I just bumped into our old friend Queequeg at the McKnight guitars jam and was curious to hear how things are going around here. I haven't been very active here in a long time but I still have my patched together OM-03R which has just turned 19 and rings loud and true. One of these days I'll get it refinished but it's structurally stable and aging like a fine wine.
As for my other guitars, I still have my Martin D-16GT which I've had for 15 years and haven't bought another guitar since. Instead, I'm building them. I have 2 completed (but in need of touch up repairs,) another nearing completion (a 000 in black walnut and sitka,) a 00 in mahogany and sitka and of course my old lawsuit Takamine which is still in pieces but I have plans to rebuild it.
Here's where my third build stands; I'm plotting the bridge location and still trying to align the neck.
(https://media.invisioncic.com/w286537/monthly_2025_05/IMG_1412.thumb.jpeg.e97fbcaf96046aaeca43a6387bac439d.jpeg)
Here's my second build while I was French polishing it several years ago:
(https://www.flickr.com/photo_download.gne?id=52947886434&secret=17dcb69b70&size=c&source=photoPageEngagement)
(https://www.flickr.com/photo_download.gne?id=52948130575&secret=a9e965eff4&size=c&source=photoPageEngagement)
Here's my fourth in progress:
(https://media.invisioncic.com/w286537/monthly_2025_06/IMG_1469.thumb.jpeg.0e12d7660acec44047a8c7164eed625d.jpeg)
...and No. 5 which will be an OM with EIR back and sides and a western red cedar top but is still in the early stages with the drum sander:
(https://preview.redd.it/kicking-off-my-fifth-acoustic-guitar-build-cedar-rosewood-om-v0-02yljp4pvave1.jpg?width=1080&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=92d3623ee0733043e7f34d302936e4418d92b8b8)
Great to see you again last weekend, kwakatak. Glad we had some time to chat in Central Ohio.
Of course winning a guitar there was the icing on the cake for me along with a very nice visit with a bunch of "old friends" after 17 years of getting together there. (The key operative there is "old") :bgrin:
Your luthiery skills have really developed over the years. :thumb
Have a great trip above and beyond the 49th parallel.
Welcome back! It's always wonderful when old members pop up again, you all have so much wisdom and experience! Very impressive guitar builds.
Skills! Respect!
Looks great! Welcome back. This place has seen a little bit of a revival lately. Still small and cozy, but very much alive.
Add another Larrivee owner to this year's McJam!
Maybe we need a national Larrivee jam fest organized? :guitar
Welcome back.Your work looks great.As a simple repairperson who went insane youv'e gone deeper in the insanity.Enjoy the trip. :wave
Quote from: Pilgrim on June 25, 2025, 11:18:32 AMAdd another Larrivee owner to this year's McJam!
Brian- very good to meet you and glad we had a chance to chat. Nice guitar you've got there.
:nice guitar:
Quote from: Queequeg on June 26, 2025, 07:55:48 AMBrian- very good to meet you and glad we had a chance to chat. Nice guitar you've got there.
:nice guitar:
Yes, Tim did a great job on it.
Sorry for going dark on your guys again. FWIW my OM-03R turned 20 recently. The side is still scarred from various domestic tussles but it still sings sweetly - though it could use a refret.
I'm setting the neck on No. 4 and am thinking of putting silk and steel strings on her.
(https://media.invisioncic.com/w286537/monthly_2026_04/IMG_2028.thumb.jpeg.342063edca022eeb650958227e3b976e.jpeg)
BTW, I hear there was another Forum guitar? I'm sad I missed out on the discussion but I've clearly already got too many guitars!
Anyway, the Eastern Canada cruise was fun. We flew into Montreal and drove up to Quebec and stayed at the Fairmont le Chateau Frontenac (sp) for 2 nights and my wife and youngest ziplined across the face of Montmorency Falls befoe boarding a Holland American cruise up the St. Lawrence. We did stops at Prince Edward Island for Canada Day, Sydney (where we rented a car and drove out to Louisbourg,) and Halifax before crossing back into the US and visiting Portland for July 4th before ending up in Boston and walking around for the day before flying home. My wife and I plan to drive up to Niagara on the Lake this summer but not before going on another cruise to the Norwegian fjords via Amsterdam. We're empty nesters now but our parents are extremely elderly so we figure we should get to traveling before we get old too.
PS: my youngest is finishing up his freshman year at Kent State where he is studying architecture and construction management. He's musically inclined and is also getting into tinkering. He asked me to give him guitar lessons and build a guitar with me this summer. I am very excited about the prospect.
Welcome back Kwakatak.
I remember your OM-03R very well.
How nice that your son wants to learn to play and build a guitar with you.
We're not cruiser types really, although the Norwegian fjords has always held some appeal, and our more active travels of previous years becomes more challenging since Sally's PD diagnosis.
Report back on your cruise experience.