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First build complete
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=31451		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Chameleon [ Thu Mar 10, 2011 11:56 pm ]
Post subject:  First build complete
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The pictures aren't great but I don't have much of a lighting setup as of right now. This is my first guitar. It was definitely a learning experience and I'm glad I didn't try to do anything too fancy the first go round. It turned out really well though. Fretboard is very accurate and easy to play (it's a non-radiused fretboard which I prefer) and the switching setup brings out a whole lot of sounds which is really fun to experiment with. I'm considering changing out the pickups at some point, the ones in there are from the Robert O Brien kit (except the single coil which is from a scrap guitar I took apart) but first I'm in the planning stages for my next build which will be quite a bit more ambitious. It is going to be a once piece cocobolo guitar (yes, I mean one piece) with an integrated fretboard. I will be documenting my progress on the forums.

P.S. If you thought I wasn't serious:
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Author:  BlueBellyGuitars [ Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
Not bad for a first. Now, build another!
Author:  Mike Baker [ Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
Good job. But you're finding out the same thing I did; this stuff is addictive. I was already planning my second before my first was even through. Now I'm in the middle of two builds and contemplating a third. Welcome to the club!
I'll give you the best piece of advice that I've learned. Detail, detail, detail. Every little thing you leave as "good enough" will bug you everytime you pick up the guitar. I play my first a lot, and love it. However, i see areas on it I should have taken more time with, and beat myself over the head with them every time I pick that guitar up. I think that's gonna translate into a better second, third, fourth..... You get the idea.
Author:  theguitarwhisperer [ Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
I thought that massive chunk of wood was the guitar case!
Bravo, good first try!
Now, I would SERIOUSLY consider honing my chops before tearing into that SUPER RARE piece of exotic cocobolo, and possibly ruining it or producing something sub-par, especially considering there are a lot more economical uses for it.
Author:  Chameleon [ Fri Mar 11, 2011 10:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
I've got a vision man. I'm sure I could use some advice but I'm definitely sure I wanna do this. I was thinking about having the piece planed so I have a perfectly flat area to work on, although I imagine it could be very expensive to do so. I am considering making a jig and using a router to basically plane the area for the fretboard and body. I'll need to make a jig for routing the truss rod anyway, which I'm thinking of doing first before any of the main cuts are made, but I'll want to make sure the other side (fretboard) is perfectly flat first so I can be more precise with the depth of the channel.

Advice and comments are appreciated. Ordering parts today: Schaller hannes bridge, tuners, evo-gold frets, truss rod, etc. All parts will be gold and black. I think gold will accent the color of the wood very well. Anyone have previous experience with cocobolo? I've got a really red piece and I'm curious if it will oxidize brown over time. I'd personally love to keep it as red as can be. It looks beautiful.

And I definitely appreciate how rare this wood is. 16 in wide and all heartwood. No knots. Pretty much perfect. I do intend on getting some good extras out of it, at least a neck or two, a thru neck if I cut it to suit, and if nothing else, fretboards for sure.
Author:  alan stassforth [ Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
Nce job.
That is a good pickup combo,
similar to Steve Morse set-up,
although he has two single coils in the middle instead of one.
If you listen to some of his sounds,
you can really hear him go from sweet (single coils),
to nasty (hummers).
Where on earth did you get that coco?
I hope you aren't allergic to it.
Don't use an oil based finish on it.
Ask me how I know. gaah
Author:  Ian Cunningham [ Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
That guit looks really good for a first go, and you took the liberty of adding some personalized touches. Right way to do it in my opinion. That's an amazing piece of coco you got there. I'd actually be very leery of using that for an all one piece guitar, especially since it looks all flat sawn to me. I'm not sure it would be stable enough to be a guitar all by itself, and I know I would really like to be able to take that neck off if I needed to, considering it's still your second guitar. I'd also be very reluctant to rip that very nice piece of wood. Good luck to you man, and seek plenty of guidance when doing crazy stuff like this. In fact, before you make that beautiful piece of coco into a guitar, take a similar piece of something like pine or ash and do some practice runs on it so you don't make any obvious mistakes. I expect "experiments" like this really should take a while longer to do, maybe a year or so to really get it right. You may find you'll end up making three or more simpler guitars before this beast is all done, but the painstakingly long time spent on it is very very worth it. [:Y:]

By the way....

