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OK, I lied. Said it would be a few weeks. But I really need some shop time, so here is the start...just the wood for now, but will to keep some progress going.

Backs and Sides, number 1, High grade cocobolo


Closeup of back


Back and Sides, number2, high grade cocobolo, same log, different billet


Closeup of back


Tops, some of my close grain white spruce from log 3...better than Adi IMNSHO


Fingerboards, ebony with color


And here are the first 15 bar frets for the phosphor bronze fretted one. Notice how little the saw kerfs wasted (plus I trued up the edge on the disk sander between cuts) compared to the full width piece

The second one will have beryllium copper frets.

I will probably cut fret slots tomorrow and get the necks and blocks picked out.

Later,

G

Awesome, Grant. I'll be watching for sure!

Pat

Well, so far, we know they're going to look gorgeous.

Binding scheme?

Any thoughts about external adjustability on the necks?

Will you do bound fretboards - or is that an unwise move for bar frets, since they would have to be pulled straight up for replacement (if ever), to not break the binding?

Dennis

Thanks for the comments, Pat and Dennis.

Dennis, I am toying with snakewood binding with some bark purfling and a bark rosette.

I will stick with my usual internal neck adjustment on these. For the once or twice a year that I have ever actually needed to adjust a neck it just doesn't seem worth the extra effort. I have demonstrated to myself that I can actually do an external adjustment if somebody really wants one and that is sufficient for now. I do have one more external adjustable (a Pau Rosa small jumbo) that I will be finishing soon.

A bound fingerboard would be a classy addition, but I have not decided if I want to file that many notches in the ends of those big honkin' bars I will leave that open for now.

G

I am dropping off the beryllium copper I have at the metal shop tomorrow. I have a DXF file for them and my sheet should yield about 300+pieces; 6"x1/16"x7/32". That should be enough wire for a test of the theory. I've had this material for nearly 15 years and want it to be used, and experimentation is valuable to me, anyone interested let me know. Grant, I'll send you two or three necks worth when I get it back. Hopefully in a week. Happy bar fret building to all! T

timo wrote:I am dropping off the beryllium copper I have at the metal shop tomorrow. I have a DXF file for them and my sheet should yield about 300+pieces; 6"x1/16"x7/32". That should be enough wire for a test of the theory. I've had this material for nearly 15 years and want it to be used, and experimentation is valuable to me, anyone interested let me know. Grant, I'll send you two or three necks worth when I get it back. Hopefully in a week. Happy bar fret building to all! T

Thanks, Tim Do you ever build with cocobolo rosewood? Maybe a back and side set like I am building these two with could be a trade.

G

Grant
That top cocobolo set looks fantastic. I sure love that shape and hopefully will be able to see it at the gathering.
Chris

Grant, that is far too generous. These bar frets are going to be pretty cheap this time around, it's just good fortune. I have the material for truly nothing, it was used in a TV commercial as a prop. The cutting fees per neck will be less than a set of jumbo EVO from LMI. If this is a viable idea, and I believe it is, we will all make a better guitar, it's a goal for us all. I just hope I can make it to Stringfest this summer or next and meet you and Dennis and many of the the good peeps who frequent.

Thanks, Tim