Build Thread: Baranik Meridian - Page 5

justonwo · #61 12-31-2010, 12:17 PM

After releasing the top from the white carbonite, Mike shaves the last little bits of bad tone off the braces. The bad tone shavings will have to be sequestered in a special part of the shop and ultimately incinerated so that they don't infect any of the other woods in the shop. We don't want any repeats of what happened with Phil's guitar.

justonwo · #62 12-31-2010, 12:35 PM

When he's done with the top, Mike signs it to prevent any forgeries from making their way into the shop. Then he closes up the box.

jennconducts · #63 01-01-2011, 10:26 AM

Saw it yesterday; looking good! One word of warning: it has no neck! I humbly reminded Mike that he forgot to put one on. He gasped and hit his head and said that he'd get right on it!

Seriously, it's looking great. I think that you're going to have a beauty!

justonwo · #64 01-03-2011, 11:26 AM

Yeah, well, we both decided that necks are ultimately detrimental to tone. So this is a neckless guitar.

justonwo · #65 01-06-2011, 09:54 PM

Well, the wood has been coated in honey, licked by bears, tortured under high temperature, administered accupressure, frozen in white carbonite (and then unfrozen again), and now it's finally been turned into a box.

Boutique tonewood chopsticks for another customer . . .

justonwo · #66 01-10-2011, 11:11 AM

Well, it looks like the woodwork may be complete this week. Pretty excited.

riorider · #67 01-10-2011, 11:40 AM

Excellent! If you make it to NAMM, Mike will have my 'tree' Meridian there on display.

Looking forward to seeing the diffs between this one and the earlier coco/blue.

Phil

justonwo · #68 01-11-2011, 09:55 PM

Here's a quick peak at some of the binding/purfling work. The top purfling is a thin strip of black, thin strip of ipe, another thin strip of black, then cross-cut lignum vitae. Then ultimately with figured spalted sap koa as the binding.

justonwo · #69 01-13-2011, 02:11 PM

As regards the purfling, by the way . . . the freshly cross-cut lignum vitae, which appears somewhat brownish-green in the photos, will change color to a more vibrant green. The surrounding ipe is more of a golden color. The overall effect will be quite striking and unique. I can't wait!

This photo gives you a pretty good idea of freshly cut and oxidized lignum vitae.

riorider · #70 01-13-2011, 02:31 PM

Very nice, J!

Still watching...

Phil

justonwo · #71 01-23-2011, 12:51 PM

We are nearing the finish stage. Probably this week, I hear.

justonwo · #72 01-26-2011, 01:18 PM

Things are winding up pretty quickly on the body. Here are some close-ups of the end wedge, binding, and purfling.

riorider · #73 01-26-2011, 01:30 PM

Very nice Juston. What are the end wedge and wood purfling inlay? Palm heart? Very interesting whatever they are.

Looking nice, but missing your "commentary" on the pictures that you were making in previous posts!!!

Re: the closeup shot on the purfling and binding of the Florentine - wow. Such beautiful, precise work. Every line mitred...

You'll love it. Mine's going for a short road trip (with me) this weekend to celebrate a friend's retirement. Play a few tunes at an open mic, so we'll be having some fun!

Best,

Phil

justonwo · #74 01-26-2011, 01:36 PM

The end wedge is lignum vitae, a blue-green wood not very common in luthiery (so far as I can tell through a web search). The top purfling is cross-cut lignum vitae sandwiched between thin lines of ipe. Mike and I both agreed the result would be unique and striking. I think it's turning out that way . . .

JasonA · #75 01-26-2011, 01:38 PM

Mike's detail work is immaculate as ever. That's going to be a gorgeous guitar!