New THGCo Build: Quilted Maple & Sitka
 

I'm thrilled to be working with Joel Teel of Two-Hands Guitar Company on my next newest addition, a beautiful quilted Maple and silky Sitka Spruce Concert/000 size guitar.

This will be my third trip down the custom build road with my two earlier journeys under the guidance of the brilliant Stephen Sheriff, Edwinson Guitars. It was through Steve that I "met" Joel (even if not yet personally, face-to-face), and was quickly enamored and amazed at the fabulous work he produced with his first couple builds (Thing 1 and Thing 2). It was obvious that Joel has a gift. Conversations with Steve confirmed that Joel's guitars were not only visually built with precision beyond the skills of a first-time guitar builder, but they were equally or possibly even more sonically appealing. While I wasn't necessarily "looking" for a new guitar, I recognized I was definitely getting the itch after watching Joel's build threads.

As soon as I heard Joel was considering taking commissions, I reached out to him and started some preliminary conversations. It took a handful of email exchanges and I knew that I wanted to have him build my next guitar.

There were a few more email exchanges and Joel finally asked me what I was thinking about in terms of woods and style. Having owned a number of fabulous Maple guitars through the years, I had somehow emptied myself of all my Maple favorites, so I mentioned I'd like to add one back into my collection. Joel leaped at the suggestion and showed me some fabulous examples he had in his stash. So, for our opening of this thread, here are the woods we settled on.

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...ck_Sides_1.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...ck_Sides_2.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...ck_Sides_3.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...Top_Plates.jpg

We've progressed a little ways past the selection of woods, so I'll share some more in the next post.

Fabulous on all accounts, THGC and the Maple. I am thrilled to be able to meet Joel at B.I.G. this spring. Sure wish you could come too!

Thanks Tom, The B.I.G. Bash is going to be Stellar I'm sure. If my circumstances change, this one is on my "To Do" list for sure!

Joel, is great to work with is sure to make a "big" splash in the luthier community. His grace and personality, coupled with his incredible skill and passion for his art will take him far, I'm sure. I'm fortunate and blessed to get this opportunity early in his build career.

jeff

As I mentioned, we're pushing along with our build of this spectacular Maple/Sitka 000. Here is another series showing the back/sides being formed, kerfed, and soundhole being bound. While these photos are some of the earliest stages of the build, one thing can be noticed, Joel's meticulously clean and technically precise work. Attention to the most minute details pay off exponentially as the build progresses.

More to come soon! "She's looking maaahhvelous!

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...6.Bender_2.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...SideMold_1.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...idesForm_1.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...12.kerfing.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...Ntailblock.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan..._binding_1.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan..._binding_2.jpg

Merry Christmas!

Looks great Jeff!

Looks awesome thus far--what a spectacular set of maple!

I’ve got a ringside seat for this one! It’s been fun and inspiring to watch this Maple guitar coming together. I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who is more of a Natural at guitar making than Joel. He takes care and precision to the next level. I bet he’d have been a good brain surgeon, if fate had led him in that direction.
Today Joel is working on the rosette. Wait till you see that! It’s pretty amazing what he’s coming up with. He’s routing out the channel in the soundboard right now, so the big reveal will probably happen soon. Stay tuned!

This will be fun
 

Fun thread! I Always LOVE beautiful maple, and this has a bevel too. You will be glad you went for it.

Thanks for sharing

Paul

Thanks Ryan!

I'm super-excited about the plans Joel and I worked through and to see it all coming together in ways better than my already good expectations. Joel has a remarkable eye and passion for building... it's a real joy to "watch" and participate from afar whenever you luthiers build, but when it's a guitar for "you" ...haha, well that amps it up a notch or two. :D

Thank you!

Right? That Maple is something indeed! I love beautiful Maple and really enjoy the tone of it (done right). I've longed to have a permanent member in my collection, so having a custom built to my specs seemed the reasonable way to go. I'm fortunate to be working with Joel on this build and enjoying the partnership of our collaboration in the process.

Thank you, Paul!

You're right about that comfort bevel. This is my third custom built guitar and all of them have this bevel! After experiencing the comfort that the first one brought to me and the length of time I could play without feeling impingement in my shoulder, there was no going back!

THGCo Maple/Sitka Update
 

We're moving along and bringing our build thread up-to-date, so I wanted to post our next series in this project. These next images show the primary accent woods that will be featured in the binding, purfling, headstock, bevel, and rosette. The primary woods for the bindings are Ebony, Koa, and dyed-red purfling strips. Additionally, Katalox, Padouk, Maple, Koa and Lignum Vitae are the woods that will be featured in the rosette and possibly make an appearance elsewhere...the guitar build will dictate that I imagine as we progress. Below, we see how the back strip has been developed and a hint at what the quilted maple will look like under finish after a quick naphtha wipe.

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...eamInlay_2.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...eamInlay_1.jpg

And a couple close-ups of the back strip...

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan....Backstrip.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...mCloseup_2.jpg

The next images show the back bracing under go-bars and a joining of the back and sides. This begins to escalate the excitement as the box is close to being formed and some of the accent elements begin to display more of the overall personality of this instrument as it continues the journey toward identity and ultimately finding its voice. Notice again how clean this work is. No splinters, no glue squeeze out, no errant scrapes or scratches... all meticulous attention to every detail every step along the way.

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...aceGoBar_3.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...esJoined_1.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...esJoined_4.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...sSoundPort.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...idesBack_2.jpg

Next up, we'll share our rosette concept ideas and construction. Thank you for sharing this journey with us!

