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Hey Everyone,

I am sure many of you have seen this, but just incase, this is a good visual tutorial by Cumpiano that I think would benefit any beginner, such as myself. I don't follow his method exactly, but found his ideas and methods very useful.

Jeff

Article by Cumpiano.

Great find Jeff, A good read. Nice!! set of Koa he used, love the top as well. I noticed that Sir William is now using mold and heating blanket. that is a change form his older days. I may have to build a similar jointer. simple but elegant. It apears to me that for an OM the guitar he built is a bit deeper than mine.MichaelP38397.5494328704

Cumpiano recieved that Koa from a very good friend of mine. It came from a bar in a hotel (on the islands) that was torn down in the 1920's. I am building a small dred right now with one of the same sets and have another set put aside for something in the future. The wood is probably 200 years air dried and the tap is killer.

It has a beautful color to it a bit lighter than most Koa I get. It looks well aged. I bet it does have a nice tap tone.MichaelP38397.642662037

Very very interesting, since the C&N book is about 20 years old it's great to see some of his changes through the years, I use the same exact mortise and tenon that he does with a couple of modifications (I don't glue the tongue but let it float on CF Rods).

I'm really starting to think that after healdsburg I need to spend some time making some better jigs so I can do things faster around the shop (I love his headstock one). I've starting making vaccum jigs for various steps because they work so well for holding things down...

I am really intriged by his bracing pattern, I'd love to hear one of those guitars, I may build one like that just to see what it's like...

Thanks for sharing Jeff.

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

Yeah, I like the darker stuff also, but then again, who knows what happens to Koa after 200 years, sitting in the dark and sealed.....If it could talk imagine the stories it would tell. The next one that I build from it will have a neck (Hondo Mahogany) from a bar top that I scarfed from a Darryls' resturant that closed after about 20 to 25 years and the top will be red spruce from a beam out of an old factory.

Actually I like it light in color. I prefer more of a honey tone and less red when you apply the finish. That is one of the reasons The OM I am building now is Taz instead of Koa.

I have a couple sets of the lighter stuff, Q/S but very little figure. 3Yrs old. I keep going back and forth....should I keep it or sell it.

Lightly figured Koa makes super tops for finger style OOO's or OM's. Curly is pretty but straight grain makes super tops. I don't know many that use it for tops but I love it.

Maybe that is what I will use them for, I do like all Koa guitars.

That's just not fair

I LOVE Koa, I'm working on an all Koa for Healdsburg, I'm hoping the inlay is done soon enough for me to show up with it. I've been using Bob at Pegasus for my Koa purchases, so far I've loved everything he's sent me...

-Paul-

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-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

That is a really good tutorial, thanks Jeff!

Hello Jim,

Not sure why they moved it, but try here.

Jeff