Here is my custom acoustic I built to Martin 000 specifications/blueprint using woods from LMI and stewmac. Adirondack spruce top, solid mahogany neck, back, and sides. 12 fret slotted headstock design with 1-3/4" nut width, and 2-1/4" bridge string spacing. Of course a custom bone nut and saddle was made. The guitar is hand finished entirely with Tru-oil. Everything was done by hand except for routing the binding and rosette channels. Also, the sides where ordered pre-bent as I don't have a steam-shaper. The guitar setup excellent and plays like a dream, a real fingerpicker's delight. Notice the aluminum-etched logo borrowed from pedal building :)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img441/6431/a2m0.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/a2m0.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img545/9524/qo67.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/545/qo67.jpg/)
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(http://imageshack.us/a/img9/1509/8spg.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/9/8spg.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img836/971/r4ga.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/836/r4ga.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img542/8475/rgc2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/542/rgc2.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img197/6875/bv4.JPG) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/197/bv4.JPG/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img405/7226/5jln.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/405/5jln.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img7/4817/rq1e.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/7/rq1e.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img694/6398/lsnl.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/694/lsnl.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img442/2185/jra2.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/442/jra2.jpg/)
One word: WOW!!!!!!!!! I admire you a whole lot for doing this man, and the result looks soooooooo good!!!
Paul
I mean dude. Duuuude! Great work and congrats on having the balls to endure, looks really hard to build any guitar, especially an acoustic guitar...
ummm....I want one.
That looks amazing! Well done dude!
Sent from my thumbs using Tapatalk!
That's pretty spectacular. Congrats!
Love the sound of these OOO :) MY fav acoustic.
Incredible. I'm currently finishing a maple neck with tru-oil, I don't even want to imagine what it's like to finish a whole guitar.
Very nice! I hope to someday build my own too... someday... Nice tip of the hat with your logo plate too!
F*************K!!!!! That's incredible. Makes my bass looks like a box of poptarts. I may just stop building and wash cats for a hobby.
(http://gifs8.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/img2185.gif)
Man is that fantastic. Some day I'd like to take a project like that on.
You really did a great job.
great googly moogly.
That kind of makes pedal building seem mundane.
Jimilee, that is the coolest thing I have seen in a while.
Thanks everyone. I have built a number of custom electrics and also just one other acoustic (a dreadnought). Building acoustics is MUCH more difficult d/t tolerances, neck angle, more intricate woodwork, etc. BUT, I am sure anyone here can build an acoustic by tapping into your DIY spirit, patience, and knowhow.
Most of the work can be done by hand tools as this one was. Just takes much longer. Start to finish this one took about 6 months chipping away at it as I had time. However, I do operate small repair business so the later part of the process goes much quicker for me (fretwork, inlay, bridge, saddle, nut, etc.)
Gorgeous, simply gorgeous.
Gorgeous build! I'd be timid to tackle this even if it was a kit! It's on my building bucket list to put together an acoustic...maybe a tenor guitar or something. One day when my workspace consists of more than my kitchen table! I love the attention to the detail work that you put into this.
Fantastic!!!
Much respect to you mate, quality build. I saw your logo and assumed that you must build them all the time, and to read it's only your second one, :o wow,fantastic looking guitar gives me hope. This is something that i've always wanted to have a go at. Happy pickin', all the best, Matt.
Here are a couple more shots for good measure
(http://imageshack.us/a/img441/3527/tppt.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/441/tppt.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img6/1500/hw99.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/6/hw99.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img853/9506/8ze.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/853/8ze.jpg/)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img89/363/w1ai.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/89/w1ai.jpg/)
Lovely build there, that neck/headstock joint is gorgeous. Built a classical from scratch a number of years ago and can fully appreciate the blood sweat and tears and hours that go into pulling off a project like this.
How were the nerves the first time you took a router to the body to route the binding channels, all those hours to get to that point and now the potential to totally bugger the whole thing up... tense!
Congratulations, Great job!
dave
Yes routing is always a tense for sure. Definitely one of the dreaded steps. I used a laminate router and stew mac bearing/router bits with a home-made guide that I attached to the router body. Worked very well.
That's amazing. I'm just gobsmacked. You should feel really proud of that, sir. Bravo!
Beautiful guitar. Nice work.
Building something like that is really an amazing achievement. My hat's off to you.
Looks great.
Nice job on the volute, not an easy task.
So what's your background/experience? I'm guessing you just didn't decide to build an acoustic one day.
Quote from: ChrisM on July 12, 2013, 01:25:07 AM
Looks great.
Nice job on the volute, not an easy task.
So what's your background/experience? I'm guessing you just didn't decide to build an acoustic one day.
Some years ago when I decided I wanted to fix/repair instruments I took a few courses at Chicago school of guitar making. Never any building classes though, just repair skills.
After fixing pretty much every part of acoustic (and electric) guitars over time and refusing to fork out $$$ for high-end production guitars, I decided to just build my own :)
Just a practicing luthier/repair man is all. I don't believe I would ever build acoustics with intent to sell as they take tremendous time and effort to get a quality outcome. My builds will just be passed down to my kids. I have made custom electrics for a few customers though.
Holy cow! What amazing build! If no one has stated the obvious, we would all love to hear her in action!
I know we generally try to keep the language PG-13 around here, but...holy shit, dude.
Record a demo already!
I'm just going to add to the number of WOWs in this thread - that's amazing!! :o
Clicking on this, I was thinking, "There's no way it's an acoustic build report." I'm happy to have been wrong.
what a beauty! great job man! +1 WOW....
Fantastic. Stick a ZP Mini in it and enter it in the July contest...... ::)
Quote from: jimilee on July 11, 2013, 04:50:16 PM
F*************K!!!!! That's incredible. Makes my bass looks like a box of poptarts. I may just stop building and wash cats for a hobby.
(http://gifs8.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/img2185.gif)
Possibly the greatest response I've read in 21 years of internetting.
Superb build, I love everything about it. If it was hanging on the wall of a store I would definately stop and try to get the courage to ask to try it, knowing that I couldn't afford it.
Agreed. jimilee's response nearly made me piss myself ;D
:o holy crap 8)
Impressive, most impressive!
Quote from: pryde on July 12, 2013, 02:03:26 AM
Quote from: ChrisM on July 12, 2013, 01:25:07 AM
Looks great.
Nice job on the volute, not an easy task.
So what's your background/experience? I'm guessing you just didn't decide to build an acoustic one day.
My builds will just be passed down to my kids.
I'm open to being adopted. Just saying.
Honestly Pryde that is absolutely fantastic. It must be a great feeling to play a guitar you've made yourself. To have that kind of relationship with it must take it all to a level few of us will ever experience. Well done!
:o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o
Josh