Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm in, it'll be a parlor under the price cap. Probably a "big" parlor, a size 0; cause I've got a mold for one of those. That's all I know now - good thing we're not under a short deadline

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Welcome, glad to have you in!

I know what you mean. If I finish on time it will be close to the deadline. I still need to make a mold and all that prep stuff. Plus I have been re arranging my shop and can't get to my thickness sander right now. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I think a size 0 is a lot larger than I want to do for this so I'm going to do something more like a size 5. I'm leaning towards a Terz tuning with a scale length of 21.3" (Martin 25.4" scale cut off at the third fret). Not sure if I want to put steel string or nylon on it but probably need to make up my mind pretty soon.

Edit: corrected the scale length

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

One of my luthier friends has a size 5 template I can borrow so that seals the deal. I was looking through the wood stash and found a set of olive wood that I didn't have any particular plans for. So the back and sides will be olive. Top will be red spruce. When I get all this mostly figured out I'll post a more formal entry with the what's new, old, etc.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Finally found the set of olive wood. It has some flaws that will need to be cut out or repaired but I think it will work nicely.


With a bit at alcohol on it.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I used to live in N. California and did carpentry there. Got to work on several old houses that were framed in redwood. and I enjoyed working on those. Of course later on I built who knows how many redwood decks in the western US. Anyway, never have used a redwood top and thought that would be cool to try. I found a 2nd grade sinker top at LMI that looked pretty good so I'm going to use that.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

That sure is pretty!

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Everything looks better with a bit of alcohol!

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Just remember, Alcohol is a solution. Just ask a chemist. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

you're both right - hic

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Where is that olive wood from, Steve? I have some Mediterranean olive that I used for a rosette and some bridge blanks that looks similar, although from a small 1/4 log and a turning blank. Very pretty wood you've got there!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Alex, I got this some time ago at one of the OLF Swapaloozas. It had some checks that made it unusable for a full size guitar but I liked the wood and it was cheap so I got it anyway. Unfortunately I don't know where it came from but it was good sized for an olive tree.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I have been collecting materials. The back is joined and the area with checks has been repaired with some wood dust and CA so it looks darker than it will under finish. I received my grade B redwood sinker top from LMI and got it joined as well. I am happy with the top, it is well quartered. Bindings will be curly maple. Next to the top are several pieces of rosewood and an ebony fretboard - not sure but I'm thinking that I'll use ebony for the fretboard and one of the rosewoods for the bridge. Still haven't made up my mind about the neck, I've got lots of mahogany laying around - some that has been in my shop for many years.

I have a set of LMI's 3/4 size plans which are similar to a Martin Size 5 but I also have some details from vintage parlor guitars that I might incorporate as well. I never stick to plans anyway.

So here's how it shakes out:
- The new part will be to build a parlor,to use Terz tunning, and this will also be the first time I've used a redwood top.
- The local part will be some black locust for the bridge plate and maybe some other stuff.
- The something old will probably be the neck laminated from wood that has been in my scrap pile for many years.
- For the pick two this will definitely be a parlor and will be under the budget.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

That redwood top has a great color. I 'm glad you are making a terz, that should be fun to hear.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Been a week since my last post. I can say I have been thinking about it but no other progress to show.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Found a piece of Macassar Ebony in the stash that is rift sawn, over 0.4" thick and long enough for a fretboard and bridge.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Looked around and found a piece of mahogany that's out of a good-sized stash another luthier traded me for an old workbench. Love that new #6.


Leveled the top of the neck prior to laying it out so just for fun I measure a shaving, a little over 0.001".

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I'm feeling like I at least accomplished a little on this one today. Got the neck cut out and the ears glued on.

Mac ebony cut and thinned. I like it.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

That Mac and the soundboard go well together! Looks like you are rolling now.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

So I got the neck knocked out pretty quick and it looks real nice. I started putting some layout lines on it to do some more cuts and danged if I didn't screw up the measurements, the neck is too short. I could kluge it but not interested so guess it's back to the wood pile to find another hunk of hog

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Rats! Perhaps the next bit of wood will end up being better.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

It will if I move a bit slower

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

You should move as slowly as I do, then you wouldn't even have a chance to make a mistake.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Well, that little piece of hog was perfect for that neck. Had some bad spots that made it unsuitable for a full-size guitar but I was able to work around them for the smaller neck. I'll keep it and throw it in the bin for a possible future build. Fortunately I have lots of hog so I just need to make up my mind on what to use. Unfortunately I have a client guitar that I have to finish by tomorrow evening so it will probably by Sunday afternoon before I can get back to this project.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

You really have that #6 working! Looks like a fun project.