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Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to DoctorX2k2)
Sorry - had to leave town for a few days...Girl showed up at my door with a kid and...JUST KIDDING!
No, I did no 'fill', as I used cypress. Doesn't need it - unless maybe you have some gaps in the wood from grain - or the binding and purfling areas?
Sound samples...One of these years. I just don't have good stuff, and I have to get over to a friend's who has a really sweet little recorder that's been out awhile. It records near-studio quality on this little gizmo! Sooooo nice...
So I think I'm going to give it another go in the garage. Just order some tools from LMI and a few places, keep the investment to a minimum. I'm also going to see how serious the 'inquiries' were about me building another guitar and for how much. That might make me take the time to make a few jigs, better tools, etc....
Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
Heck yeah it is addictive Ramon If I could build 3 guitars a year I'd be happy.
As for buying tools from LMI, most of them can be bought elsewhere for cheaper. And jigs can be made by yourself as well.
Cypress doesn't need filling? Hmm didn't know some woods didn't need it hahaha, I'm so clueless about finishes. What if there's a microcrack I can't see? So all you've done was applying many layers of shellac, spiriting and glazing?
Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
I watched Bob do a Madagasscan rosewood classical (gorgeous), and yes, stuff like that has to be filled. Also, you have to really watch sanding so that you don't 'stain' light colored purflings, or get the dust into rosettes, etc....Looks F-U-N!!!
My cypress needed no fills, and only one slight area at the purfling, so I think if I build again, I'll just go cypress. It's friggin HARD enough!
I also have that catalogue from Lee Valley tools....Drooling!
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
On a cypress guitar, you dont need to fill the back and sides, which is a big difference. There´s still the neck, headstock, bridge to be filled. And sometimes bindings es well. Yeah, Madagascar has big pores... I´ve just finished one and will post some pics soon.
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
And nice sounding as well. Of the rosewoods I´ve tried, I think its my favorite for a Flamenca Negra. A bit lighter and not so oily as others. Wonderfull wood.
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
I´m not to fond of this wood. I dont like it´s taptone and the guitars I´ve tried have been deadish. It´s very beautifull though and no pores to fill. It´s heavy and with a quite strong damping factor. Sellers call it Bolivean rosewood or columbian rosewood and compare it to Braz rosewood......
Take care when working its in the high allergic risk zone and tell us what you think whaen you have builded with it
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
Tom
Another thing, (not to far out of topic I hope) is: where did you get your Palo Escrito? LMI? Do you know of any who has gone to Mexico to buy Paloescrito?
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
Hey
quote:
I´m not to fond of this wood. I dont like it´s taptone and the guitars I´ve tried have been deadish. It´s very beautifull though and no pores to fill. It´s heavy and with a quite strong damping factor. Sellers call it Bolivean rosewood or columbian rosewood and compare it to Braz rosewood......
Take care when working its in the high allergic risk zone and tell us what you think whaen you have builded with it
Hey Anders. I got this wood for a classical. Thanks for the tip regarding the allergic risk.
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
quote:
Tom
Another thing, (not to far out of topic I hope) is: where did you get your Palo Escrito? LMI? Do you know of any who has gone to Mexico to buy Paloescrito?
This set I got through LMI. I'm going to Mexico within the next couple of months though to look for more. If you'd like, I can look for some sets for you too.
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
Hi Tom
Well thanks for the offer. Well price and Quality is always interesting to know. I bought a set from LMI 3 years ago and I wasn´t to fond of it. Poor maching of sides and back and a BIG (1cm) knot in the sides. I´ve ordered 2 sets from them and they have promissed to send me something decent, so I´m not into buying a lot.
I was more interested, because I would like to go myself. I like Mexico. Fantastic country. Landscape, people, colours, smells. Everything.
I think that if you go further down south, to Paracho or maybe to where they harvest (Queretaro amongst other provinces) You can get better quality for less money...
I repeat, in my opinion, quality is very important talking about Palo Escrito. Not because of sound and stability. I regard it as very high in both aspects, butbecause modern 1st world guitarbuyers are not used to knots etc, so they wont pay. And when you build for a living, thats an important part of the game....
BTW... I have a feeling that you are building a lot more now than a year ago. Is that true.
Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
Update...
