Official Luthiers Forum! http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/ |
|
a new archtop http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=15019 |
Page 1 of 1 |
Author: | Dave Stewart [ Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:06 am ] |
Post subject: | |
I finally finished #4 this weekend and wanted to share some pics. Materials are Englemann with Euro Maple B&S and maple neck. Macassar ebony fingerboard, headpiece & fittings. Curly koa bindings & Gotoh 510's from Shane. The finish is Target Ultima. It's my first attempt at colour, a light single colour sunburst to bring out the koa & I was happy with the result (not as yellow as it appears). The Ribbecke/Manzer "duet" was also an influence. The pickup is Kent Armstrong's handwound PAF, with a "hidden" volume thumbwheel under the aft corner of the pickguard. It's basically a 17" Benedetto plan, but with the non-standard f-holes give it a bit of a "D'Aquisto" look, so this time I reworked the bridge base and tailpiece to try to compliment that look. Anyway, thanks for taking the time |
Author: | L. Presnall [ Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:25 am ] |
Post subject: | |
![]() ![]() |
Author: | Anthony Z [ Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:54 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Dave, That is absolutely gorgeous! I really like the look of Koa binding and the stain matches very nicely. You certainly have a flair for the artistic....the bound soundhole, finger rest, tailpiece, koa binding all of it work so nice together. What did you use to bind the soundholes? Also what stain did you use? Did you stain the wood or blend it with the Target Ultima? I sure need to make the drive out to Milton to see this one! Great job ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Author: | K.O. [ Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:54 am ] |
Post subject: | |
I am IN LOVE!!! |
Author: | Hesh [ Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:04 am ] |
Post subject: | |
WOW is that beautiful!!!!!! Dave you created a masterpiece there - incredible!!!! The mad rose looks great with the finish and all the various shapes that you have created compliment each other perfectly. This is one of the prettiest guitars that I have ever seen. Superb Dave - ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Author: | Bob Long [ Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:06 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Artistic is right!!! That is a stunner, Dave. Beautiful! I'd like to know more about how you did the shading. long |
Author: | PaulB [ Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:10 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Wow, beautiful and very inspiring. Thinking of building an archtop next year myself. |
Author: | SteveCourtright [ Mon Dec 17, 2007 3:05 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Marvelous. That goes in the personal archive. I really want to do one of those, myself. I love all the honey colors blending together. |
Author: | Dave White [ Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:19 pm ] |
Post subject: | |
Very nice ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Author: | Dave Stewart [ Tue Dec 18, 2007 12:46 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Thanks for all the kind words. Anthony, the sound holes are koa bound with a B/W purfling line. The stain is a blend of conc. liquid stains (tobacco, red mahog & amber) added to the lacquer only (none on bare wood). Bob, as this was my first (nervous) the most significant thing I can say is that it went a lot more easily than I expected. I strongly suggest anyone contemplating a sunburst get the Stewmac video (Sunburst Finishing). I referred to it quite a bit, from blending & "alchemy" right through the process. |
Author: | Colin S [ Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:21 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Absolutely gorgeous! Colin |
Author: | Arnt Rian [ Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:26 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Lovely work as usual! |
Author: | douglas ingram [ Tue Dec 18, 2007 1:52 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Very tasteful. I like it a lot. |
Author: | Bruce Dickey [ Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:00 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Wow Dave you Wowed us All! Thanks for the tip on the StewMac Video. INcredible instrument on a number four. I know Larry Presnall is looking and wondering..... ay Larry? Thanks Dave for sharing these pics. Did you do your own photos? I'm wanting a background change on my own. Yours is very nice. |
Author: | Dave Stewart [ Tue Dec 18, 2007 2:33 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Thanks again. Bruce, the pics are my own - just using diffused screw-in CFL bulbs (no flash) over a 54" backdrop a friend gave me. Hard to get true colour rendition however (even with camera correcting for flourescent). Tips welcome. |
Author: | WaddyThomson [ Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:44 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Mi-T-Fine! That is a guitar "to kill for". The lighting is very complimentary to the instrument. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Author: | charliewood [ Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:15 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Wow Dave What can you say about something like that! Thats really amazingly, tastefully done, in every respect, & as with everyone else who has posted, I just love the colour, the koa sets it off nicely,,, just wow.. it has that indescernible "it" factor cosmetically.... I dont remember anyone doing soundclips of thier archtop builds - do you have the capacity to do one>? If so Id love to hear one... if that guitar sounds as half as nice as it looks....look out! Cheers Charlie |
Author: | Laurent Brondel [ Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:57 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Very tasteful, beautiful guitar. I'd love to hear a sound sample. Dave could you tell us more about the Target Ultima finish? I assume it's their waterbase lacquer, how does it spray, does it shrink much with buffing (did you notice the finish sink in the spruce for example)? Does it seem on the hard or soft side, adhesion/delamination issues? I'm very curious… |
Author: | Dave Stewart [ Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:49 am ] |
Post subject: | |
Thanks. Sorry Charlie, no soundclips. Re Ultima, what can I say? Lots of debate out there! I "wanted" nitro, but it just wasn't an option, for most of the usual reasons. I believe doing your own finishing is a big part of the fun (nothing beats having the instrument begin to glow in your hands as you buff it out - priceless!) so I was reluctant to farm it out. I was turned on to Ultima by Gerrald Sheppard & his beautiful work. I know it's undergone much improvement over the years and for me, it works. It sprays well through a detail gun, into a knockdown booth (which I setup in my shop), venting through media right into my dust collector! It has good adhesion, now I know it takes colour well, & if there's proper pore-filling (I use Z-Poxy), no evidence of shrinkage. (My first Ultima job was sprayed in March and looks like it was finished yesterday.) It looks clear to me, although I'm sure a nitro guy would argue that last 1%. My schedule of leaving it 4-5 wks to cure (I believe this is a key), wet sanding to 2000 (another key) then med. & fine buff yeilded a very high quality finish. |
Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours |
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ |