Tinman's new "Heart Guitar" build

[carruth]

My heart story is unusual. I went into hospital  nine years ago for a routine angioplasty. Unfortunately the doctor messed up and my heart stopped for a few minutes. So I am on my second life and enjoying every darn minute of it.   

[rwskaggs]

My heart story is unusual. I went into hospital  nine years ago for a routine angioplasty. Unfortunately the doctor messed up and my heart stopped for a few minutes. So I am on my second life and enjoying every darn minute of it.   

Glad you are still with us!   

[carruth]

Me too. It scared the living daylights out of my wife and children, but it was actually a wonderful peaceful experience for me.          A real wake-up call if you like.

[rwskaggs]

Here's a photo of the top during the bracing process - does the pattern look familiar to the Larrivee aficianados here?

[kwakatak]

I see two influences here. The symmetrical lower face braces are a Larrivee influence but I also see a Somogyi style upper transverse brace whose ends are not tapered so that the open grain on the ends butt up against the sides.

[rwskaggs]

I see two influences here. The symmetrical lower face braces are a Larrivee influence but I also see a Somogyi style upper transverse brace whose ends are not tapered so that the open grain on the ends butt up against the sides.

The luthier (Chris Kenney) has used this bracing on one of his creations previously - he called it "the Beast".  Wonderful cedar/walnut bass a friend uses at church and which prompted me to look Chris up at his Acorn House Woodworking....

We'll see how it sounds - if I master a piece (maybe the Tinman's song?)  I'll post it here!   

[SMan]

That's so cool!  It is certain to evoke questions and give you an opportunity to share your blessing of extended life.  Heart disease ain't for sissies, is it?   

You got that right.    I have been on Bonus time since June 1991!  In many ways I feel it was the best thing to ever happen to me.

[rwskaggs]

You got that right.    I have been on Bonus time since June 1991!  In many ways I feel it was the best thing to ever happen to me.

Almost worth a second thread...I just got back from a semi-annual heart biopsy today.  They gave me a new heart almost 3 years ago, and now they are taking it back ONE PIECE AT A TIME!  Reassurances of tissue regeneration are faint when you see the pac-man grappling hook snag 4 tiny pieces of your heart on a fluroscope.  (And yes, I'm awake through it all....)  Small price to pay to ensure there's not rejection going on with the foreign tissue....

What are some of the others' "heart wrenching" experiences here?  I'd bet some stories would make the rest of us very thankful!   

[rwskaggs]

Got a note from the builder (Chris Kenney) today about the back.  He wanted to know if I desired a cocobolo center strip or not.  Cocobolo is going to be used on the bindings and as a fretboard...

At first it seemed like a good idea to add the strip b/c osage orange is normally a pretty plain wood with very little figure...then he sent me this photo.  What would you choose?

[JOYCEfromNS]

Got a note from the builder (Chris Kenney) today about the back.  He wanted to know if I desired a cocobolo center strip or not.  Cocobolo is going to be used on the bindings and as a fretboard...

At first it seemed like a good idea to add the strip b/c osage orange is normally a pretty plain wood with very little figure...then he sent me this photo.  What would you choose?

Really you need to ask 

[bigbluesdaddy]

Looks perfect, I think I would leave it alone, beautiful grain pattern

[Danny]

Looks perfect, I think I would leave it alone, beautiful grain pattern

[SMan]

That book match is beautiful just as it is! 

[rwskaggs]

Before I posted, I had already told him to go simple on it...no center strip.  Can't quite believe the figure in this one!  Glad to hear ya'll agree.     

[unclrob]

Good call leave it be,its too nice to mess with.

To your heart stories.My wife had what was called a liquid stroke 5 months into her pregnatsey,it seems that due to some earlier blood disorder and it not being followed up with she had a bacterial vegitationgrowing on a heart valve that dislodge causing the stroke.6 months after giving birth she had to have a heart valve replace {we went with the magnetic one}.She's fine now but dang that was the scariest thing we ever had to go thru.Plus it was pretty painfu for me because everytime she sneezed or coughed and I was near by she would bury her fingers and nails into my flesh.

[rwskaggs]

Strokes are scary - I'm told it's a miracle I didn't have one with the atrial fib that lead to my heart failure...  Glad your wife is doing better and your arm is healing, unclrob!

[rwskaggs]

Well, like all good construction projects, there has been a change of plans.  The luthiers on the AGF pointed out that the back we'd selected was Flat Sawn rather than Quarter Sawn.  The past couple of days has been spent searching out a new wood set in Quarter Sawn Osage Orange.

This one (below) is making its way to Acorn House Workshop / Chris Kenney - luthier.  It will replace the one I posted a pic of earlier....

Sincere thanks to all for their input and support, and especially to Chris for tolerating the email mixups well.  I'm still excited!     

[Danny]

  Whoops, that sure was some pretty wood though Maybe a backstrip would be nicer with this set.

[rwskaggs]

  Whoops, that sure was some pretty wood though Maybe a backstrip would be nicer with this set.

You're right...maybe when Chris gets it glued up we can take another look-see.  I like the idea of a backstrip when the figure is more plain.

Is there any advantage/disadvantage to it, other than the routing/application process?  Do you know if it's more or less likely to develop a back seam crack?  I'm a nut about humidifying, but sometimes the unthinkable happens....

[carruth]

IMHO you made the right decision as regards the back. This is going to be one special guitar.