The coco stays red after finishing, but right after you work it it might be light purple, white, yellow, orange or whatever else the tree might be in the mood for. It will then oxidize to the nice dark red you are looking for. Cocobolo is also a very dangerous medium. If you find you are allergic to this stuff, you need to stop. Or you will die. If you find you can handle it, wear a very good respirator and keep that dust out of your shop. Take breaks and get some fresh air because dust will get through the respirator. ANY sanding and you need the respirator on. Tip: if you can smell it, you're breathing just a tad too much of it in. Measures this drastic aren't necessary for just doing a fretboard or something else small, but when you make backs and sides with this stuff or anything more involved than that, caution needs to be taken to the fullest effect to stay safe. In the end though, it is so worth it. I love this wood a lot. I only say this because I haven't heard anyone warn you about it yet and it's very important.
Author:  Chameleon [ Sun Mar 13, 2011 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
Thanks for the heads up. I know the idea is pretty far out there but I find it very hard for me to stick to the conventional. As far as the flatsawn, I don't think it is, judging by the direction of the grain when looking at the sides it seems to be very straight. I know plenty of people make necks from flatsawn maple, I think thats what the cheap neck blanks from Warmoth are. But maple and cocobolo are very different, I know.

Anyway, as an update, here's the shape I'm going for:

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What do you think? Advice from you seasoned builders is much appreciated.
Author:  Ti-Roux [ Sun Mar 13, 2011 7:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
I know I've already told you this but I thing it's a waiste of awesome wood.
One-piece guitar, in any wood, seems to be an incredibly big challenge. Maybe too much for a second instrument, even more with such a piece of wood.
And even if it's done, an all-coco guitar will be soooo heavy, and i'm not sure about the tone of it.

All I say is thing twice before going into it.
After that, you're the boss.
If you're going with your project, good luck.
Author:  Ian Cunningham [ Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
Chameleon wrote:
Thanks for the heads up. I know the idea is pretty far out there but I find it very hard for me to stick to the conventional.


Yep. Me too. I like your style man, and I especially like your far out thinking, but some things just shouldn't be done. This may or may not be one of them. Tuck that piece of rare expensive wood away for a while and make you some prototypes. You won't regret it. If after you've got the process done you decide to go ahead with this thing, do it. If not, don't.

I love that body shape by the way. That same thing in walnut with a flat coco top and black bindings would look really cool. Contrast that with some chrome or black hardware..........mmmmmmmm
Author:  Mike Baker [ Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
I'd agree with the others who say tuck that piece of cocobolo away. If I were you, I'd build with anything else, even if I had to build with pine 2x4's from Lowe's or Home Depot. Build a couple on the cheap, and build them like you want to build with that coco. Make sure you can really do that wood justice before you cut into it. MHO.
Author:  JimO [ Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
I see 6 or 8 awesome tops with that gorgeous wood. Just my opinion.
Author:  Ian Cunningham [ Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
Not to mention all the beautiful Acoustic B&S sets, neck through neck blanks and body wings, or the many many marimba bars. ;) I'm still wondering where in the world you got that. Care to tell us? beehive
Author:  Chameleon [ Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
My piece came from www.anexotichardwood.com. I got a billet 2x16x46 for $460. 68lbs, shipping cost me $46. Not too bad in my opinion. They have a lot of really huge billets of cocobolo, and some good sized bocote as well. Here's a link to their billets: http://anexotichardwoodstore.com/store/ ... 7422715345
Author:  jimmysux [ Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
I would do it. But I would plan out my waste wood, you will have enough to have quite a few necks or fretboards on the scrap side of this.
Author:  jimmysux [ Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
Also, is it me, or do you not have a radius on that fretboard?
Author:  Chameleon [ Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
Yep, 100% radius free board. Gives a more classical feel. I like it. Maybe not on every guitar. Next one will probably have a radius.
Author:  jimmysux [ Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: First build complete
Actually I want to try that on my next build. I honestly wonder how much radiusing a fretboard adds to the comfort of playing the guitar. Seems to me like a flat fretboard would be much easier on string bending as well.
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