Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all, my name is Brad Tucker, and I have been lurking here for almost a year now. 

I guess I should introduce myself first.  I am a full time flight paramedic in Georgia, and I began building guitars as a hobby about a year ago.  My father used to build mandolins, and he has had customers like Wayne Benson, Doyle Lawson, and others in the world of bluegrass.  We both decided to build ourselves 2 guitars about a year ago, and I just haven't stopped!  I am currently on #'s 12 and 13, all steel string.  One thing I have learned is that no 2 are alike.  One might go together like a dream, and the next one may be a nightmare. I assume that I am not the only one with gremlins in my shop! 

I have really gleaned quite a bit of great information here,  and I just would like to say thank you to all you guys who post your experiences, both good and bad.  Goodness knows how many lurkers you guys have helped without knowing it ( Z-pozy comes to mind for me).  Several of you guys appear to truly be artists.  As for myself, maybe a craftsman, but no artist!

Anyway, I just thought I would pop in and tell you guys "howdy".  Well, that last coat of nitro should be dry enough now for another coat, so back to the shop!! (I think you would even have to add retarder to polyurethane here in GA )

Welcome Brad...thanks for joining us!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Welcome here Brad,

WOW, only been building for one year and your on to #'s 12 and 13 already, I'd say you've just changed day jobs and your certainly giving Hesh some competition

again, welcome here. we look forward to getting to know you and your instruments and your procedures.

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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

Welcome to the OLF Brad!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Welcome, Brad. For the record, we like pictures!!!

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Hi Brad!!! Wow, some effort there with the guitars, eh?

I am ashamed to say that I've only built 2.01 guitars in 2 years...

Welcome Brad, post up some pictures so we can see your work.

Shane

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Canada

[QUOTE=BTucker]I assume that I am not the only one with gremlins in my shop! [/QUOTE]
No, Brad, none of us has that problem.
Just kidding. Mine are hibernating, but only because I haven't even opened the door to my shop in a week.

Welcome to one of the best places on the web. Good to have you!

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

Man, dial up....This is pretty much what I have been doing.  The one on the right is the first one I made.  We call it "Old Yeller" because the "gold" I was shooting for didn't exactly come out like I wanted.  The one in the middle is a clear top, no toner.  The picture doesn't show it off well, but all tops are ARS and that one has "curl" to the grain...well quartered wood.  The one on the left is my first sunburst herringbone.  All so far all have been EIR sides and back.  I am spraying a mahogany herringbone today.  That thing has been a real pain, because alcohol based wood dye + ivoroid binding = I need to find a better way! 

As you can see, I have yet to put too much originality in them, hence the difference between artist and craftsman.  I think the fanciest one I have done (and I can't find the pics) was a gold top herringbone bound one with abalone snowflake inlay in the FB and bridge.  I know you can't tell much by the pics, but I am always open to constructive criticism.

I may catch up with Hesh....unless he starts spending less time cleanin' up his shop!

Welcome Brad Tucker. The above pic is just not big enough. Okay we want to see some of these Tucker guitars. And ask the old man if he'd mind if you tossed up a mando pick or two too.

I wish either of my son's would say, "Dad, can I build a guitar in your shop and would you help me a bit?"   

Sounds like the Tuckers got a thing going on.... congrats.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I type too slow.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I'm guessing that ARS=Aidirondack Red Spruce

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Welcome Brad...

Very nice guitars.
I love dreadnoughts! I realize I'm in the minority here on that though...right Colin? Looking forward to seeing and hearing more from you...

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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."

If Colin could, he too would build dreds.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Wow! Them's Fightin' Words!
(where's Colin? COLIN ! ! )

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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."

Howdy back at ya Brad

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Welcome to the OLF, Brad.  Your work looks great to me.  Craftsman or artist, is all in the eyes of the beholder.  One man's beater is another man's art. If they sound decent, the first hurdle has been overcome.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Bruce, I'll see if I can get a mando pic.  He's got #4 with him now, out on the ol' bluegrass festival circuit, just left today for Hoboken GA, I think. One day I'm going to get him back into mandos at least long enough to show me his secrets

Glad to see some dread guys here...I haven't seen many classical guitars on the bluegrass stages. Don, if you like dreads here's a pic you are gonna like: 

 

Me holding  '41 and '44 HD-28's...I was as nervous as a cat in a rocking chair factory holding those things!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....dreds. (in best Homer Simpson voice)

Welcome Brad!

Kirt

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Horton, MI

Hey welcome to the OLF Brad,

Great work, looks like you been having a heap of fun.

Cheers

Kim

Brad, Were there any rattlesnake rattles in those 28's?

Seems like everyone I pick up around here has 'em.

Yeah, Colin would of course make a D18 mahogany... If he could.      And top it with Euro spruce...

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

[QUOTE=Bruce Dickey]Brad, Were there any rattlesnake rattles in those 28's?

Seems like everyone I pick up around here has 'em.

Yeah, Colin would of course make a D18 mahogany... If he could.      And top it with Euro spruce... [/QUOTE]

Funny you mention that....I didn't notice, but my father has one he made about 20 years ago, and it has one.  If I come across them again, I'll check.

Welcome to the OLF Brad!

It sounds like you have been busy building a lot of guitars. The pictures of the 3 look great! I look forward to seeing more that you have done.

As for the rattlesnake rattles....What is the deal with them? I took my first guitar to work last week and a couple of people asked me if I had a rattlesnake rattle in there. They didn't know the reason, but they said that a lot of people put rattlesnake rattles in their guitars. Is it something superficial or what?

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."