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My first guitar is Done!
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=11210		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  SteveCourtright [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:55 pm ]
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Finally, my first is finished.

OM body
Top: Sitka
Back and sides: Brazilian (Laminated!)
Neck and FBL Mahogany with IRW
Head plate and bridge: IRW
Finish: French Polish over Z-poxy (not quite done with this part yet)

Many thanks to John Hall for much of the parts, Ray Lee and JJ for personal encouragement and to my friends here at the OLF for group encouragement and many, many invaluable help! It sounds really balanced all up the neck, a little bass shy, but the volume is improving nicely as it gets played. My neighbor, Justin Roberts, an upcoming recording artist played it and said it sounded much better than his Taylor, so I must have not screwed it up too bad. Thanks for your support and enjoy the pics. I love this!!!
















Author:  LanceK [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 2:57 pm ]
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Sweet! That is one great looking guitar!

Author:  burbank [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:00 pm ]
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Steve,

Great first effort. I'll bet you're stoked, at least you should be!!

Got #2 planned yet?
Author:  RobertJeffery [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:07 pm ]
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What a Beaut! Wow!
Author:  Andy Zimmerman [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:13 pm ]
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It just amazes me the quality of the FIRST guitars posted on this forum.
Very well done!!!
You stated the the BRW was laminated.   Are these the epoxied double
sides??? How did you laminate the BRW and to what did you laminate it.

Pesonally I am working on my first "laminated" sides so I am curious I did it
strictly to achieve very rigid sides. What was your reason.
Author:  Jim Watts [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:14 pm ]
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Steve, that's an excellent first effort. Congratulation!
Author:  old man [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:14 pm ]
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Really nice!!!   You had a lot of nerve going with BRW on your first.


Ron
Author:  JohnAbercrombie [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:19 pm ]
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Very nice, clean work.
Mighty impressive for your first!
Now you're hooked, I guess??


John
Author:  JJ Donohue [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:34 pm ]
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Congratulations Steve!!! It's a real beauty...clean and classy. Looking forward to playing it at the next Chicago Meeting. The FP looks great. Keep it moving...it'll open up in no time.

Welcome to our addiction! So what's next?
Author:  Steve Kinnaird [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:37 pm ]
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Fantastic first effort!

I showed your pics to Billie.
She is the "she" in SWMBO around here.
She is also the "she" in SWSBR.
("She Who Should Be Respected").
Anyway, I've come to value her opinion as it has been honed
over the years of guitar-watching.
"She" said: "I like that guitar...a LOT".
"What do you like about it?"
"I like that Brazilian; it looks just like a guitar ought to look."

So there you go. That's pretty high praise my friend.

I'll add to her comments that the execution looks fantastic.

Good job.

Steve
Author:  Blain [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:39 pm ]
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Very nice looking guitar Steve.

Author:  SteveCourtright [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:47 pm ]
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Andy: The back and sides are from John Hall. He gets them from Martin. They are 3-piece laminates with BRW on the front and back with a light colored wood in between. While I love how the Brazilian looks, I admit choosing this route partly from ignorance and partly because of the low cost of the laminate compared to solid rosewoods. So I cannot claim any advanced intent or particular skills on my part.

Ron: That is exactly what JJ said when we met at the Illinois Luthier gathering recently! If it was the expensive stuff, I would have to agree with you! I do feel lucky that I now have a lovely instrument, more than the sum of it's parts, made with my own hands. Pretty cool, and, Yes...I am so hooked.
Author:  Anthony Z [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:57 pm ]
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Steve outstanding first guitar...it would be an outstanding 10th guitar.....probably a pretty good 20th. Congratulations it looks stunning -- I love the look of the back. The french polish finish looks terrific.

Lance/Brock - ban this bum would ya...we don't need this kinda 1st time guitar talent around here...... (It makes guys like me who thought they were good look real bad )

Steve - Just out of curiousity -- was the encouragement JJ provided poured out of a bottle of alcohol while you were french polishing?

That's a great accompolishment Steve -- I hope you enjoy playing it as much as I enjoyed the pictures.
Author:  Michael Lloyd [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 3:58 pm ]
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WOW
Author:  LarryH [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 4:43 pm ]
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Super nice Steve. My first was no where near as nice but I was still stoked that I made it my self and it sounded like a guitar. You should be very proud. Nice work.

Larry
Author:  Daniel M [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:23 pm ]
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Ditto!   Great lookin' guitar. How's she sound?
Author:  Rod True [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 5:56 pm ]
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Steve that is a very nice looking guitar you've created there. Well done.

One question if you don't mind though. What is the saddle material and why didn't you match it at the nut? I guess that was two questions.

Again great job
Author:  Claire [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:14 pm ]
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What a great job...Congratulations.


What are you planning for guitar number two?

cheers,
claire
Author:  Cocephus [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 6:51 pm ]
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Yet again, NICE JOB!
Author:  bob_connor [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 8:53 pm ]
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Isn't it a great feeling when someone says "Ooh. It sounds better than a (insert factory built guitar here)


Great effort. Looking forward to seeing number 2.

Cheers

Bob
Author:  KiwiCraig [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 9:47 pm ]
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Really nice looking guitar Steve ,and neat workmanship. Ain't it a Buzz to finish it , and hear her sing .

Congrats mate




       Lawrence of Australia
Author:  Dave White [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 10:31 pm ]
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Steve,

That's really nice
Author:  robertD [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:25 pm ]
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Steve, great job, shes' a beaut!

Hope my first looks that good too!

Robert
Author:  Peter J [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:31 pm ]
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Great first effort Steve ! Your level of craftsmanship shows and I'm sure that you're now beginning to think of just what your second will be.

Keep up the good work.
Author:  Alain Desforges [ Wed Mar 07, 2007 11:45 pm ]
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Steve, that looks positively stunning! Never mind that it's a first!

Very well done Sir! You should be very very proud. The finish and execution are bang on!

So that's the only one, right? Your building days are over...
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