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Greetings!

I posted the 4 guitars I have going right now a few weeks back in my batch and I am now finally to the assembly phase.

I purchased 4 sets of the Amborsia Maple recently and this is my first using it. Really nice to work with I must say, planes nice, bends well.

J-35 - Jumbo/Dread Style
B&S Ambrosia Maple Pink
Top - WRC with Spalted Maple Rosette
Bindings - Bloodwood BWB on the side and BWRWB on the Top
Maple Neck with Bloodwood Lam - IRW Fingerboard binding Bloodwood BWB
Spalted Maple Headplate binding Bloodwood BWB
Back Strip - Bloodwood

Inside the Box

A look at the back

Side profile

Here is the WRC Top on the Deck ready for final carving and shaping before it gets glued. This one has a Spalted Maple Rosette bordered inside and out with BWRWB purflings.

And finally the Neck with the Bloodwood Lam


My next one is in the mold as you can see, everything is ready to assemble on it as well. This one is the Curly Cherry B&S with a WRC Top J-35.

In the mold glueing in the Tail and Neck blocks


I will close the box on all four and then start cutting the binding & purf ledges and install.

Thanks for looking

Mike

Absolutely Gorgeous Mike, i just love that wood and that awesome neck!

Mike,
Cool looking maple. I saw a guitar by Steve Kinnaird that had some maple like that at the GAL convention. I also think the strip in your neck is cool looking. I am in the process of building an OM from spalted maple as well. Your work looks really clean, can't wait to see it all shiny!

Homeboy

Man, that looks familiar.
Good looking work, Mike. I knew you'd like the stuff.
Hey--a final report on my Am. maple guitar---the owner is having an artist paint Koi fish on the back.
So, be careful to whom you sell that guitar!

Oh yes... Give us a shot of the rosette, ok?

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Homeboy - I went down and met Steve and saw the same guitar. It was beautiful and sounded great as well. We live about an 1 1/2 hours from each other. Thanks for the comments, appreciated

Steve, this guitar is going to a Praise Leader at a church and as you recall was not my best set of the Pink Ambrosia. I also got some that is Tourqois (sp) green where the Pink has the red striping. Really wild stuff. After I get these 4 finished I am including both my next pink and a green in my next batch of 4. Thanks for the comments my friend, your work and guitar was my inspiration. I will post the rosette tommorrow.

Hesh, thanks my friend, yes the neck is Maple.

Thanks

Mike

Mike, that's looking great. I, too, am really fond of that wood. It makes a very unusual looking instrument.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Thats some really pretty stuff! That box and neck are none too shabby as well - I hope you will be able to post a soundclip when its finished I would love to hear that wood.
Cheers
Charliewood

Awesome Guitar.... Great Neck
Once I saw Steve K's posted here I figured Ambrosia would increase in
popularity!!!

Very Nice

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

Man, that makes me itch to start using the set of ambrosia I have waiting in the wood stash. Maybe after a few more guitars. I like to let wood 'season' a year or so before I use it...

Beutiful work, I once tried Ambrosia and the side just wouldn't bend for me but split terrible. I thought it was the wood and back then I couldn't find anyone who had tried it. I have a nice back set though so maybe I should see if I can find another set of sides and try again.

Ron, after seeing Steve's photos on the site and then in person I had to have some. The look and sound are both great on his, hope I have the same outcome.

Charliewood, I will post a soundclip of the three J-35's I have going. I have been shopping recording programs for my PC and it will be interesting to hear the differences between the Amborsia/WRC, Cherry/WRC and Sapele/Sitka combos. Thanks for your comments

Andy, I felt the same way and it did increase it's popularity with me. Hard zoot to find I am finding and any of you guys interested in trading or selling your stash of Pink Ambrosia Maple let me know. The necks on these are all from John Watkins at CNC. These are my first to purchase from him. This one is Maple and they look great, can't take credit for that. Thanks for your comments.

Kevin, I have a reserve set, which was just awesome in its balance in color and some really wild sides for the future as well, you will love working with it I have found that out on this one.

Richard, I use a light bulb Fox style bending maching that is less than stellar I can assure you. I was a little concerned as you can see from the figure on the sides about separation in the color grains from the maple. First, I took my sides down to .80 and sanded to near finish to around .75. I pre-heated the bender and when it got to around 250 (takes forever with bulbs) I spritzed and wrapped in foil, sandwiched between my slats and lined it up in place. I took the waist down about 1/2 way, and used my heat gun to add on low for the upper bout. My bending form (Blues Creek) allow me to move my pencil thermometer to different locations. At about 280 the wood gave to the slightest pressure so I slowly bent the upper and did the same on the lower. Once in place I let it bake for about 5 minutes, and then let it cool back to around 150 and then cranked it back up again to 280, backed shut the system down and let it cool to room temp. When I removed the sides I had only a couple of places with mild separation, no scorching and very little spring back. I placed it into my mold, squared my lengths off for a good fit. I used the LMI FCA glue, some wax paper and a clamp to lightly flood the areas of separtion covered and clamped just enough to bring the colored section of grain back flush. Be careful in clamping this Maple is pretty soft and will crush easily. Filling the little beetle holes was next and I mask taped the inside first and filled with FCA, let dry and then did the same in reverse, tapping the outside and filling from the inside. Sanded it all flush and all was well. Hope this helps when you get you new sides. Thanks for your comments

Thanks to all

Mike

Hey MIKE--you owe us some rosette pix, don't you???

One more thing--I'd back up those beetle holes with a small cleat. Maybe on the inside?

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Steve, I have not forgotten, I will be getting back to shop time tommorrow afternoon and will shoot the rosette. I forgot to mention the small thin cleats, and I am placing them inside the box on mine.

Happy Thankgiving my friend.

Mike

You too, buddy.
Are the Cowboys gonna win?

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com