Maple/ Koa Top "hand made"

[Danny]

                                                Last one before the neck goes on.

                          I like the belly in rosewood bridge and it seems to be placed exactly right.
There are 4 or 5 layers of sealer that I would put on and lightly sand off and also a wash coat of sealer cut with denatured alcohol. Then three layers of wipe on polyurethane. I'll bring out the gloss in it when I buff it. And if too
many flaws show up I'll turn it into satin.

[tadol]

Looks strangely like a BBQ rotisserie - 

Waitin' for the playin' part Danny -

Tad

[Mr_LV19E]

Looks strangely like a BBQ rotisserie - 

Thats what I thought. You need to put a electric motor on that spit so you don't get carpel tunnel cranking it by hand.   

[PCT57]

Danny

How have I missed this thread 

The guitar looks stunning and has an interesting and unusual (?) combination of woods.

I envy you to be able to do this - look forward to seeing the next installment.

[Danny]

   Well, I had the neck on a week ago and I was in too big a hurry to play it. So I wound up with a bad neck set. For a week now I've been taking it off, making adjustments, putting it back etc.
  I also worked more on the "fret job from hell". And managed to scar the top, neck and bridge while doing all these things over again.

        All I can say is this just may be the thing that teaches me patience.

I do have the neck set right now. So I can begin to set the saddle and nut height. What little I have played it has been very promising.
       
         My wife commented on how nice it sounded to her. And I don't even have the B string compensated at all yet.

         More pics soon.

[unclrob]

You may not need to compensate the B.I don't bother on any of my saddle's.Those that do uselly bring me one of Bob's higher end ivory whatever and I install those.

[Danny]

You may not need to compensate the B.I don't bother on any of my saddle's.Those that do uselly bring me one of Bob's higher end ivory whatever and I install those.

Thanks Rob, I think I should start with just shaping it and lowering it. If you had not posted I probably would have went ahead and compensated it first.

[unclrob]

You'd be amazed at how in tune your guitar really is.2 to 3 cents flat on most tuner which is about what you want.Most people press down fairly hard which pulls the string sharp 2 to 3 cents.

[GA-ME]

Dan, you should be receiving a package in a day or two. I mailed it last Thursday.

[Danny]

  Thanks again Rob. And Jon I'll be glad to get the package.

[bluesman67]

That's an interesting wood combination.  I'm just curious, how did you come across this guitar project?

[Danny]

That's an interesting wood combination.  I'm just curious, how did you come across this guitar project?

I was just scanning the Austin Craig's list and I came across this Maple custom hand made guitar. I called the fellow who had it and he is a Gibson collector so this one was an anomaly and just something attractive to look at but messed up for the last six years since it was built.

              I really like maple guitars and I thought this one had a mahogany top until I realized it was a Koa top after seeing an older Larrivee with the same exact design in the grain and with the same coloring.
               

              This guitar had a lot of faults... and I almost turned it down, but i loved the look and the solid woods. So I went for it knowing that the challenge to re-finish and make it a good player would be the a very good part of my education in guitar repair. And it has been. Big time. I make mistakes by the handfuls. I'll post a "mistakes" thread eventually.

            I have NO pride in this rebuild, just a desire to make it a good player. I think I'm turning that corner right now.    

[SMan]

FWIW I think its a great project Danny.  I've picked up some useful tips as well. Looking forward to the finished product. 

[Danny]

FWIW I think its a great project Danny.  I've picked up some useful tips as well. Looking forward to the finished product. 

Thanks for the encouragement. I'll be getting back to it in a few days. Work has kept me busy lately.
            I think I'll list all the mistakes I made on this so others may be spared some trouble and loss of $.  I view all my mistakes as part of my learning curve, but I know a little experience shared can help a great deal. Like the tips unclrob passes on to us.
            I'll also post some more pics of the guitar and some tools I've made etc.