The Acoustic Guitar Forum

The Acoustic Guitar Forum (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php)
-   General Acoustic Guitar Discussion (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24)
-   -   Building My Dad a Guitar (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119773)

theotigno 03-01-2008 10:57 AM

Building My Dad a Guitar
 
Well, my first "weekend warrior" guitar building class one week away!

Location: Phoenix Guitar Company (Scottsdale, AZ)

The guitar I'm Building:
  • Body Style - 12-fret OM (still debating on standard or deep body)
  • Top - Port Orford Cedar (Purchased from Oregon Wildwood; they haven't worked with this wood before)
  • Back and Sides - East Indian Rosewood (from their stash)
  • Rosette - Monkeypod (from my dad's hometown)

I found out about the class when I was talking to the guy who works on my guitars, John Cotter. He told me about the class and talked about what guitar he was building. It got me thinking about how I always wanted to find out about how the guitar works, and what better way than to build one! Better yet... I can give it to my dad!

He gave up his dreams of being a musician to take care of his family. My mom told me that he used to be the Elvis of the Philippines (well, I think maybe more of the province and the surrounding area). I remember as a little kid listening to my dad and my uncles playing music when they would come to town.

Unfortunately, my dad's guitar met an unfortunate fate: my brother smashed it when he got mad at him (I think over my dad grounding him). Since then, he doesn't play the guitar much. I always wanted to play with him. When he came to visit a few years ago, he declined. My brother told me that he plays it... just not around me :(

Both my mom and my dad never bought anything new for themselves. So, why not build him something brand new and give him a guitar that he can play in his retirement. :D (now, if only I can come up with something for my mom's retirement...)

Here's a picture of the rosewood set I selected:

http://treative.com/agf/dad01-guitarback.jpg

I just hope that in the coming months, my dad doesn't get "internet-savvy" and find this thread :eek:

sharp_custom 03-01-2008 11:58 AM

Outstanding Theo!!!. You're going to have loads of fun!! PO Cedar makes a spectacular sound board!

mcphersonnut 03-01-2008 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharp_custom (Post 1401567)
Outstanding Theo!!!. You're going to have loads of fun!!


Don 3 words!!!!!! i think you know what they are??????:D

sharp_custom 03-01-2008 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcphersonnut (Post 1401571)
Don 3 words!!!!!! i think you know what they are??????:D

I can't imagine what those would be. ;)

mcphersonnut 03-01-2008 12:30 PM

:guitar: This is a hint.........

theotigno 03-01-2008 12:35 PM

3 words??? :confused:

Thanks guys!

Hey Don, hopefully this ends up being a "anxiety reliever" versus and "anxiety producer." I'll send you an email updating you on my health.

mcphersonnut 03-01-2008 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theotigno (Post 1401607)
3 words??? :confused:

Thanks guys!

Hey Don, hopefully this ends up being a "anxiety reliever" versus and "anxiety producer." I'll send you an email updating you on my health.


Sorry inside joke to Don, it stands for "hury,hurry,hurry" he is building me a guitar and you know how the waiting can be.

ljguitar 03-01-2008 01:18 PM

Hi Theo...
It is an awesome thing you are doing for your dad - and for you.

Bill Cory 03-01-2008 02:22 PM

Theo -- Wonderful thing you're doing for your Dad. Hooray for you!

Bill

theotigno 03-01-2008 03:01 PM

Thanks guys. I have been blessed with the means to do it (now the ability... that may be a different story). My parents sacrificed so that I could have a good life and good education, so it's the least I could do.

Now, if only my mom could learn how to play the ukulele so I can take a class to builder her one :up:

sharp_custom 03-01-2008 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will Franklin (Post 1401698)
Theo -- Wonderful thing you're doing for your Dad. Hooray for you!

Bill

Yeah Theo. That's awesome. Your dad will truly be blessed.

Cornerstone Guitars 03-01-2008 06:40 PM

I wish I could do that for my dad....but he doesn't play!

hnuuhiwa 03-01-2008 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theotigno (Post 1401732)
Thanks guys. I have been blessed with the means to do it (now the ability... that may be a different story). My parents sacrificed so that I could have a good life and good education, so it's the least I could do.

Now, if only my mom could learn how to play the ukulele so I can take a class to builder her one :up:

Hey Theo you are a thoughtful son .... wish mine would make one for me! Maybe you can build your mom a uke AND pay for lessons for her to learn to play:D

theotigno 03-09-2008 12:11 AM

Guitar Building Class, Day 1
 
What did I learn today? Too much...

The day started off with a brief overview of the class, safety precautions, why were're building the way we're building, etc. Everyone had their materials under their workbench. The only work they did for us prior to the start of class was join the tops to get some of the waiting out of the way.

Then the class broke up into two groups. My group did the following in order:
  • Bend the sides (Fox bender)
  • Join the back (some weird contraption with wedges and rope)
  • Build rosettes (router, scraper)
  • Sand the tops to final thickness
  • Cut soundhole
  • Trim and attach the sides together, then glue the end and head-block
  • Trace body shape and bracing pattern (I used the outline for the 12-fret, but then traced the bracing from a 14-fret)
  • Cut body shape (my first screw up... see below)
  • Trace and cut back to shape
  • Glue popsicle brace and glue to back on a 25' radius dish

... 8:30 am - 5:30 pm with a lunch break at Chipotle!

Unfortunately, I did have the class' first screw-up. When it came time for me to cut the edges from the top to make the popsicle-braces, they wanted me to go to the belt sander and even out the edges. Not thinking, I was holding it from the opposite side of where I was going to sand...

That belt spins pretty fast and if you don't have enough support close to the spinning belt, well... long story short, it caught... it flew... it split the glued top in two where it was glued together down to soundhole.

Seeing the distraught and defeated feeling in my face, they immediately got out the gluing mechanism, told me not to worry, and we glued it back together. They proceeded to tell me, "don't worry, that area is going to be covered by the fretboard, and there will be braces underneath so it'll be stable."

Disaster averted. This week's adventure: find a place that will take my board of mokeypod and trim it down so I can have it as veneer (well, at least the thickness of guitar backs / sides).

http://treative.com/agf/class-day1-01.jpg
http://treative.com/agf/class-day1-02.jpg
http://treative.com/agf/class-day1-03.jpg
http://treative.com/agf/class-day1-05.jpg
http://treative.com/agf/class-day1-06.jpg
http://treative.com/agf/class-day1-07.jpg
http://treative.com/agf/class-day1-08.jpg
http://treative.com/agf/class-day1-09.jpg
http://treative.com/agf/class-day1-10.jpg

hnuuhiwa 03-09-2008 02:32 AM

Eh Theo,

It sounds like you had a very challenging day. I'm sure that many of the experienced luthiers on the AGF must know how you felt when you had your "mis-hap" today. And I'm also sure they would say to just keep on going.

I hope you'll find someplace to plane down your Monkeypod so you can use it for the rosette. Maybe the next guitar you make will be one with Monkeypod back and sides. The wood makes for a beautiful looking guitar.

Anyway, keeps us posted on how things go, and know that your efforts will surely be appreciated by your dad.

Aloha brah!

Henderson


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:05 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum

vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=