Official Luthiers Forum!

Well I strung up ole # 1 and I could`nt be happier.The sound is huge. Big base response.I can`t believe I had anything to do with it.It really has a kick butt sound.Thanks to Robbie O`brien,I would have never made it without you.I also like the semi-gloss finish as per your dvd.Gives it a nice soft look.I`m not into that guitar under glass look that a lot of folks seem to like.Anyway a question.I`ve got it set up for medium action and would like to go to low, as long as it won`t affect the sound.Didn`t know if it would?       
                            James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Congrats!!! Got any photos?

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Congradulations James! Pics please? You'll get that a lot around here!

Just a little aside here. You might also want to give it a few weeks before making any major adjustments. It will probably move very very slightly.

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

Congrats! like everyone else, photos?

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Congrats James, some pict would be nice.

Volume will be the trade off for lowering the action at the saddle. As you take the saddle down, you decrease the angle of the strings back from the saddle to the bridge pins. This has the affect of decreasing the pressure being applied down on to the saddle by the strings. Less pressure to the saddle is less energy to drive the top.

But hey, you just built a whole guitar, build another saddle to lower the action and try it out, if you don't like it, put back the saddle you have now.

Cheers

Kimlarkim38908.9429166667

Congrats James!

Piccys please!

Like Alain said, give her time to open up before making any big changes!

Hooked for life now huh?

I`d love to send some pictures but can`t seem to make it happen.My wife says the only thing I can do on a computer is break it.So if anyone knows the easiest way to post pictures I`ll do it.This is really embarrasing.           James W B
When I try to send a pic the file size is to big.I`m not sure how to compress it. i`ll keep trying.James W B38909.878275463

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Don't feel bad, I just did my first every photo post myself. Serge walked me through it, Serge, give the man a hand.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

Ok James, when you open your pic folder, right-click on the pic you want to reduce and open it with your Kodak program or whatever pic program you have, from there, you should be able to resize your pics, i reduce mine to 500 by 333 PIXELS and it's just a nice size pic that comes out.

To upload your pic to here, you gotta press the second button from the right in the reply box at the bottom of the thread, with a tree and an upward blue arrow, it'll open up a browser that will allow you to go to your pic folder and select the desired ones to upload.

Hope this helps!

SergeSerge Poirier38909.9753587963

Thanks Serge I`ll give it a try.
   Someone let me know if these show up.
                James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Wow...nice. Love that pickguard. Did you make that?

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Hey It worked. I`ll try 1 More
   

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Maybe some explaining would help.I own my own small construction company . I had some left over maple from a cabinet job I used for bindings and End graft and that cute little diamond as my wife calls it.The pick guard is a piece of Tennessee Hickory I also had left over from another cabinet job.It seemed fitting since I`m a hillbilly from Nashville.I`d like opinions on the pick guard ,but be honest.My wife really likes it ,she says it gives it a real woody look.I thought maybe to much grain.Any way there it is.I really appreciate all you folks on this forum who are so willing to help.I know I`ve got a long ways to go to get to your standards. But hey I really had a Spectacular time building this guitar.A true labor of love. James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Thanks Bill.I actually made 2 pickguards from that piece of Hickory.The other one doesn`t have as much grain.I actually liked it better but momma said no way.And when mommas happy, you know the rest .           ;    James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

James, this is a truly beautiful work of art for you're first? No way!!! must be your 10th. 20th!!!!!!The pick guard is just beautiful, this is something i wanted to do on my current build but my rosette and soundhole are too big, maybe on no 3!

Way to go James, you sure can be proud!! Serge Poirier38911.0178472222

Nice guitar James! Love the pickguard as well!
Congrats!

Very nice, James! Yeah, the guard looks good as it is, but I think it would have been a little better without that bit of "cathedral" grain at one end, or maybe with more of it along the whole guard. But don't get me wrong--it still looks great! You also did a nice job of shaping it around your rosette.

In your photo it looks like the body is a bit more shallow than a traditional dreadnaught. Is it?

BTW, if you hit "enter" between each photo post, it won't scroll the page to the right.

Great first guitar James.
Nice job on the headstock inlay too.

Is that an Allied rosette?

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Horton, MI

James,

Very nice guitar, first or not! The woody look on the pg is nice, though personally, I'd opt for less grain.

Isn't it great how us mortals can create stuff out of wood to make music, and have them sound good -- sometimes better -- than some of the best factory goods, even if our family heritage doesn't go back 150 years to Germany?

Great job, and let us know what's happening on #2!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Thanks guys I really appreciate it.To Carlton,the body is the minimum dimensions the plan gives for a dread.I have a om cutaway that I`ve had since the 80`s that I`m used to playing And of course the body is quite a bit smaller, so I didn`t want to build too large.To Kirt,the rosette came from LMI.To Burbank,I`m with you on the pickguard but momma said.And yes I truly am amazed by the sound.I can`t put this guitar down.Thanks again James W B
                  

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee