Official Luthiers Forum!

I was so happy that i thought i'd share all of this with ya all!

Started the day as usual with myOLF and CCF and headed off to work, later in the morning, the mailman delivers a package on which i see ROYAL AIR MAIL! DING! My brother Russell Rose from across the pond sent me some gorgeous bindings and purflings! WOOOOO HOOO HOOOO! Many thanks again Russ!



from left to right: sycamore, English walnut and ebony bindings and awesome rope purfling





Can't wait to use them on guitars for Sergio here!

Well, starting well and ending well also, i had a meeting my my brother Alain from this side of the pond, he convinced me with a bit of arm twisting to learn how to French Polish and let me tell ya, my bud knows his stuff! I took about 2 pages of notes and pics and went at it according to his instructions.

Al prepped the box with the right grit of sand paper and cleaned the box with Naphta and cleaned the edges and trims with a base coat of shellac



lots of rags went into this



Gotta be careful around him when he uses cisors





Me trying my best







Base coat on top





bodying session on the back



My smiling coach, hopefully, i learned well and can make him proud, Thanks Alain, i really appreciate that!

'

Thanks for watching!

Serge

Looks like you had a fun day Serge. Great photos....people enjoying themselves building guitars..thats what its all about.

Also looks like youre taking the french polishing in your stride....you make it look so easy.

Hey Serge,

Look'in good mate. Just watch out your beer swilling alian friend does'nt go drink all your spirits.

What a great community, good on ya Rus and Alain

Cheers

Kim

Thanks Martin and Kim, i hope you guys get to meet as well in your neck of the woods, when 2 OLF members meet, it is always fun, it would be interesting to see an Aussie OLF get together photo album, i'm pretty sure there would be some spirits involved, am i right?

Yes, Alain is a very patient guy, with me anyway! He gave me many great tips that i wrote down, we were listening to Don Ross while doing this, a very pleasnt evening!

Receiving Russell's bindings and purfs, i couldn't help but think how lucky i was to have brothers all over the world, especially on a special day of remembrance like yesterday, it was as if brotherly love had no bounderies.

I love this place!

Serge

Serge,

Looks like a great day! I'm planning on FP for the koa terz in progress, been practicing on scraps and tool handles. What are you using for filler?

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Pat, i think it was Z- poxy or system III epoxy, Alain gave me a sample a while ago when i tried to finish her first, can't remember the exact name, Alain?

It does look like you were really having a good time. Good for you both!

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

Hi bud! That was a blast, wasn't it?!

The pore filling was done using System Three. Serge did a fantastic job on the pore filling, by the way. Not one little pore to be seen... I always wanted to ask you, was it one coat or two coats of epoxy you used?

Glad you enjoyed yourself bud. Moma bears guitar is gonna shine like a crazy diamond one you're done!!!

The new neck profile is awesome as well...

Are you done yet?

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Thanks Steve and Al!

Alain, i used only one coat of epoxy but i suspect i might have used it a bit too thick! ask me how i would know such a thing!

Yeah Mama Bear just can't wait to have her guitar back, it must be like torture, poor Mom!

I gotta get me some stuff like sand paper and lacquer/thinner and i'll be good to go on my own

Thanks again Bro, it was a blast indeed!

Serge

Gee, Serge, you really can teach an old bear new tricks!

No really, from what I have gathered here, you are fearless when it comes to this stuff. It sure helps having a brother tutor you in person though, don't it.

I continue to be amazed at the spirit of this group.

Remember Serge, don't hesitate to keep us posted on your progress.

Donovan

Thanks Donovan! i was just thinking about Martin's comment up there, saying how i make it look easy but in fact, i was really glad to be tutored on this, as everyone knows here, finishing is something i always feared and Al had the kindness to bring me one step further, i feel way better than 2 days ago about finishing my Mom's guitar now! As Alain said, all is in the way you hold and fill your muneca!

Will continue updating as more progress is made, thanks!

Serge

Looks like a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing Serge!

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

My pleasure Joe!

Lookin' very good Serge,Yeah having Alain right there makes it so much easier than reading how to do it,right?    I'm glad you guys had a good time. Very cool getting those binding from across the pond. Yup,This place is the best!! Hey Serge,What are you doing to the neck now?

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Thanks Dave and Hesh!!!

Dave, yes, you're soright, reading Milburn's tutorial didn't help me much, a lot of terms looked so technical for the non-initiated guy that i am, Alain simplified it so well that i fell confifent to go at it alone, well, maybe a phone call away in case, ya know! Yup, Russ is a special guy, he offered these when i posted pics of the wood that i will use for guitar no 3!

I sanded the neck down and re trimmed it for my Mom's hands, it was previously to big for her at the first 3-4 frets! it also feels a whole lot lighter now!

Thanks Hesh, we'll have to show ya how when we get to meet again, it is still elbow grease but not as hard as we think it is, in fact bro, i really think that you'll love it!

Serge

Wow Serge, sounds/looks like you had a great day. Don't you just love packages on the doorstep? And then quality time in the shop. Its so great to have a tutor to guide you through those sticky moments. I had someone tell me its no different than spit shining boots. Some how I just don't think so. Hope you took good notes. I may need to borrow them.

Was there a change in the way Mama Bear's guitar sounded when you changed the neck?

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Aoibeann

Lillian, i took 2 pages that has poor writing, i will put it in order and on the computer so i can print it and have it in the shop and share here also, probably on another thread!

For the neck, i don't know yet, i did not put the strings back on yet but i will report if i notice any difference in sound though, Thanks!

Serge

[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Lillian, i took 2 pages that has poor writing, i will put it in order and on the computer so i can print it and have it in the shop and share here also, probably on another thread!

For the neck, i don't know yet, i did not put the strings back on yet but i will report if i notice any difference in sound though, Thanks!

Serge[/QUOTE]


Great I look forward to hearing about both.   

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Aoibeann

Tag-team polishing! Wood arriving from exotic lands! I love it!

Sergio, good stuff....and kind of Russell to send some goodies your way.

What I want to know is whether Alain cuts his epoxy with single malt?

Glad to hear you reprofiled the neck to fit your mom's hand.

Great pics...and lucky you to have a friend like Alain and Russell.

     After seeing Alain's guitar, you do what he tells you, and your gonna have a shiny git! I'm sure you'll pick it up well!

   Your a good guy Russell!
   Your a good guy too Alain, for helping out my buddy Sergio!

Billy DeanBilly T38973.1099537037

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

Thanks Carlton, Anthony and Billy!

Yeah, i'm lucky all right and i forgot to mention that i got out of Alain's shop with a bag full of FP goodies and 2 CD's of Don Ross that me and Al are going to go see in concert thursday night in Ottawa!

Since i've joined here, i've been more than spoiled!

[QUOTE=Anthony Z]
What I want to know is whether Alain cuts his epoxy with single malt?


[/QUOTE]

Indeed sir, I do!!! For best results, always use cask strength as well... For you, not the epoxy!!!

Alain Desforges38973.3386111111

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Alain, now I understand why your guitars have that special "glow".    Cutting your epoxy with cask strength MacCallan's could be a good marketing gimick - n'est pas? "To achieve a special amber glow, Desforges' guitars are finished with a special blend of scotch". What do you think?