I bet the Jasper is going to look spectacular once worked/shaded/whatever black magic you do :D

Thanks Dustin, I really like it too. It's a very earthy red.

I have been working the sides for this guitar. I am doing laminated sides because of the deep curl figuring. This adds a couple more steps but I can lay it up light and strong. I am using Honduran Mahogany for the inside laminates.

Here is a picture of a bunch going on:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3eb24685_c.jpg

I first profile, thickness and bend the sides and then I laminate. As you look at this row of fixtures first you see the cutaway pressed as the laminate sets up. Then comes the side bender which presently is bending the binding and a bunch of purfling. After that is the treble side of the guitar with the laminate being pressed and glued. Finally is the guitar body mold with the laminated bass side in place.

You gotta love a long workbench!

M

Stone Rosette
 

We have been working out the elements of the rosette for this cedar top. We are going with a thinner style and will be using green Turquoise:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7ba92727_c.jpg

These stones are sitting on the WRC guitar top. I like how the darker colored fleck have some of the same colors as the top wood. I love how the green goes with that top.

This is why I have started exploring the opportunities gemstones bring to the table. They come in colors that just aren't available in natural wood but these new colors are still very natural and blend wonderfully.

Here is the proposed rosette:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...24295fe0_c.jpg

The cross grained purfling is Bocote. We selected it because the yellows and browns in it match the top cedar and back Maple colors and the dark grain lines match African Blackwood trim that is coming. I'll be adding an African Blackwood trim line on the inside and outside edges of this rosette.

m

Wow! Looks awesome. Love the color mix. :)

Thanks cigarfan! I like your early morning comments. Sometimes I think it's just you and me who are up in the mornings here.

I'm here, just my morning is a few hours behind!!

Mark…Honestly yours is the only custom shop thread I ever look at. The stone fill you’ve been doing is really cool. As a maple fan, I love it. Your photos and presentation of the process is always “so uptown” as we used to say. Chronic lurker here always enthralled by every build.

That rosette and color combination is just awesome, Mark!

Love that combo!

Thank you, I’ve been posting on AGF for about 10 years now. I enjoy the forum and the friends I’ve made along the way. Certainly the feedback I get influences the directions I choose in many aspects of my designs and business. I appreciate your comment and compliments.

Thanks Nemoman. The colors Turquoise comes in seem to be just made to go with wood.

Thanks Dustin! Judging by the reaction here I’m thinking we’ll be seeing a lot more stonework on future guitars.

Yum
 

Morning comes later in San Diego….

My goodness that turquoise is pretty! The entire axe is too.

Hope you are having FUN! Looks like it.

Paul

Thanks Paul. I am having fun!

Here is a shot to show how the colors are coming together:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...0dbdcf3c_c.jpg

Here to rosette is being glued in:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...147b4e13_c.jpg

I have the inside African Blackwood ring being glued up and the sides are coming together:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...87585b5f_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8bed6eaf_c.jpg

m

Front Shot
 

Here is a picture of the rosette with the African Blackwood binding and sound hole in place:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...a5e8eace_c.jpg

m

Very very pretty. Really classy as well.

The blackwood certainly makes the stone & Bocote pop, but if it were mine I would have liked the blacks to be thinner than the other rosette sections.