New Design: Spokes of Sound

This is going to be a new design for a semi solid hollow-body electric. The first step is to always draft a design to scale and make jigs. In this case out of MDF. This is a good step because you can not only use jigs for many routing steps but also to see if it fits in a case. In the past I have made guitars that don't really fit in a case which is a pain. It is called spokes of sound due to an added feature which will present itself later after some progress has been made. (1.5 hr)

In the booth with Rudie

This guitar is getting some lacquer applications. Looks really dark in the photo but has a nice smoky flame burst to it. Its name is Rudie due to the fact that the future owner is a Clash fanatic. Which is OK.

Westbury Restoration

This Westbury electric was in dire straits with no electronics or frets. A friend gave it to me and I felt compelled to bring it back. It was made in Japan at the famous Matsumoku factory known for quality. This instrument had the following work done to it: Fretboard relevel, frets installed and leveled, rebuff and polish, new pickups and electrical components, new control cavities cover plates built, action and intonation re-set. Turned out nice!

Marshwood Remodel, Update from March 16, 2012

Ok. Some work has been done on this Guitar: New logo and Clashtastic 12th fret inlay have been installed. The material for this was reconstituted red stone. Frets put in and leveled and the neck finished in tru-oil. Body sanded and dyed black with alcohol stain. The next step will be to sand the stain back a little, and begin applying lacquer.

Marshwood Acoustic Update

It has been a long time since starting on this. Other projects took priority and this had to be put aside for a time. It is getting close. The neck has been glued in and as you can see a vacuum was used to attach to bridge. So far so good! Next the nut and saddle will be installed and fitted. Then ready to play. Materials recap: Flame Maple back and sides, Mahogany neck, Douglas Fir top and Rosewood fretboard, head plate and bindings.

Beetle Kill Electric Guitar

A little background on this guitar: In 2008, I was working for a Natural Resource Management team conducting forestry projects in Colorado’s front-range forests. Of which, Ponderosa Pine Trees are one of the main inhabitants. A main objective was to remove pine beetle infected trees. I spent about six months with a chain saw in hand and pine pitch stuck to my face and clothes getting to know this material. The Ponderosa has some beautiful characteristics: The grace they possess in filling space in a healthy forest, the sweet aroma in the air, and the way the bark on older trees has a rich red color. The bacteria associated with the Pine Beetle leaves the wood with “blue stain” adding another element to perk my interest in creating an instrument out of it. And it is satisfying when you can use a regional material, really creating a Colorado guitar.

Finishing Stages of the Beetle Kill Electric

Finally back in the shop again trying to finish some projects. Here two guitars are on deck for the spray booth. This process takes a month. Lacquer has to be giving time to dry and harden, then releveled and sprayed again. When there are enough coats it will be time for the final sanding and then buffing.