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Still deliberating over the rosette - rout out or keep going? Really would welcome advice on whether routing out the whole thing including the shell (inlayed with an epoxy) is feasible without making a hideous mess... any thoughts?

Want to get going going on the top bracing (always my favourinte part) and need to decide on the approach for the neck - I have a rippled/curly honduran plank that would make lovely necks - especially laminated as will expose the curl nicely... any thoughts on the best way to re-saw this for maximum usage?

Dimensions approx:

lenght 1280mm
Width 230mm
Depth (thickness) 28mm

Advice appreciated

Honduran Curly Mahogany



I am doing another project at the same time - a headless, fretles bass for a friend - straight through neck with cocobolo cap below

I don't see any problem with routing out the rosette. On my first I inlayed an abalone design on the headstock. I later decided I did not like it and routed it out with no issues at all. Just be sure to wear a mask, the dust from the shell can be pretty bad for you

Looking good Frank, I love those braces.

Finally made a decsion yesterday to redo the rosette - armed with a new router bit, masked up..it went surprizingly OK... new rossette went in a bit easier, but now wider that I normally like with Curly Koa and Paua Abalone as this was all I had to hand - a bit more 'bling' than I wanted for this build but a better result. Still need to rout out the area at the top as I like to fill with a clean piece of something to finish it off, but happier with this one over all.

NOw away with work again for a whole week so no build tome until a couple of hours next weekend

Lovely! Good decision.

This is looking really nice...can't wait to see it done. And yes, that's some gorgeous scrap you're using there. I'm using some of my *scrap* on an OM myself.

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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."

Rosette turned out stunning! Good choice on the redo. I really really like that one.

Thanks - its not perfect, but better than the first attempt and have learnt a few things in the process so has to be good!

Don, for this build, my 2.5 (no 2 was sort of abandoned although it may get reworked in furture), I am using the Malaysian Blackwood - the 'scrap' BRW wont be used for some time, untl I get enough experience to do it justice - Its was a swap for 2 sets of QS Honduran RW I had found with a builder who primarily exports to the States and Japan so it was a bargain.

... Envy... you so have shown great progress and lovely instruments on the way... but for me didly squat, da nada... no progress as that hideous thing called a day job has taken over - long term project that has meant 5 days a week away from home, so weekend is family time.

Hopefully got a week off over Easter and loads of progress should be made...

Well its been a while...work and another project - the Electric bass project (there is a thread on the electric forum).... so need to post this quickly so can get a shower as Cocobolo dust....

But after too much day job work, now have a week off so should see some progress and try nad catch up with some you guys!

Have managed to thickness the Malaysian blackwood sides - showed a nice little 'flame/ripple' - which should look nice.... but had a problem with some cracking - as the old joke goes, this is one occasion where my sides are spliting but aint laughing ... boom boom (British thing)

Have done the super glue trick and should be good to bend in the week and get in the mold. Have also split and planed the top brace wood (Adi) as top is also ready for bracing so if I work had and no problems, shoul have the box ready to close by end of next weekend

boring pick of sides



Even more boring pic of Adi top brace wood....

..time for a ice cold beer

Nice work. Looks great.

... Well its been a while since I have ben working on the Electric Bass for my friend... which is now in the finishing process... so last weekend I decided to start bending the sides...

First up was a crack at the waist, which was on the inside and possible to repair...although will now probably need to double side...

...but when in th shop on Sunday discovered splits at both ends of the first side I had bent....

Not currently sure if this side is now still usable, its possible, but have put feelers out toe the supplier of the Malaysian for another side set... problem is, he is not likley to have any left and if he does will be a full set... I do have another side set available but thenm I will be short for teh other back which is nicer and reserved....

Anyway to take my mind of this depressing issue, thought i would finish the rosette with and inner soundhole ring of flamed Koa - will match the bindings and also the woodedn rings inside rosette.

Quite pleased with this.



Will work on the top bracing whilst waiting to hear back and figure out what to do with the sides

Nice sound hole binding! I really love that look. I need to try it eventually.

Nice rosette and binding!

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frank, that soundhole is as nicely done as any I've seen. Good work, mate....

Finally...managed to find some new Malaysian Blackwood sides to match back... after splitting the previous set... hideously busy in teh day job + family holiday has restricted any time in teh shop...so no major progress, but top now x-braced and scolloping these before putting on remianing braces and bridge plate - will post some pics when done, but now thinking will struggle to get finished by October....

You guys all seem to have progressed so weel with some stunnning results so a little right now

Hey I'm with ya frank. Mine is so close but I dunno if I'll make that deadline. Life just gets in the way sometimes. Plus my commission has to get done first. He is dying for it and its got a ways to go. Good luck on yours!

Well sadly no way to make October deadline.... The bass project and need to search for replacement sides have taken their toll on time.....

I'll keep plugging away and continue to post updates, but can't see a finished guitar before Christmas...

Been fun though and great to see so many new instruments taking shape.

2 years have gone by since I last posted --- and this guitar is still not finished! have built and delivered two electric build since, but works and illness have taken their toll on time... hoping to get back in the workshop in next few weeks and continue this journey. Hope all the others managed to eventually finish.