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  #1  
Old 03-01-2008, 10:57 AM
theotigno theotigno is offline
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Default 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. (now, if only I can come up with something for my mom's retirement...)

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



I just hope that in the coming months, my dad doesn't get "internet-savvy" and find this thread
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  #2  
Old 03-01-2008, 11:58 AM
sharp_custom
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Outstanding Theo!!!. You're going to have loads of fun!! PO Cedar makes a spectacular sound board!

Last edited by sharp_custom; 03-01-2008 at 12:23 PM.
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Old 03-01-2008, 12:01 PM
mcphersonnut mcphersonnut is offline
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Outstanding Theo!!!. You're going to have loads of fun!!

Don 3 words!!!!!! i think you know what they are??????
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Old 03-01-2008, 12:14 PM
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Don 3 words!!!!!! i think you know what they are??????
I can't imagine what those would be.
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Old 03-01-2008, 12:30 PM
mcphersonnut mcphersonnut is offline
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This is a hint.........
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Old 03-01-2008, 12:35 PM
theotigno theotigno is offline
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3 words???

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.
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Old 03-01-2008, 12:37 PM
mcphersonnut mcphersonnut is offline
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3 words???

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.
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Old 03-01-2008, 01:18 PM
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ljguitar ljguitar is offline
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Hi Theo...
It is an awesome thing you are doing for your dad - and for you.
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Old 03-01-2008, 02:22 PM
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Bill Cory Bill Cory is offline
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Theo -- Wonderful thing you're doing for your Dad. Hooray for you!

Bill
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Old 03-01-2008, 03:01 PM
theotigno theotigno is offline
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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
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Old 03-01-2008, 06:25 PM
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Theo -- Wonderful thing you're doing for your Dad. Hooray for you!

Bill
Yeah Theo. That's awesome. Your dad will truly be blessed.
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Old 03-01-2008, 06:40 PM
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I wish I could do that for my dad....but he doesn't play!
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Old 03-01-2008, 06:43 PM
hnuuhiwa hnuuhiwa is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by theotigno View Post
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
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
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Andrew White Production: Cybele 312C Crossover Rosewood/Red Cedar
Clark: A-Wedge Koa/Snkr Rdwd 12-str
Clark: A-Wedge Monkeypod/Snkr Rdwd
Cornerstone: Zion All Koa
Cornerstone: Tenor Ukulele Prototype #2 All Koa
Fay: OM Mac Eb/Englemann
Stehr: Aud. Braz/Snkr Rdwd 8-str

Plaid Coyote's gone home to play
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  #14  
Old 03-09-2008, 12:11 AM
theotigno theotigno is offline
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Default 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).









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  #15  
Old 03-09-2008, 02:32 AM
hnuuhiwa hnuuhiwa is offline
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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
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Andrew White Production: Cybelle 112 Rosewood/Sitka
Andrew White Production: Cybele 312C Crossover Rosewood/Red Cedar
Clark: A-Wedge Koa/Snkr Rdwd 12-str
Clark: A-Wedge Monkeypod/Snkr Rdwd
Cornerstone: Zion All Koa
Cornerstone: Tenor Ukulele Prototype #2 All Koa
Fay: OM Mac Eb/Englemann
Stehr: Aud. Braz/Snkr Rdwd 8-str

Plaid Coyote's gone home to play
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