Big Hollow 00 in Black Sunburst

[newvintage]

I was bound to make some progress binding the guitar today




soon it will be time to start on the neck!

[newvintage]

Using My new amazing Mirka sander to smooth the body:


The end graft with 4/4 mitres:


Seriously, with all the time spent sanding successive finish coats, that little sanding system has saved my shoulder in a big way

[J.R. Rogers]

The neck is getting ready for some holiday decorating.



There... that's better!


Lovely! What else is he gonna do? Tune in next week...

[58spdstr]

Wow, that's going to be striking. They are great playing/sounding guitars and Bevan is going to get busier quickly when a few more examples are out and about.

[fazool]

That is gorgeous. Excellent choice on the pearl overlay - that is absolutely gorgeous!

[David Wren]

Gotta admit ... I just love that dark burst ... and what a cool transition between the back of the peghead and the trunk of the neck ... love it!

[newvintage]

cutting and gluing the shell sheet down is as finicky a task as any I've done.

[J.R. Rogers]

Originally Posted by newvintage

cutting and gluing the shell sheet down is as finicky a task as any I've done.

...wow - look at that color!



Like stained glass





I can't wait to see what this looks like on the sunburst finished guitar!

[newvintage]

The hard part about this shell sheet is that the neck angle/fretboard extension elevation had to be set before I installed it, and the fretboard trim could only be glued on after. I worked the fretboard extension down to the right height and the neck to the right angle, and the fretboard surface to the right shape, and started gluing the shell on. If my judgements prove false and the fretboard surface is not the correct geometry, all I can do is hope the the margin of error is within the amount of height I can mill off the frets. Otherwise I will be really stuck, as I can't remove material from the extremely thin shell sheet.

[theEdwinson]

Originally Posted by newvintage

The hard part about this shell sheet is that the neck angle/fretboard extension elevation had to be set before I installed it, and the fretboard trim could only be glued on after. I worked the fretboard extension down to the right height and the neck to the right angle, and the fretboard surface to the right shape, and started gluing the shell on. If my judgements prove false and the fretboard surface is not the correct geometry, all I can do is hope the the margin of error is within the amount of height I can mill off the frets. Otherwise I will be really stuck, as I can't remove material from the extremely thin shell sheet.

Sounds like you've done your homework, Bevan. Working out these details in advance is always a challenge, but you know what you're doing. This dazzling fingerboard/headstock will turn out great, and man, what a show piece! Is J.R. gonna let you display this amazing guitar at the Memphis show? If so, I'm sure it will create a lot of buzz in the crowd!

[nashmore]

That is looking rather dapper!

[J.R. Rogers]

A few updates from Bevan - finish going on... and then coming off again, showing the lovely fiddleback figuring.

[newvintage]

Here is a photo of the headstock under varnish:

[theEdwinson]

Originally Posted by newvintage

Here is a photo of the headstock under varnish:

J.R. is gonna need his darkest pair of Ray-bans when he plays the Big Hollow. There will be laser beams coming off that headstock.
I think the word is, "Dazzling".

[Treenewt]

JR, that looks like a fantastic guitar! congrats!