#5 and #7?
- January 31st, 2011
- Posted in Luthier
- Write comment
How does this make sense?
Let me try to explain.
I number my guitars at the time I start them, that way I can document them as I build them.
I guess that wasn’t so hard…
I guess the point is that #6 was finished quite awhile ago, but I technically STARTED it after I started #4 and #5.
Ok, enough blabbering, here are some pictures. My goal is to finished #5 before my wife has our first baby. God knows how much time I will get for this hobby when I have a newborn…
-
- rosette visualizing
-
- glued in ebony & redheart
-
- purfling installed
-
- all done
-
- soundhole cut out
-
- #7 started!
-
- bloodwood center strip
-
- w/ red and white purfling
-
- close up
-
- candy!
-
- X-brace glued on
Thoughts about #5
I am trying something a little different with the rosette. Its big and beefy, but I like the unfinished loop it has. I think it looks a lot better with the supporting ebony ring. The soundboard is western red cedar, which is a bit weaker than spruce, so I plan to over-brace it a bit. My last cedar soundboard cracked on the side after I strung it up, so I am trying to avoid that now.
Thoughts about #7
I am trying to push my design outside my typical interests on this one; hence the white and red. I love to use black in my work. so when I was trying to decide on what purfling to use on the outside of my center strip, I instinctively went for the black and red… but then I realized that I use black a lot. So to push myself in a new direction, I decided to make this a lighter guitar by using now black…. just white or red.
The wood is Khaya, I got it from a semi-local guy for a great price. I think I bought 4-sets of this stuff, so get used to it! It’s not a spectacular wood for tone, but it has lots of figure, so at least it’s pretty to look at!
The soundboard will (most likely) be western red cedar, mostly because that’s all I have at the moment. The binding will be bloodwood with red and white purfling. I don’t have any ideas on the rosette, fingerboard, bridge or inlay just yet.
Until next time!
To answer your question about hobbies after children enter your realm – few and far between. As you can see, I still made a smoker. It took a lot of begging and bartering, but it was accomplished. In all seriousness, it’s a balance. Early on, it will be difficult, because babies need a lot of help. Both mommy and daddy full time. As long as you understand your priorities, you can still do the things you enjoy, but there’s a lot of compromise.
The guitar looks beautiful by the way. I like what you did with the soundhole. Lookin good.