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Go bar time.... I was fortunate to make a good trade for a Shopsmith a couple of weeks back. It's amazing what you can do with power tools!! 28 go-bar rods .25"x.75"x36" from half a WRC 2x4 in about ten minutes!! Let the gluing begin!!!

First use of the new go bars... Welcome to the shop, Mr. Goldberg! Gluing up the back reinforcement strips on the three piece back....

Spent some time early this morning fitting the neck block. The curved upper bout is a PITA, but I love the way they look when properly executed. Hopefully I can get this fit perfectly and glued up tonight. The tailblock is flat, and should go in much easier. Onward!!

Looks good so far. Bolt on or dovetail?

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Steve,

The neck will be a butt joint bolt-on. I got both end blocks installed, and started radiusing the back/side joint. I don't have a sandpaper disc for my radius dish, so I'm just using a couple of sheets of 60 grit. Here's a pic.....

Also, this may be the first use of bookmatched mesquite for lining material. The strips will get their edges rounded with a router bit, and then I'll cut the kerfs and split the strips in two to make a pair for the front and a pair for the back. Enjoy!

Time for another early morning build session.... Top linings glued on.

So how early was that - you're getting artsy on us

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Steve,
Looks like we're up about the same time. I usually roll out between 4:30 and 5:00. I have to be in the office by 7. It seems to be the only time I can get anything done. I try to work out M/W/F mornings, and build T/Th/Sat mornings. Sunday is a day of rest..... It sure is hard to build a guitar in 30 minute increments, tho. --Jay

I hear ya on the 30 min increments but sometimes that's all I get too. Since I reorganized the shop I've found it is a lot easier to make progress when I only have small bits of time.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Inching forward..... Got one side lined and flat. Here it is set on top of the back, so that it looks further along than it is.... The other set of linings is lying on the mold just begging to be glued in. I'm about to post a topic on the main board with a question I have about side tapering.....

Nice rosette. Nice bear claw top too!

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I found a little time early in the mornings this week to get a little bit of work done. All the linings are in, the back is braced, and has been inlet into the sides. I still need to shape the braces and clean up the fit, but I'm not far off from gluing the back on. Dave F. just lasered some new labels for me, so I'll have time to clean everything up and get started bracing the top before I can glue the back on. Glad I started August 5!!!! It's starting to look like a guitar.

It's looking good Jay! Labels will be in the mail tomorrow am.

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Dave, you're the best... Thanks!

Labels arrived yesterday from Dave F.--what a genius (Dave, that is!) It took me 7 iterations of the label design 'til I got one I was happy with. I don't have much talent for graphic design, so I just kept shooting in the dark until I found something I liked. Dave did 6 each of the labels in Alder and Bloodwood.

So tell me, which orientation do you like better for the mesquite parlor? Horizontal Alder?

Horizontal Bloodwood?

Vertical Alder/Bloodwood? (viewed 'straight' if the guitar is being played) If I go with the horizontal version, I'll inlet it into the back strips. Man, I'm happy with these! Thanks Dave!!!

I'm almost too jealous of those labels to vote, but I say horizontal alder. Nice work so far!

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Yup. Those labels are very nice. I would ask Dave to laser me up some with my logo but a dude on the AGF said my logo was not suitable for a guitar. He said it was OK for a website maybe, but not to put on the instrument itself. I'm off to go cry in my beer. I know, alcohol never solved anything, but neither did milk so leave me alone.
Nice labels though. Very classy and if there is one thing I know, it's class. Take a look at my house:


and my entertainment room:


and my classy Christmas decorations:


My point is, I know classy. Clearly.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Tony, a few more posts like that one and I may start caring about your Uke.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

Nice labels, I vote for the horizontal alder too.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Rube Goldberg gobar deck--part deux. Back is on now for better or worse.... Can't wait to unspring this contraption in the morning to start cleaning up squeeze out. Sorry for the crappy pic. Lighting suxx in the garage.

Excellent use of space! You gotta love Rube!
By the way, go with the vertical label. Either one looks great.

_________________
http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Back is on and trimmed flush.... Gotta love a router! Back and sides are complete, short of a little back brace shaving. The sound is still a little bit tight. On to the top!

Looking good ! Like the labels as well , either one works as far as im concerned !

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The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
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Awake at 4am again.... This morning, I slotted and rough tapered the fingerboard. The Stew-Mac fret slotting jig made this easy-breezy. Guess what it's made of? Yeah.... that's right.... Mesquite! It has a Janka of around 2800, so it should be perfectly suitable for a fretboard. I think my total materials up to this point are around $40. The glare in the photo washes out the grain--it will be pretty when oiled. --Jay

Up early again... For inlay, I decided to keep it simple. The fretboard got 3/32" abalone side marker dots installed in the face of the fretboard for a tiny bit of bling. After radiusing the fretboard, I fashioned a slot depth gauge by double-sticky taping my favorite Starrett rule to the side of the fret saw at the correct depth. Here's a shot of the raw fretboard after radiusing and cutting the slots to the correct depth.



The second is a shot of the board swiped with Naptha--good color! I also glued up the fretboard binding (not pictured). I'm starting to feel the pressure of the end of November approaching!