shad peters Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 So, several people have said they would like to see a build thread on how I do some of my guitars, I was initially somewhat hesitant to do so becuase I did not really see what more I have to bring to the discussion that isn't already here, but several of you convinced me of the merits of doing so.. so here I am. I have been meaning to start one on here for probably the last 3 or 4 months, but school has been rather brutal this semester so I have not gotten around to it. Here is the build that I will be covering: semi hollow single cut in my florentine vixen style. carved quilted redwood top curly black limba back and neck gun-blue finished hardware single sound hole in the upper bout Tailpiece: its a surprise (hopefully it works) lollar pups black binding macasser ebony fretboard and appointments. Not sure on inlays just yet, but I may just stick with the diamonds I have done on several others. Also looking into some of the inlays available at luthier supply. I have not been really great about taking photos so far, but there isnt a ton to document though. I'll try to be better about it as the build progresses. Here is the billet the redwood came from, Its been drying for a couple years now. CIMG3212 by Peters Instruments, on Flickr I can't get over how beautiful this black limbe is. I can't wait to see what it looks like when its finished. Working with some stinking gorgeous black limba today by Peters Instruments, on Flickr This is just sorta a jumble of stuff. you can see in this photo that I have rough carved the redwood with the duplicater, but I don't have any recent photos since I cleaned it up. A rewarding end to a long day. Two duplicater carved top templates, one Venetian spruce carved top, one florentine quilted redwood top, and two bodies chambered one from African mahogany and the other from curly black limba by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob123 Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Shad this is better then porn to me. Your wood choices and craftsmanship... its a pleasure to see! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwcarl Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 You had me at curly black limba... I've got to work with black limba sometime, it just looks way too interesting to pass up. I'll be keeping an eye on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Wow, this looks like a thread to hang on every post for...! Please tell me you didn't edit the colours or Instagram that black Limba!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad peters Posted November 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 Wow, this looks like a thread to hang on every post for...! Please tell me you didn't edit the colours or Instagram that black Limba!!! Some of the photos were taken using instagram simply for convienience of being able to take the photo, and upload it to flickr, facebook, and still have a copy on my phone at the same time, but rest asured that wood is no less beautiful than the picture suggests, the colors and contrast are unreal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 It is very good to get a chance to see a build thread of yours here. You produce some beautiful instruments, it will be facsinating to see the steps that go into them. While it's true that a ton of outstanding guitars get documented in here, very very few are made exactly the same way. Even the guys with the most builds under their belts can occasionably be heard to say "Cool! Why didn't think of that?" Never fear that you won't bring anything new or valuable to the discussion. I can almost guarantee the opposite. Now.....carry on man! I'm looking forward to this! SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 That black limbs looks very nice. I've wanted to work with something like that for a long time but just cannot get it here. You seem to be very lucky with wherever you get your timbers from! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelvock Posted November 19, 2012 Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 It is very good to get a chance to see a build thread of yours here. You produce some beautiful instruments, it will be facsinating to see the steps that go into them. While it's true that a ton of outstanding guitars get documented in here, very very few are made exactly the same way. Even the guys with the most builds under their belts can occasionably be heard to say "Cool! Why didn't think of that?" Never fear that you won't bring anything new or valuable to the discussion. I can almost guarantee the opposite. Now.....carry on man! I'm looking forward to this! SR +1 SR Shad, your last couple of GOTM winners were really special, just to see one of your creations come to life will be fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad peters Posted November 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2012 That black limbs looks very nice. I've wanted to work with something like that for a long time but just cannot get it here. You seem to be very lucky with wherever you get your timbers from! I was in the same boat, non of the lumber yards close to me carry it. I had to order this from a place in california so it had to travel a couple thoasand miles to get to me, totally worth it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad peters Posted November 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 20, 2012 one more pic for the day, the top rough carved and ready to the sound hole to be cut Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad peters Posted November 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 I was out in the shop today and took a couple more photos of progress made. Here are the body chambers all routed out. Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Haven't done much with the neck blank yet, but here it is. Its got some nice black streaking running the lenghth and was cut from the same board as the body. Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr I've got the back side of the top rough carved and ready to be sanded Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr I use a depth stop and forstner bit on the drill press to get the aproximate depth on the back side. it looks like this before I go in with the finger planes and gouges Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr I noramlly do a wooden control plate from the same type of wood as the body, but as I was getting ready to route out the back for the control plate I realized I would be getting rid of some of the most beautiful color on the back so I opted for a different aproach. I routed the chamber so that it was thinner (about 3/16) so that I could cut the control plate out with a zacto knife and use the original wood. I don't normally do this, its really time consuming but I think it will look a lot nicer this way. on wood with so much charecter I think it would really stick out if the control plate didnt match well. Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 That black limba is absolutely beautiful man. And all of your guitars are just stunning. Bravo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad peters Posted November 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2012 Thanks Anthony, I was lucky to find a piece like that, but I have been keeping my eyes open for quite a while waiting for the right piece to come up. That black limba is absolutely beautiful man. And all of your guitars are just stunning. Bravo. I've been able to get a few hours in over the last few days and made some pretty good progress. I finished cutting out the electronics cover and then made an insert so that I can fasten back in. Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr cut out the sound hole with the coping saw. Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr and then start the binding Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Little wood burning under the sound port Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr gluein the top on. (never mind my finger please) Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr This is my little homemade overarm router. It is not a "precision" piece of equipment by any means but it does get the job done though. It doubles as a pin router and makes cutting binding channels and the like a breeze. Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Got the binding all taped up Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr here is a shot after taking the tape off and wetting it with some lacquer thinner to show the figure a little Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Thats all for now, I've got finals coming up before long so I may not have to much new stuff to post for a couple weeks, but with any luck i'll be able to get out in the shop some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verhoevenc Posted November 25, 2012 Report Share Posted November 25, 2012 Best tape ever! I'm also a fan of strapping it with rubber bands or hemp rope to tighten everything up afterward. Between that discovery (the tape) and the discovery of fish glue, I now LOVE binding work. All it used to be was stress! Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad peters Posted November 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2012 Best tape ever! I'm also a fan of strapping it with rubber bands or hemp rope to tighten everything up afterward. Between that discovery (the tape) and the discovery of fish glue, I now LOVE binding work. All it used to be was stress! Chris I completely agree Chris, a year or so ago a friend of mine who was at the time an art student was working on a hexagonal wooden mug. When I asked if was going clamp it with ratchet straps or something he said that he would just use strapping tape and proceeded to introduce me to the wonder. It makes binding SO much easier. Honestly while I still use chord to tighten things up when I am using wood binding, for plastic binding like this the tape alone is more than adequate to pull everything tightly into position. It really makes life easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted November 25, 2012 Report Share Posted November 25, 2012 I've been looking for that tape for ages and it is just one of those things hiding in plain sight. I'll never find it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supplebanana Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 I've been looking for that tape for ages and it is just one of those things hiding in plain sight. I'll never find it! It's called "Glass tape" - I used to work for a well know white goods company making microwave ovens - they used it to tape the doors shut for transit. I "liberated" a few rolls before I left! Down to my last roll now..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verhoevenc Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Homedepot has it... it's just 3M's "Strapping Tape" aka "Extreme Packing Tape" Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad peters Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 I honestly think I just got it at walmart in their packaging section (also the 3m stuff) it's primary use is packaging so if you look it likely won't be in the same area as duct tape, masking/ painter tape and all that (I know that where I got it it was not). I'll bet you could also pick it up at a ups store or somewhere similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Doesn't seem to be in use here it seems. Perhaps it is just because we live in a backwater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supplebanana Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 looks like you can get it from amazon.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad peters Posted November 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 Yeah I really have no idea where you would find it in finland lol. Doesn't seem to be in use here it seems. Perhaps it is just because we live in a backwater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted November 26, 2012 Report Share Posted November 26, 2012 No, that's just the Pori part. Finland is otherwise the opposite. This is going to be a spectacular guitar. I'm hanging on every photo! That Limba is just something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shad peters Posted January 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2013 alright, time for a quick update, I havent worked a lot on it lately, but I have made some progress on the neck. I'm expecting my first baby girl any day now so this may be my last post for a while. here is the neck sitting in the middle of the pack. Five necks rough cut. by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Here's my little neck tapering jig, simple but very effective. Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Untitled by Peters Instruments, on Flickr Unfortunately I havent been great about keeping up with photos, but I'll try and stay a little more on top of things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 16, 2013 Report Share Posted January 16, 2013 Take all the time you need. A baby on the way means you should be able to post progress in eighteen or so years when you give them the keys to a car and they're never at home. Seriously. Congratulations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.