First ever Applegate Build Thread - 12 fret 00 Cedar/BRW

[GeoffStGermaine]

Originally Posted by bobernet

Brian and I communicate a lot via text and email. He's always willing to hop on the phone, but I try not to monopolize his time, and be respectful of the work he needs to get done on other projects as well as my own.

This morning, we were exchanging some texts about fretboard inlay, and I thought it would be faster just to hop on the phone. Resolving that one issue was probably faster, but we ended up spending a half hour or 45 minutes just catching up and having interesting discussions.

One surprising thing about commissioning a build with Brian is that it's a whole lot more like making a new friend than it is like conducting a business transaction. What started out as me waffling a little on the inlay design and whether it was too "busy" with the binding and purfling, ended as a conversation about whether I'd read any of Somogyi's books and his thoughts on quarter-sawn vs flat-sawn wood, the science of sound transmission through different top woods, Brian's PhD program, our respective in-laws, and a commitment to sharing some single malt scotch.

Brian is a very humble guy who tends to downplay his knowledge, intelligence, and the quality of his craftsmanship. When you go to his website or talk on the phone, you won't see or hear a lot of fanfare about his accomplishments or qualifications, and yet he is really working at a level amongst the very best in this business. If you talk to those who have held his work side by side with Kostal, Somogyi, Olson, Ryan, etc, you might hear a preference for one builder's signature tone over another's, but you won't hear his craftsmanship or attention to detail questioned by any.

He is working on a PhD with a research project and thesis on the science, physics and objective approach to quantifying guitar building with the organic materials we all love.

Anyway, we landed the plane on the inlay design and materials, which I hope to show you all soon. Brian is going to create a CAD image with the design I want imposed over the actual fretboard, binding and purfling so we can confirm and make adjustments. The process is much more involved than simply tracing a paper template and buying some pre-made inlay material cut with saws in Asia somewhere.

I hope you all have a great holiday.

Very cool! Working with a personable and friendly guy is a nice plus onto what is clearly a very well thought out and expertly executed build that we're seeing here.

[Zandit75]

Originally Posted by bobernet

Hello, AGF. For our pre-Thanksgiving update, I'm showcasing some work on the headstock.

First, glueing and clamping the headstock veneer...



Then some binding and purfling...




More purfling, and note that the channel for the Applegate "A" logo has been routed.



And the mostly finished product...



A quick peek at the bound fingerboard while we work out final details of the inlay. More discussion of that along with some Brian Applegate tidbits in the next post.

I'm struggling to take this in!
Is the headstock veneer inlaid, or is the binding cut from one piece of timber?
Either way, the workmanship is insane!

[bobernet]

Originally Posted by Zandit75

I'm struggling to take this in!
Is the headstock veneer inlaid, or is the binding cut from one piece of timber?
Either way, the workmanship is insane!

Thanks for the nice note!

Actually, neither. The headstock veneer is a piece of Brazilian Rosewood cut from the same boards used on the back and sides. The flamed Koa is individual pieces cut, joined and installed into routed joints like the body binding. All the purfling is hand-cut and inlaid, both the BWB as well as the paua/abalone.

The "A" logo is routed and, again, the paua is inlaid.

I agree that the workmanship is impeccable.

[bobernet]

We're getting close to the end, just bridge, finishing and setup still to go.

[Nemoman]

Beautiful fretboard inlay!

[bobernet]

Thanks! The inlay started as a canned design, and Brian made a number of changes that I requested, and to accommodate the binding and purfling on the fretboard. He cut all the paua abalone himself to get a perfect fit.

I'm very impressed with the craftsmanship, and happy with the end result.

[Orfeas]

I am so glad reading your experience and watching the photos. It will become a stunning finished instrument. Cant wait to see it.

[bobernet]

In the spray booth with a reflection of our famed luthier...

[bobernet]

Level finish to 3000 grit, then buff back to a shine...

[bobernet]

Put Humpty Dumpty back together again...



Raise your hand if you like a pyramid bridge, and look at the silking on that cedar top!

[Guitars44me]

My hand is so far up it's making my arm hurt! What a beauty…

Lots of drool over this one!

Cheers

Paul

[bobernet]

I don't know if I'm of the wrong generation, or if I'm just not very hip. I thought everyone knew what a maple leaf was, but for those who don't - that's what's on the fretboard. It's not a more mind-altering leaf.

[Jobe]

Oh. I was confused. Almost tempted to smoke your fretboard. It is beautiful.

[bobernet]

Leveling frets with a sanding block that has the right radius...



And re-crowning the frets...

[Nemoman]

Oh so close now--Congrats!