Not much time to work on guitars this summer, but I did manage to finally complete a little gem I was building for my daughter. It's based on the Martin 0-16NY model, but with Sitka over rosewood. It turned out to be a really beautiful guitar. Much of the credit for that should go to Kevin Gallagher. He really set me up with a world-class kit and was always there for me whenever I had a question. I've included a few shots below. Later this fall I'll be starting two more guitars, a Gibson L-00 and a Martin 00-18 (also from Kevin). I can't wait to get those projects going. I learn something new each time and my skills are definitely improving. My tool collection is growing too! Soon I'll be ready to tackle one from scratch. Just bought my first wood set for that very reason. Yikes! I'm committed now. :-)
For anyone interested, the finish is Pratt & Lambert No. 38 gloss varnish wiped on over shellac seal coats. Haven't quite mastered pore filling, but that's not a big deal to me as I like the natural look of wood.