As Jeff has noted, this is exceptionally clean work. Working side by side with Joel for a year and a half now, I’ve never seen him take a shortcut. He spends just as much time making the interior details that no one will ever see, just as impeccably neat and clean as the outside of the guitar. He doesn’t skimp on materials either. Notice how he used a gorgeous set of flamed Maple for the inner sides. And he’s using Spanish Cedar for his shop-made linings for both high function and appearance.
Maybe a century from now, a future luthier will be restoring one of Joel’s guitars, and he or she will see these hidden details and be humbled and amazed by that level of detail. It’s cool that everyone watching this thread can see that meticulous work as it’s happening.

The build is looking marvelous. I have seen the woods you have chosen in person during a few visits to Joel and Steve's shop and I know you will be very pleased when you get the guitar in your hands. I have had the opportunity to play both of Joel's builds (Things 1 & 2) and they sound great, so I am sure you will be pleased with your build.

I am also commissioning a guitar with Joel and I can see the back of my build hiding in the background of a couple of your pictures. Looking forward to seeing the progress of your build ( and mine).

Jeff

Joel, this is looking great, love maple and it's sound. Such great looking work on all the details.

I am pumped that you have accepted my invitation to display your work at the B.I.G. in March! I think you will be the breakout star of the event haha. I have a feeling you might cost me a little from my own bank, I am very weak!

When you can, I would love to see some pics of the B.I.G. builds when you have a chance to breath!

Love this maple guitar for Bubbaprime!

So, here's the rosette work. Joel and I had some discussion about what and how to incorporate the rosette in unifying our theme for this build and he suggested a mosaic look or stained glass. I've loved some of the stained glass examples I've seen, especially a huge fan of Jason Kostal, who in my opinion does the best interpretation of these, so I encouraged Joel to power on! As I mentioned in a previous post in this thread, Joel is using a stunning collection of woods to make this rosette. I was eager to see what he would turn out. As it turned out, he must have been divinely inspired...the rosette from conception to being inlaid into the guitar was less than a couple days, it seemed. I was blown away with the final product and just couldn't be happier with how this unifies the theme one more notch. It just keeps getting better and better. Here follows the photo journey for this stage:

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...tteConcept.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...setteWoods.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...tteBuild_1.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...tteBuild_3.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...tteBuild_5.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...tteBuild_6.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...tteBuild_7.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...CutInset_2.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...CutInset_3.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...CutInset_4.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...CutInset_5.jpg

We're still planning to bind the soundhole, I think Joel told me he's planning to use some more of that flamed Koa. :D The last update from Joel, he told me he's teaching the soundboard to sing...tuning her vocal c(h)ords. More to come!

Wow, that is really stunning.

I personally find that some attempts at these mosaic rosettes end up missing the mark, but Joel's work here is outstanding in my opinion--it's hard to articulate, but the combination of scale, angles, and varied colors just WORKS! Beautiful!

Killer rosette!

Nice build Jeff! Really shaping up. Love the mosaic rosette! :)

Wow, this is looking awesome! As others have said, the maple figuring is amazing, and all the beautiful contrasts...this is really stunning!

thanks again, Tom! I'm hoping Joel will chime in soon to share some of his thoughts and inspiration behind this build.

Thanks, GR, I am in agreement with you..."some miss the mark" for sure. I'm exceptionally pleased with this effort. I'm even more excited with anticipation of how the rosette will, both, enhance the rest of the aesthetic embellishments and be highlighted itself even more because of those other embellishments. I believe this is really going to come together exceeding my expectations by far.

Thank you, Nemoman, and I agree!

Thanks, CF, I really agree and appreciate you weighing in here! Thanks for the look.

Hi Mike, thanks for looking in on the build thread. I appreciate the comments and agree, I'm floored with the crazy quality of this maple! I'm really excited about the possibilities for great tone that Joel is going to pull out of this wood combination. He's working now on voicing the top. More good stuff to come :)

Ok, we're back after a holiday break!

No rest for the weary as the old saying goes.

Although he was, unfortunately, battling a respiratory infection during the holidays, Joel completed the binding of this fabulous mosaic rosette. It is bound with some beautiful golden Koa. I think these Koa rings framing the rosette and this inner binding will really accent the maple back and sides once it is under finish.

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...setteBound.jpg

We have moved into the bracing and voicing stage of this build. Joel employs the hybrid-X bracing structure for his guitars as reflected in this diagram. You will notice the radial fan extending from the bridge area.

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...ingDiagram.jpg

Aaaaannnd, here we go :D

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHan...iusBracing.jpg

http://icrucified.com/webview/TwoHandsWeb/51.XBrace.jpg

Thanks again, folks, for looking in and sharing this build journey with us!

More to come!

What a bold and striking looking rosette ... and that maple ... love it!

Thank you, David! Always appreciate seeing your fine work and enjoy your positive input on this board. It means a lot for you to look in and share thoughts on our build.

Love the rosette.

Wow, what an amazing rosette! Truly stunning! Joel is doing absolutely beautiful work. Can't wait to see what else is done to tie everything in.

Thanks, Mike!

I'm really blown away with the work that Joel is producing with this his fifth build (to my knowledge). His attention to detail is extraordinary and his execution is just as exemplary. While I've yet to play or hold one of his guitars personally, I've followed his work closely and Steve Sheriff expresses the highest compliments on Joel's craftsmanship. We're getting danger-close to boxing up the body since we've been in the bracing and voicing stage. My anticipation level is pretty high seeing her enter this next stage of "becoming."

Thanks again for looking in!

jeff

Beautiful wood selection and craftsmanship, interesting top bracing, looks like it gives a stable platform for even vibration. While I tend to go for simplicity, that rosette is amazing. And only a 5th build? Wow.

Here’s a peak at the box halfway closed. BTW...the other guitar is being built for B.I.G.
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