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A little guitar from NZ
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10133&t=37314		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:07 am ]
Post subject:  A little guitar from NZ
OK,

G'day from Wellington New Zealand.

I'm determined to knock of two more builds before our new baby arrives in October.... talk about pressure!

For the challenge I am going to build a little (think Martin size 5) guitar for my 6YO daughter. I was struggling to keep it under the $150 limit but have managed to scrounge damaged neck and FB for 0$. They were the result of mistakes made on a friend's previous build. I will be able to cut down the undamaged pieces and make them stretch to fit the 550mm scale length on this little project. Will also do without a truss rod and just use a single CF piece also to keep the price down.

I plan to knock the majority of the build off in the next 3 weekends to leave me ample time for finishing and to put some extra effort into the inlay. I'm thinking pink abalone flowers for a 6yo :) But will need the weather gods to smile on me as all of my "messy" work has to be done outdoors. The rest takes place in the 4th bedroom of our rented house.

Stay tuned.

Shane
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:13 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
I have some high expectations to live up to after delivering a custom electric to this same customer earlier in the year....

http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/ww35 ... ric021.jpg

I'll be shooting for a size 5 which is soft on little fingers - probably using silk & steel strings and hoping to make it playable in standard tuning as well as terz. In the past I've got into trouble for suggesting a uke would be appropriate as "it doesn't sound like your guitar dad!" :roll:

Preparing for a busy weekend!

Shane
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 03, 2012 3:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Thanks Todd. Yep, I've managed to pick up a fretboard and neck blank that were someone elses mistakes. The remaining pieces were not long enough for a standard scale but work just right in this case. [:Y:]

Shane
Author:  Don Williams [ Sat Aug 04, 2012 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Todd Stock wrote:
Love Size 5's...keep in mine that the fretboard is a standard long scale Martin board cut at the third fret slot, and with a fret added at the soundhole end...that means that an old board that was discarded due to damage to nut end or whatever can be repurposed....freebie fretboard!



Did not know that. I was under the impression that it was a 21.375" scale. Learn something new everyday!
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
OK, after a couple of fast and furious weeks (both here and at work) I have made some good progress. Unfortunately, due to the technologically challenged camera operator :oops: I've managed to lose a bunch of images showing the early stages - joining and thicknessing plates, gluing and carving braces. But the weather gods have smiled on me and I am on track.

Plates finished including rosette
Sides bent
Spanish heel carved (yes, an integrated heel on this build)
Braces glued and carved
Neck joined to top
Sides installed with tentelones made from scrap
Heel block made from a scrap piece of plywood I found under the house laminated with offcuts from the sides

Anyway, here are some pics...
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
D'oh! I thought that was going to happen. They are in reverse order. Better luck next time :oops:

Shane
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Some more...
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Getting the back ready...
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
I realised I forgot to take a pick of gluing the back on... glue, rope, leave overnight...

Here's some pics...
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
I've managed to get most of the building done in two busy weekends plus I took a couple days off work early last week when the sun was out. Hence the sudden rush of updates. Things have slowed down again now as I plan the inlay. In the meanwhile here are a couple more...
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
It takes a fine day in Wellington to get me out into the other half of my workshop. Here it is on a fine mid-winter afternoon.
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
On a fine day, trimming the edges of the top and back then scraping the sides smooth ready for routing binding/purfling channels...
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Routing the purfling and binding channels. Routing and gluing in the end wedge. I've used an offcut from the offcut of figured maple I used for the headstock veneer, trimmed with bw purf. Keeping it simple. Pleased with the result.
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Curly maple bindings that were a promotional freebie with back and sides purchase earlier in the year. .010 bwb purf.
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Even though it's too far along to turn back now it is always nice to check the fit of the instrument to its intended owner. Result - perfect fit. Owner-to-be very happy and looking forward to seeing the inlay design :)
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Gluing on the ebony fretboard. Was a 25.5" fretboard with the first 3 frets removed. Sanded to 14" radius.
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
So, this is likely to be the last lot for a while. I head overseas tomorrow for work for a week (to the USA!) so things will slow down for a while. I have shaped the bridge and sanded most of it to 220. Still needs some fine tuning on the neck and headstock.
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Fri Aug 17, 2012 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Will work on the inlay design while I'm travelling. Have the following to choose from:
White MOP
Black MOP
Paua
Red abalone
burl off-cuts?

Will need to be flowers as that is what has been promised to the customer.... Planning to incorporate inlay on fretboard, headplate, but wedge... lots of flowers :shock:

I hope the weather is warm in Portland Oregon next week as I've had enough wet weather in Wellington this past month to do me for a while. I have my fingers crossed for a few hot days!

Cheers,

Shane
Author:  Rodger Knox [ Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Moving right along and looking good!
That looks like a pretty large bridge for a small guitar.
Author:  amcardon [ Mon Aug 20, 2012 2:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Weather should be nice and mild with highs in the 70s/80s ;)

Enjoying watching your build! Enjoy your time in Portland, it's a great place to visit!
Author:  WudWerkr [ Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Great looking work so far . I would say that from the apperance , the owner will be quite happy with the end result ! [:Y:]
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Well, after a week of sunshine in Portland I arrived back home this morning to 11 degrees celsius and rain :cry:

Roger, I thought the same about the size of the bridge. It looks bigger than it is due to the wide angle lens but I have reduced it (by a couple of mm) in width and depth.

Now I need to get stuck into the inlay!

Cheers,

Shane
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Mon Nov 05, 2012 3:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Finished! bliss

Set-up complete late last night and delivered to my very happy client first thing this morning before school!

Pretty happy with the result. Will spend some time this morning bringing the photos up to date and hopefully shooting some glamour pics of the final product.

...stay tuned Eat Drink

Shane
Author:  Shane Woonton [ Mon Nov 05, 2012 4:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Let me try to upload a few pics of the inlay in progress...
Author:  jfmckenna [ Tue Nov 06, 2012 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A little guitar from NZ
Wow looks great, lets see more pics.
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