ScottR Posted February 10, 2020 Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 So, sometime last fall, around Thanksgiving I believe it was, I found myself with time on my hands. My last build was done, and I had a four day weekend with no projects. Disaster for me....but easily fixed. I cut up another piece of that super light black limba that I used in my last build, and got it all square for glue up. My next build was always going to be a brother build to the last one. Pretty much the same of everything any with humbuckers and maybe a little color. Not twins, but definitely sharing some DNA. I usually cut the two pieces of the body and try they pieces side by side in all combinations to pick the one I like best. This one ended up giving me a bookmatched butt. While that has been resting for a couple of months, I played with burl scraps and various color combinations, to learn and plan for the new top. And I picked up a nice piece of macassar ebony at Clarks Hardwoods here in Houston and cut and slotted a fretboard. Projects, those are what keep me healthy and happy. This weekend I got a package from Northwest Timber. They pack their wood really well for shipment. The piece was between two pieces of plywood as well as a double layer of cardboard. So this is what I have to work with - my own guitar kit. SR 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 I made a headstock cap and glued it on, and set the trussrod and locator pins so I could glue on the fretboard. And I did just that and created the obligatory clamp farm. While that is drying, it's time to cut the body out. I did that and cleaned it up on the belt and spindle sander. The bookmatched butt is still mostly intact. SR 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ScottR Posted February 10, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 Using the body as a pattern, I marked out the top. And then cut it out. And like its big brother it need to trim down a bit. I may have said I wasn't going to do that again..... but I guess I thought I needed a couple of hours of exercise. I put some water on the side I'm using to better see what was inside and to remind myself that the two hours of exercise was not wasted. SR 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShatnersBassoon Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Gorgeous wood! I love working with inspiring materials. I’m sure it will end up as impressive as always. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 1 hour ago, ShatnersBassoon said: Gorgeous wood! I love working with inspiring materials That's true isn't it. The nicer materials I use, the prettier the wood, the more inspired I am to be creative and really work at doing a good job. It's always been there, but I don't think I've ever looked at it quite that way before. SR 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
komodo Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 YAASSS this is so good. Plus you will spur me to finish quicker. You outpace me 3:1. That raw burl chunk was so gorgeous, I’m surprised you could even take a blade to it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 12 hours ago, komodo said: Plus you will spur me to finish quicker. You outpace me 3:1. But yours are sooooo worth waiting for. 12 hours ago, komodo said: That raw burl chunk was so gorgeous, I’m surprised you could even take a blade to it. My wife thought the same thing. When I showed it to her her just stared at it. Finally she said " you are going to make me a table out of that, aren't you"? Noooo.....but I'll get another one and do just that, babe. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistermikev Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 yes, what he said... wood is worthy of speachless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willliam_q Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 22 hours ago, ScottR said: And like its big brother it need to trim down a bit. That looks like it would be hard work, how long did that take? im looking forward to following this one, the top is going to be very striking! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 39 minutes ago, willliam_q said: That looks like it would be hard work, how long did that take? im looking forward to following this one, the top is going to be very striking! Two beers. Is how long it took. On the clock it was a liittle less than two hours. I think a strong young man could maybe do it in 45 minutes or better, if he went at it non stop. I am neither of those things anymore, so I stretched it out for two beers. SR 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 Oh boy oh boy Looking forward to this. And what stunning timbers! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 Andy, I should say that some of your "sibling" builds planted the idea in my head to do this. That and the fact that I had enough wood from the first build to build two necks and three bodies....and I loved the burl enough to say--OH YEAH, I'M DOING THIS AGAIN! So thanks for blazing the trail. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ADFinlayson Posted February 13, 2020 Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 phwar, so you doing a burl back and front or is one of those tops for another build? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 1 hour ago, ADFinlayson said: phwar, so you doing a burl back and front or is one of those tops for another build? The piece I cut off is about the right size for a drop top.......but I never make anything flat....except maybe the top of my headstock and even it curves off the top edge. @RestorationADused to do carves on 3/8" tops, but I'm not up to that. So that thin piece will likely be cut up for headstock caps and accents or finish tests, stuff of that nature. The inch and an eight thick side will be the carved top for this. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ScottR Posted February 17, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 Scabbing in a piece to complete the neck tenon. I have to know how thick the top will be before cutting the neck tenon and angle. Wetting the surface of highly figured wood allows it to plane easily with out any chip out. SR 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 Cut the neck to rough shape, squared it up and then rough carved the headstock. SR 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted February 17, 2020 Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 6 hours ago, ScottR said: Wetting the surface of highly figured wood allows it to plane easily with out any chip out. How wet is wet in this case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 6 hours ago, Bizman62 said: How wet is wet in this case? Wipe the surface with a fairly damp cloth. Plane away the wet layer. Rinse and repeat until flat. It is a similar procedure to raising the grain with a damp cloth during the sanding phase. SR 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bizman62 Posted February 17, 2020 Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 1 hour ago, ScottR said: It is a similar procedure to raising the grain with a damp cloth during the sanding phase. Ahh, that wet. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2020 The headstock was carved last weekend. Now it's time to turn that rough mess into a usable headstock.. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 23, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2020 When the headstock is done, it is time to radius the fretboard...and make it pretty. This is Macassar Ebony by the way,. SR 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted February 24, 2020 Report Share Posted February 24, 2020 These pseudo-mandolin solid bodies of yours seem to be becoming your signature builds at the moment I wonder if you burn the same number of calories doing two hours resawing a top by hand as you would doing two hours of jogging? I know which one I'd find more rewarding... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 24, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2020 9 hours ago, curtisa said: These pseudo-mandolin solid bodies of yours seem to be becoming your signature builds at the moment At least until this one is done.... 9 hours ago, curtisa said: I wonder if you burn the same number of calories doing two hours resawing a top by hand as you would doing two hours of jogging? I know which one I'd find more rewarding... Considering that it was a two beer cut, all burnt up calories were replaced by brand new fresh beer tasting calories. I expect it would take more than that to get me out on a two hour jog. SR 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiKro Posted February 26, 2020 Report Share Posted February 26, 2020 Looking good as always Scott. mk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2020 Thanks Mike. Ain't it crazy how pictures show shit you didn't see in real life.....or even the day you posted the pictures? That headstock is still rough, but I see things now I didn't while I was working on the stupid thing. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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