I just strung the guitar, even though it's not entirely finished yet, and I'm quite pleased so far. It easily beats the cheap Aria my mom bought in the 80s for 90$. It has a lot of power. The action is not perfect... like I said in JB's thread, if forgot to thickness my fingerboard before fretting it so I'm stuck with an extra 2mm. Basicly, the low E string is about 11mm above the soundhole (which is still lower than the Aria) but I'm under the impression that it increases the sustain... maybe too much. Now I need to put a golpeador, make a bone saddle, and maybe redo the nut. I'll also have to touch-up the finish on the back and peghead. The workmanship isvery rough, but I don't care, I've learned so much. Overall I'm well pleased. I'll post pictures and maybe a newbie soundclip later on
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to DoctorX2k2)
quote:
I just strung the guitar, even though it's not entirely finished yet, and I'm quite pleased so far. It easily beats the cheap Aria my mom bought in the 80s for 90$.
There y'are, I told you it would be better than a cheap classical! Looking forward to the audio clips. I just put my first coat of french polish on last week, and should be finished early next year. Will post some clips too.
Jb
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Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
Bleh... I was about to put the golpeador on and I found out that it wasn't self-adhesive, as opposed to LMI's description . I was thinking about buying some spray adhesive... is that ok?
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to DoctorX2k2)
Hmmm, spray adhesive? I'm not sure... I think thats intended for mounting pictures and things. But it might work. However a self-adhesive golpeadore is only a couple of pounds over here, so they must be about $5 there.
Its a thin film that you apply one side to the golpeadore, and then stick it onto the soundboard. But just make sure you order the TRANSPARENT adhesive sheet if you're using a transparent golpeadore.
Jb
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Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Anders Eliasson
Doctor
if you like the guitar, you can always shave the fingerboard and do a refret to get the stringheight down. No big deal.
Yeah... I'll do that, but it will have to wait a little while.
As for the golpeador... I found that that there were 2 sheets to peel off and one side had adhesive stuff on it... but I screwed up while gluing it and there were bubbles and ugly fingerprints so I took it off and I'll oder a new one. No golpes for Xmas I guess... hehe
Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
Ok,
I bought a fret puller, pulled the frets out and chipped a little bit of the 12th but it's not too bad. I sanded the fretboard enough to have a low action on both the fretboard and at the soundhole (aiming for 9mm). I also sanded the neck as it was too thick. Then I refinished the guitar for the 3rd time as I had a few sand through spots on the back and dented finish on top trying to play without a tap plate (not doing any golpe, but I guess my nails hit it more than I thought). So, another 3 weeks to cure then hopefully I'll just have to buff, glaze and restring. So don't expect pictures or sound clips until later this month.
Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Anders Eliasson
Cool Doctor.
Thats the spirit. Keep on working that thing untill you cant squeeze any more juice out of it.
I´m sure you´re gonna like it.
Haha, I actually do like it. I already want to build another one starting in May. I had a very relaxed attitude about this one. A "just do something and whatever happens, you'll learn from it". The next one is going to be a lot easier.
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to Ramón)
Doc, if you're not already using it, try using MICROMESH instead of sandpaper or wet and dry. It comes in finer grades, and might allow you to cut back the finish and then polish it up without taking too much off.
Jb
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Posts: 211
Joined: Jun. 14 2006
From: Quebec City, Canada
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to JasonM)
quote:
ORIGINAL: JasonM
Come on Doc, i've been reading and waiting for sound samples and pics for a couple of months. I'm getting impatient. You have a deadline to meet!
Now, imagine how I feel .
I was so frustrated, nobody could talk to me for 36 hours... this is the 4th time I finish the darn thing. I'm so going to FP my next guitar... screw lacquers.
RE: Making first guitar - Progress (in reply to DoctorX2k2)
quote:
I'm so going to FP my next guitar... screw lacquers.
IMHO french polishing is no easier than lacquer... more difficult if anything, and it will still require cutting back from time to time, unless you are a master polisher.
But go ahead and try it.
Jb
_____________________________
¡Si esto no está en compas, esto no es el Flamenco!
Printable Version
If I could build 3 guitars a year I'd be happy. 
. I was thinking about buying some spray adhesive... is that ok?
... 
. 
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