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Hi everyone. I'm working on my second build, and I'd like to enter it into the New Builder Challenge. Here are the specs so far -

SJ 12-fret
Figured Honduran mahogany
Lutz top
African blackwood fretboad and belly bridge
buckeye burl and purpleheart rosette
curly maple, birdseye maple, or curly ash binding - TBD
purpleheart purflings
buckeye burl buttons
sound port
headstock plates -TBD
Tuners - TBD
hog neck
FWI pins, nut, saddle
K&K Trinity

I played a great Collings OM - hog/engleman - at the Podium a few months back. Collings didn't use a popsicle brace. I A/Bed w/ similar Collings w/ the brace and I found that the OM was more dynamic. I may forego the popsicle brace on this guitar, although I'll probably reenforce the top along the side of the neck block to reduce the chance of shearing.

So far I've noticed the following differences between this build and my first. I've made more whopper mistakes. I pretty much trashed a beautiful masters top I bought from Shane. Lucky for me Shane's packing material Lutz was about as nice as the top he sold me :>) Also, I haven't remembered as much building process as I thought I would. On the plus side, my tool use has improved, and I'm better able to fix some of my mistakes.

I'll post pics soon. Thanks. Jeff

welcome to the fray ... looking forward to your build thread !

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I, too, look forward to seeing your work. Sounds like a nice gutiar.

RE: Mistakes. Funny how many times I can do the same thing wrong, and then find new and more creative mistakes to make once I have the old ones sorted.... While I was building the saying was if you have a "F" up, make it a "feature."

Gives a new meaning to the idea of a guitar packed with "features..."

Hi. I'm finally adding some build pics. I got inspired because I really like how the end graft detail is progressing. Let me know what you think. Thanks, Jeff

Looking really nice! Is this a lefty?

Thanks Zeke. No - not a lefty.

Ok cool. The tone bars look like they are going the wrong way. Could just be the picture is flipped around. I really like the buckeye burl. Especially with the purpleheart purfling on the end graft. It's gonna really pop under finish.

I'm long over due for an update. The guitar is coming along nicely, although I've definitely had more than my share of mishaps. For example, there was the great purpleheart debacle.

My original plan was to use a book matched madrose backstrap. I used CA to glue it and then I tried to hot pipe bend it to fit the volute. WRONG!!! It separated repeatedly during bending, and I eventually burned it.

I gave up on the book match and installed a solid purpleheart backstrap to match the purfs. WRONG!!!!! To say it was purple is an understatement. It was day glow grape! It wasn't oxidizing to brown. It had to be fixed.

An option was to dye to match the madrose heal cap, but dying is risky. Even if the dye was right initially it may change for the worse over time. I was actually loosing sleep over this problem. Then Filippo suggested making a new book matched backstrap but only .025 thick, skipping the hot pipe, and gluing it over the purpleheart backstrap mess. It worked and it looks good!!!

So how many guitars do I have to build exactly before I spend more time building than fixing screw ups? Here are the latest pics -

I've spent some time pondering that myself:)

Incredible #2,

That's turning out to be a beautiful guitar.

Love the burl. Great looking work!

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Exquisite.

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Back and sides are beauteous. How hard is the wood?? Have you heard a guitar using it? Very nice #2

Ed MInch

Very nice, Jeff. Clean, beautiful work

very nice...post some more build pictures!!!

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Hi everyone. Thanks for the kind words. I'm really excited about the guitar. I love the tone and playability. It's quick, woody, powerful and well balanced. It's a keeper.

W/re your question Ed, the hog set isn't particularly hard. In fact it bent like butter . . . twice :>) I'll spare you the ugly details.

Sorry to everyone for the delay in posting. We just moved to a new state. I started a new job. We are putting a new home together. And on top of that I'm helping my son put his college applications together. I'm pretty much doing everything but playing and building, which is what I love most.

I'm happy to try to answer any questions, but I'm positive I can ask way more questions than I can answer. I'll try to add more build pics too. Jeff