Hey Everyone,
I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Steve Sollod (pronounced like "solid". I always thought it would be a good name for a detective. 
) I have been in the grips of guitar building for about a year.
I met a cousin of a friend at a Christmas party last year and he had a guitar that he had made. At the moment that I played it, I was ready to make one. He showed me around his shop and finally asked "Do you want to make one?) I said "absolutely!". He was very generous with his time and sold some of his materials at very reasonable prices. He had taken Frank Finoccio's class and had made several. He supervised me very closely and took me through the process. (I don't know if he would want to mention his name and I don't think he checks out the OLF.) It took about a year, but the first one is finished. It actually came out quite nice. It is a deep OM with Ovengkol back & sides, Adorondack spruce top, a Martin cherry neck, ebony end graft and head plate - w/inlay, and black fiber binding. You guys could see the cosmetic flaws but most folks that see it don't notice (i.e., some roughness in my first rosette, and just okay finish). ...but it sounds and plays very good.
During the summer I started another one that I'm doing by myself with no help. Its coming along quite nicely so far. I have completed the construction and I'm working on finishing with tru-oil. This one is a standard OM in EIRW w/carpathian top and sycamore binding that I got from John Hall at Blues Creek.
I have been lurking for several months and have learned a lot from you guys! Sorry for not revealing myself sooner...
Steve
