The Luthier Community

Well, thanks for the kind words Dennis, David, and Steve. And Dennis, you are going to have to come and get it 'cuz you are waaaaay overdue for a visit

So I did start the neck carving the other night, too. Here are a few photos of what I did

Rough shaped the neck heel



Then I roughed off some of the excess width on the bandsaw

After which, I shaved it down close to the fingerboard with a block plane

Then I just "went at it" with the draw knife

I just kind of eyeball it, nothing real systematic in how I carve things

So with the drawknife, a bit of the spokeshave and block plane, a big sanding block, and a wood rasp I get 'er down close
Here it is compared to the "real" one


Now, I gotta get the thickness at the nut end down a bit, and get a more "V" shaped cross section in the shaft. Then I gotta refine the heel and the diamond on the back of the peghead. Another hour, allowing for some sanding time should do it.

Thanks for looking

G

Any progress on this, Grant?

Haans wrote:Any progress on this, Grant?

Nothing of note, but I will have it ready for the Stringfest. We have been pretty well tied up trying to get our 2 big archaeology contracts finished by the June 30 deadline. That, plus the annual garden stint

G

Was hoping you would say that!
Can't wait to see it!

To say this guitar is awesome is an understatement. I played an original at the martin factory and was very surprised at how great it was, I can't imagine how amazing it must be to own one.

EDIT: I used the word awesome too many times

Just a quick update on this one.

I have started the French polishing on the body. For the time being, I will probably just do the initial coats and leave the final finishing 'till later, so I can have it playable for the Stringfest. The neck needs final sanding and it will be finished in Tru-oil. Again, probably wait 'til later for the final coats.

I will try to get some photos up tomorrow.

G

Grant - thanks for a virtuoso tute on building a world-class instrument without a bunch of expensive "luthier tools". My brother-in-law Brian
has said "Luthier tools are largely things you can get at the hardware store, for a third of the price".

Thanks also for the hand-made binding segment - it has me thinking (along with many others) about doing it myself.

Also gotta hand it to ya for the solid frets - makes the tanged frets look like child's play!

Sorry I won't get to see it in person this year, but I'm gonna seriously try to make it next year.

Keep up the inspiring work!!

Bill