Official Luthiers Forum!

Ok, here's #2. I don't know what you'd call it other than John How's name for it. I took the tracing from John's jumbo parlor guitar in the OLF guitar project (the guitar for Lance in the link at the top of the page). John only posted some pix of the plans and some of the measurements were a little blured, I printed it out and enlarged it on the photocopier at work. It was kinda asemetric, so I picked the side that appealed to me most. When I was in doubt I used the measurments from the GAL Martin 1-18 plan. Same scale length (630mm) so I figured it'd all work out if I thought it out and drew it out full scale.

I was trying to make it as close to John's design as I could, but I slipped with the router when I was making the mold, so it turned out a little bigger (either that or make a new mold). To compensate I made the bending form a little bigger.

It's a 14.3" at the lower bout 12 fret jumbo parlor, rather than the 14" lower bout of John's design. I don't clearly know who's design it really is any more, how far do you need to depart from a plan? Not that I'm trying to take credit from John, nor do I know for sure how great a departure it was. It's all good.

Anyway, the back and sides are curly Tasmanian Blackwood, the top is lutz spruce that I bought off some bloke on ebay before I learnt what a good bloke Shane is. The bridge and bridge plate are African blackwood 'cause Mario was preaching about it and I had some. I made the pyramid bridge as per the tutorial on Frank Ford's website - easy peasey. The bindings are tas tiger myrtle. Finished with U-beaut hard shellac, sprayed on, then levelled/hand polished.

Oh, and it sounds fantastic It's a great sized guitar for kicking back on the sofa watching telly and noodling on the guitar.

It took me so long to complete (started in Jan) 'cause I was building the kitchen you can see in the background that I still haven't finished.

Paul,
   That's a beautiful piece of work and one to be proud of. I really like the
shape and the woods look great. There's something about a pyramid bridge
that just works on any guitat, too.

    Great work, enjoy it.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Lovely design and execution! Second guitar? Not fair!

Please elaborate on the "U-beaut hard shellac finish", it looks very good.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Yes Paul, awesome guitar and WOW, what a beautiful finish my friend! That African blackwood is Gorgeous!

you work very neatly and will pay great attention to what you have to say on the U-BEAUT finish as well!

Serge

Paul, super job, nice size too, ideal for sitting in a chair and picking away.

Yep I like the pyramid bridge adds a historic air to it. Nice work indeed.

By the way U-Beaut shellac could only be Aussie!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Paul. that's gorgeous! Super job in all respects, and great looking wood.
BTW, is that b&s set from Tim? Nice!

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

That is a beauty. Especially for #2
Well done

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

What I'm absolutely LOVING is the blackwood/tiger myrtle combo! WOW!

Holy Cow that is a beaut! Fantastic in all aspects. I would like to hear about the finish, too.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Very nice Paul, I love the shape and it is a very nice easy chair guitar.Nice choice of materials too and your execution is top notch.
I was hoping that the plans for this would make their way to MichaelP to be drawn up for the OLF plan library. I don't have a clue where they are now though.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Congrats on a beauty for sure. I really like it Paul.
Very cool shape!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Beautiful...That is made for fingerstyle...love the choice of aussie woods as well

Nice job, Paul! That finish is awesome!

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Hey Paul, that looks marvelous!! I can see what you mean about that finish, it sure is lusterous!!

Shane

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Canada

Very very Nice!

Mike

Outstanding work, Paul! It's also a portable billboard for the Hard Shellac (that we can't get in the U.S.!). Well done!

Fantastic - I just LOVE those little beauties - yours is a fine example - I would love to hear a soundclip if possible, thats one that I could see alot of folks wanting to build!
Killer - keep it up!
Cheers
Charliewood

Come now, Paul. Surely this is #20, right?
Looks great!

Coe

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

that is a beautiful and very classy looking piece paul....
Glad I'm not the only one to have my time sucked up by building a kitchen....
and I'm definitely going to try the u-beaut shellac ...your finish looks beautiful..

Class act, Paul!! Very nice and beautiful wood. Great job.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Paul,

I REALLY like this guitar!! Great job!


russ39049.7134375

Paul,

SUPERB,,,,,,,ELEGANT,,,,,,,A CLASS ACT.

What a magnificent instrument . Your craftsmanship is astounding . This has to be "build of the year"

Your choice of woods ,the incredible finish and your attention to detail all make this guitar what it is .It really is hard to believe this is only build No.2.

Just looking at it , I can tell it's going to sound fantastic . A beautiful guitar mate ! .

CONGRATULATIONS !

    WOW !!!!!!



Regards Kiwi       

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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Thanks for the compliments guys

The Hard shellac isn't available out side of Australia. I was talking to the guy who makes it, he said the problem wasn't so much in shipping hazardous goods it was more to do with the huge customs duties such goods attract. I don't know why he doesn't take a leaf out of coca cola's book and just ship the concentrate - or in this case the non-hazardous component and have it made up by a local distributor. This finish looks as good as nitro without the explosion hazard, is as hard wearing as a polyurethane (thanks to the melamine co-polymer), and is as forgiving to apply as FP. Great stuff for a newbie like me.

Colin, I also used gotoh vintage open back tuners. I was trying for somewhat of a vintage feel throughout.

Don, I got the top, back and sides from Barry Kerr at woodtone guitars. The bindings came from Tim and might have been off the same board as Hesh's tiger myrtle back and sides.

John, if those plans make it into the library I'll buy a set just to see how far out I am from your great design.

Cheers,

Paul

Paul,
Great looker buddy!! I like the blackwood a lot. The bindings are also a great look tonally with the back and sides. Great Job.

Homeboy