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Well its been moving very slowly - when don't it, but Ive got the neck and heel block glue up, the top is sanded to a 30' radius and I'm ready for kerfings.

The back is just there to show the wood, I got this set of Ziricote from Steve at Colonial -

The neck block is my third done this way, its similar to what Hank Mauel has demonstrated in the Jigs section.

The guitar will be appointed with Red Abalone Heart trim, back strip, rosette and top purfling, it will be my first time doing that - cant wait to get started -
I will say this, working with ziricote is like working with china, that stuff is a PITA! It cracks if you sneeze on it!

Thanks for looking!







To fit the neck block, I used the same tech as when we floss the heel with sandpaper, got a nice tight fit.LanceK38491.402650463

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

That is really nice Lance. (I meant to email you yesterday to tell you that...)

Very nice.

If the ziricote cracks easy in construction, is is more prone to do that (than other woods) once the guitar is built?

Sure is purty though...   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I most defiantly have to get over my fear of bending the splinter maker (ziricote). Man that is going to be one beautiful guitar Lance. I forgot. Is this a commission? What are you topping it with?

Thanks fellas -
Michael get over it! This was two firsts for me, first ziricote and first cutaway.

The top is going to be a set of Italian I got from Mattia, Brock I do believe that the Ziricote is pron to cracking like Brazilian is, I'm going to flood the entire outside of the guitar with CA after its done, before finishing to try to prevent this.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

i also have a set of steve's ziricote with which i am getting ready dance. i would be interested in hearing your experiences so i can avoid stepping on her toes.

this will be my first florentine cutaway. i was pleased with the clients selection because i had heard of the wood's proclivity for cracking and was not keen to try the compound bend of the venetian in that wood. how did it go for you?

will be interesting in hearing how the ca flooding affects things. i have heard of it being done and but never had the need to do it myself.

i like your use of the contoured neck block to increase support of the cutaway. very neat and tidy indeed.

what is the purpose of the groove in the top of the heel block. i assume the dowels are there to increse the strucural strength of the extension to the bolck.crazymanmichael38491.435474537

CMM -
If your referring to the bending - Did it the same way I do all my bends, I wipe both sides with a wet rag, then wrap them in foil, load them in the bender and crank it to 100% when I hear water sizzling I crank it back to about 70%, I start the waist bend first, take it all but 1/4" to 1/2" from complete, then the lower bout all the way, then the upper cutaway or upper bout all the way, finally finish the waist. Be VERY careful when your taking it out of the bender, especially the cutaway side. I release the cutaway cull first, then the lower bout, then the waist. I took both sides to .075. It bent predictably. LanceK38491.4358217593

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Man is that going to be a beauty! I would think twice about the flooding with CA. I don't think you need to do it. Sure is beautiful wood isn't it! I have a Z cutout ready to go...just don't have the time with all the other things goin on. GOOD LUCK!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Nice Lance!
Tight fit at the cutaway indeed.
You said, "I used the same tech as when we floss the heel with sandpaper". What tech was that?
Does the cutaway fallow a heal conture or is this one streight?
Thanks for sharing!
Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

Nice work Lance, I just got my latest Z out of the spray booth last week. I found out it has neck angle problems. So I need to make a new neck for it (correcting the problems will only make more problems).
I disagree with Dave and say that flooding with CA is a great idea. In fact, I did several rounds of it and completely pore filled with CA. You might look into a product called UFO. It is oderless CA. EXPENSIVE but when you spread it thin over a large area you are releasing lots of vapors. Be careful. You might also set up a fan to blow across you and the work, getting the fumes out of your face.

Nice job, Lance. I really like the cutaway with that body style. I've got a ziricote with a couple of coats of Zpoxy on it and I didn't experience any cracking problems during construction. It bent nicely and really hasn't been any more difficult to work than most woods.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

Great job Lance! Man, this one is gonna be a beauty!

What are you planning for binding/purfling on the back, around the Ziricote?

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Wade, its a straight heel, I chickened out

As for the flossing - When I prefect the neck to body join, I take a piece of 220 sandpaper and slip it between the body and the heel, grit side up toward the neck, and then slip the sand paper out, this removes a tiny bit of the bearing surface of the heel and also contours the surface to perfectly match the body.
Charlie Hoffman has a great step by step of what I'm trying to say --
Fitting the neck

Anyway - i used this same technique to do the heel.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks Dave - The binding will be snakewood, purfling will be red abalone heart.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Can I have it when it is finished

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance,

That is a dandy! I really love ziricote. In fact, I am working on a ziricote OM as we speak. Hope it turns out nice.

Jeff

Comon guys! 3 of ya got Zirocote guitars going at the same time, how about the PICTURES!!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

OK, you asked for it. And yes, I do build traditional guitars. X-braced englemann top, one-piece neck with 15 degree peghead, grand concert body.

Maybe I'll get to spray it this weekend, maybe not.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

VERY Nice!

Keep'em coming!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Jimmy turn your head while snatch that thing

You just gotta love that Mexican Crackwood !

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Jimmy, is that some BobC wood? It looks like it's not far from the slice I got.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Lance and Jimmy-

Really purty. I love 'em.
Jimmy--is that Ziricote on the back of the p/h?

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

John, it is Bob's wood. Good stuff.

Steve, the back of the peghead is Macassar Ebony, the front is Madagascar Rosewood.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

Jimmy is that a 12 string or are you just felling a bit elongated these days?