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Number 5 seems to be taking forever, but so far it's shaping up nicely. The box is done and I've just started working on the neck. Ziricote and the streaked ebony bindings are from the Zootman. It's hard to see in the pics, but there's a single 020 blue purfling line on the top, back and sides. It really pops when you get a close look. I'm going to try a double m&t neck joint and the X braced back is also a first for me.

Thanks for looking.

Wow! Superb wood combo Bob! That bearclaw look crazy!!!

I'll echo Hesh's comment about the rosette! I really like that single blue line as well.

Right on!

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Nice stuff Bob. Very nice looking wood there.

Hey in this picture



It looks like you only have 16 fret slots cut, is the board not finished or are you just installing 16 frets?

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Bob...I love the Bearclaw! Very cool.

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Brad
Avon, OH

Thanks for the positive feedback guys, it feels things are starting to come together for me on this is one both from a construction and a material selection standpoint. But still a long way to go.

Rod, it's a regualar 20 fret neck, I just haven't cut the excess off yet. Actually I'm really just hiding an ugly gap in the rosette.

Hi Bob,
Everything looks really nice. Love that wood.
Are you having any problems thus far that you can share with any Newbies here?

Is the Ziricote difficult to bend and shape??
Anything else you would like to share??
Did you make your own bridge??

Thanks, walterK

Like the rosette, like the bridge, like the bearclaw, like the ziricote, like the tail wedge. That is just one good looking guitar in the making there. Be sure to show us pictures when it's done too.

Walter, This is the first time I've worked with ziricote and it's been both easier and more difficult than I expected. It was difficult for me to dimension. I have an old ryobi drum sander and even with fresh paper, the slowest feed rate and barely taking 1/64th passes th paper still gummed up after half a pass. I then tried the safefty planer but it left a less than even finish (the sides had a small cup) that was difficult to clean. Lastly I got a router thickness jig that did the trick. I've commented on this before and have heard that ziricote shouldn't be that difficult to dimension, maybe this set was an exception. On the easier than expected side, bending with a form and blanket went smoothly. I followed someone's advice (I recently lost all my bookmarks when my harddrive crashed so I can't remember who it was) and coated the set with CA. The advice said before bending and of course I had already bent the first side so I coated afterwards. With a reputation for splitting I also went crazy with the bias tape and side braces. Beyond I haven't found anything unusual. BTW, good idea I should have put up some commentary rather than basically just pics.

Mighty fine looking guitar Bob, be proud!!!

Love that rosette buddy. Good job. I look forward to seeing that Ziricote under finish. I like the x-braced back, let us know if you think it affects the sound at all. Thanks for the pics.
Keep on keepin on

Homeboy

Bob, that's a great looking guitar! The ziricote is really sweeeeet! What is the wood combo in your rosette? Oh yeah, I really like your bridge design as well.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Very, very nice. The visual scheme is something that really appeals to my personal taste in guitars.

Yummy! Love the looks of the Ziricotte/binding/bearclaw/rosette....it's all very nice.

Hmmm Ziricote (Insert Hommer Simpson type drool here) Nice one Bob, coming along very well.

Cheers

Kim

Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful

love the rosette

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

Kudos on everything. But that one blue line really does it for me.

Steve

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Bob,,, I believe the advise to coat it in CA was from MichaelP if my memory serves me well.. I could be wrong on it..
You guitar is fantastic, the bracing very clean, and I love the rosette
As WalterK says, post any and all advise you can for US newbies.. I am about to start my first, and it will be a walnut and Sitka OM... I realize walnut maybe the easiest wood to work with, but I'll still need help.
Mike

Bob, your wood colors, rosette and bridge really make your top come together in a very pleasing way! Nice work!

Very nice.

Ron

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