of them for a good OM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Nabisco Posted January 11, 2019 Members Share Posted January 11, 2019 This is so cool to watch! Thanks, Freeman for posting this and future updates. And congrats to you Danocoustic - I'll bet you are brimming over with anticipation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danocoustic Posted January 11, 2019 Members Share Posted January 11, 2019 This is so cool to watch! Thanks' date=' Freeman for posting this and future updates. And congrats to you Danocoustic - I'll bet you are brimming over with anticipation.[/quote'] Nabisco, I am very enthused about this! Thanks for the congrats. A long-time dream coming true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted January 14, 2019 Author Members Share Posted January 14, 2019 Some progress over the weekend. Continuing with the neck, I glued the heel blocks together yesterday [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32449972}[/ATTACH]and routed the truss rod channel today [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32449973}[/ATTACH] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted January 14, 2019 Author Members Share Posted January 14, 2019 Also plugging away on the back, here is the reinforcing strip going in [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32449977}[/ATTACH]Insides of the back and top, and the neck [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32449978}[/ATTACH] And the outsides [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32449979}[/ATTACH] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danocoustic Posted January 14, 2019 Members Share Posted January 14, 2019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t_e_l_e Posted January 14, 2019 Members Share Posted January 14, 2019 why? why? oh tell me, why? why does this thread give me GAS for yet another guitar??? freeman, how does your backlog look like? just kiddin.... keep it going Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted January 15, 2019 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2019 You're next in line but I need to get some left handed spruce. Speaking of spruce, I picked out the straightest grain and cut some braces. [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32450830}[/ATTACH] Sanded a little arch into them [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32450831}[/ATTACH]and put them in the old go bar [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32450832}[/ATTACH][ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32450833}[/ATTACH] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted January 15, 2019 Members Share Posted January 15, 2019 You're next in line but I need to get some left handed spruce. . . . Well, then, t_e_l_e's probably out of luck. We all know how rare left handed spruce is. Any chance of using ambidextrous cedar? Seriously, it seems to be coming along nicely. I always love seeing your build threads even if I usually don't reply. Can't wait to see the finished product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AlamoJoe Posted January 15, 2019 Members Share Posted January 15, 2019 You're an American treasure Freeman...A true Craftsman. Dano is a good friend...And a very lucky one indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members t_e_l_e Posted January 15, 2019 Members Share Posted January 15, 2019 do'h left handed spruce is as rare as unicorn horn.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danocoustic Posted January 15, 2019 Members Share Posted January 15, 2019 *does stumbly happy dance* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted January 15, 2019 Members Share Posted January 15, 2019 Looking great so far! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted January 16, 2019 Share Posted January 16, 2019 Very nice indeed - congrats Dano! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted January 17, 2019 Author Members Share Posted January 17, 2019 Fired up the old cider press [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32452599}[/ATTACH] Got a couple of sides and some binding [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32452602}[/ATTACH] Put them in the mold overnight [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32452600}[/ATTACH]and glued the end blocks on [ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"medium","data-attachmentid":32452601}[/ATTACH] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AlamoJoe Posted January 17, 2019 Members Share Posted January 17, 2019 I, personally, am in awe of the process. The Craft involved.... Dano....We gotta hear some music...From what this Artisan is creating for you Bro.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danocoustic Posted January 17, 2019 Members Share Posted January 17, 2019 thanks Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Danocoustic Posted January 17, 2019 Members Share Posted January 17, 2019 I, personally, am in awe of the process. The Craft involved.... Dano....We gotta hear some music...From what this Artisan is creating for you Bro.... But...but I only know three chords Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted January 17, 2019 Members Share Posted January 17, 2019 There's more than three?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.