Official Luthiers Forum!

All right folks, here is the latest from the shop

Finished fine tuning the top and the back braces





Glued some vey thin veneers inside the rim





these veneers are almost paper thin and can be cut with cisors



I bought a full box of the stuff at Lee Valley last year that should last me a long time, it's got plenty of exotic veneers like wenge, jatoba, leopardwood, and pretty much the same thicknesses, i thought i'd start using this stuff for side reinforcements to prevent cracks. Got a full shelf of veneers here



The nice thing about it is that you can make contrasts even inside the soundbox especially when you have a soundport to look through like here! I think Uncle Norm will like this!



Sanding of the rim, gotta build me one of those jigs that makes that step easier on the arms, next time i guess!



Finally, preparing the notches in the kerfed linings to accept the X-BRACE and the UTB, not an easy step but i'm getting better at it! i just draw 2 lines on each side of the braces on the side itself that i report onto the kerfed linings and then connect together with a long ruler if that makes any sense.





now the time to glue the top plate, i finally gathered enough courage to try HHG with a lot of dry runs in my head and a timer right next to me and it was pretty scary at first but i managed to keep calm and it it ended up fine, i will repeat the experience for the back of course and also the bridge this time.





this guitar is special to me, not only because it's a gift for my uncle but because i'm experimenting a lot on it(parabolas, soundport, veneers as side braces) and the fact that most of my jigs are built makes it sooo quick that i constantly have to remind myself of going slow and it's hard!

Going back down to the shop, will chat with ya great folks later

Thanks for watching that long episode!

SergeSerge Poirier39046.5301851852

Groovy!!!

Moving along pretty quick, I gotta say!

Nice job Serge!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Thanks Peter!

Looking great Serge, your bracing looks good, can't wait to hear the reports upon completion!

Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

Thanks Greg, i forgot to tell you that i will try your type of bracing in the future, i'm really interested by that X bracing of yours on the back, it will be interesting to compare the two!

Thanks Hesh, once you pass the fear you get to the point where you think"Oh what the heck" and make an act of faith which turnned out ok i hope, i'm going down to the shop now, will report if it was a success or a failure later on, wish me luck!

Cheers

Serge

Very nice, Serge!
Man-o-man, when you get going, there's just no stopping you, is there?
I may job out some work to you in the future.
That is, if I could keep up with you.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

You are becoming one fine guitar making fellow!!! I've got to say, I am impressed.

Keep up the good work

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Right on bud!!! That looks fantastic!

Keep up the good work and I'll have to hurry up if I want to finish before you do!!!

Hesh, I've got to say that I only TRIED gluing the top and back to the rims with HHG... I failed miserably, though... This time around I used Fish Glue and I think that't the route I'm going to be using from now on...

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

You go Bear! Looks grrrreat!

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

trippguitars.com
OR
Find me on Facebook

Looking very fine, Serge. That bracing looks very good now, it's gonna sound great.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

     Looking really good! Sound holes? I thougnt those were for gum wrappers and stuff! I'm learning everyday!   

    Why wood veneers? I thought one had to be humiliated and buy bias tape in a womans cloth store?

    Really nice work Serge Buddy! Looks like your getting this luthiery thing down pretty quick!

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

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

Serge it's a real revelation seeing the progress you have made, not only in how well your getting on with this guitar but also with your building in general. Real quantum leap stuff. Your Uncle's going to be a really lucky man.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Looking great Mate ! Bracing looks a whole lot better.

GO THE SERGE !!

Kindest regards

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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[QUOTE=Serge Poirier] Sanding of the rim, gotta build me one of those jigs that makes that step easier on the arms, next time i guess!



Serge[/QUOTE]

Hey Serge, take a look at this cool sanding jig from Mike Doolin's shop. I'm just finishing mine up and I think it'll work great. I always wanted to make one like Mario, Tim and many other's have built but having only 185 sft of shop space, there just isn't room.

Doolin disk sander

Oh and that sure is coming along great bud, and I agree with others that this sure is going to be a special guitar for your uncle.

Now all you need is for Alain to finish his spray booth and you'll be good to go

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Thanks everyone for the kind words of encouragement!

Steve wrote: Very nice, Serge!
Man-o-man, when you get going, there's just no stopping you, is there?
I may job out some work to you in the future.
That is, if I could keep up with you.

I'm having a great time my good friend but must admit that i had to talk to myself for going a bit too fast, having a virtual race with my pal Alain, i do not wish to compromise the build so i decided to slow down a bit! on the job out subject, it would be an honor! Thanks

Thanks Joe!

Alain, you won already my friend, i'm too far behind but you never know, your boss might call you to work overtime!

Thanks Mark, Ron and Billy! Billy, like Hesh said, maybe we're just sexist pigs?     Nah, it's just that i love to choose different combinations even for the inside, love the fact that the veneers are very thin and pliable, easy to shape and glue on and give a great look IMVHO!

Thanks Colin, your coaching on this one, along with Rod and Hesh was a true revelation for me! Here's a pic of the suspect with auntie Colette. Uncle Norm who will receive this guitar, he'll owe you guys a few thanks if it turns out that he loves it!

Thanks Kiwi dude!


Hesh, don't you worry about my appreciation of you for using women stuff in your guitars, they turn out to be sweeter sounding and more balanced, heck man, i'm also using a hot rival pot! Serge Poirier39046.7594328704

Hey thanks Rod, that is really cool bro, i will save that to file for sure, learned that my arms are not what they used to be! We must have been posting at the same time bro! Now i'll have to scrounge another washing machine motor for sure!

Yup, that'd be nice if i could bring my instruments to be sprayed at Alain's, Al, where are you at with the booth bro?

Thanks Rod and congrats on your jig, show pics when you can please!@Serge Poirier39046.7629282407

Great Work Serge!!!!
It is going to be a sweet guitar.
Is that flamed maple for the B&S???
If so, are you going to keep it natural or stain it???

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

Thanks Andy! The back and sides are white ash from BobC, i won this set last winter at the auction and definitely will look for more of that stuff, bends easy and taps loud.

Don't know yet about the finish, i might try out Dudenbostel's technique of using varnish coat with a paintbrush, sanded down and followed by FP unless my bud Al is done with the construction of his spray booth!

Hi Serge,

I was really happy with the double "X" braced back, it just sounds good.....not sure that will translate into a better sounding guitar, but I will let you know when I string-er-up. I'm sure the vibrancy of the box is partly due to a better braced top as well, but I believe this back is a contributor as well.

Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

Serge
Those braces look a lot better, than the first pic's you
posted. Great coaching by Colin.

Tom

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http://www.moriciguitar.com

Sergio -- bring it on man! It's looking great!

You don't need one of those fancy powered sanding dishes -- just more corn flakes

Question -- Do you plan on gluing the top and back on before cutting your end graft?

Looking good Serge, I like many things about this build, the bsck bracing for sure, but I really like the idea of using veneer for side bracing and contrasting wood color - very cool, will borrow that one for a future build.

Looking good Serge. I'm sure your Uncle is going to love it. Is it a surprise or is he phoning you up once a day for progress reports? Looks like he could pick a mean Black Mountain Rag.

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Doug Mills
Chicago, Illinois