The Acoustic Guitar Forum - My First Guitar Build (Pics Heavy)

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My First Guitar Build (Pics Heavy)

I’d like to share with everyone my journey into lutherie. I’ve always been fascinated with guitar building and wood working in general. For my first guitar I started with a stewmac 000, 12 fret kit. Sides were pre-bent and the bolt on neck mostly shaped. I opted to not use the pre made braces that came with the stewmac kit and make my own out of some bracing stock I had. I felt some of braces were a bit too wide and short. I wanted my bracing have a slim profile with a but more height, I see alot of cool kids (experienced luthiers) doing this so Im just copying :) All in all the guitar took me about 6 months, though it’s not perfect I’m proud if it. I started being new to both woodworking and luthier so a good chunk of that time was acquiring tools, learning how to use them, and making guitar molds/jigs. I’m sure my second guitar won’t take quite as long.

With that said I have started my second guitar, you’ll find it pictured in the last few photos. It’s a 16.5” wide flourentine cutaway. My aim for this one is to make as many of the components myself, such as bending my own sides with my home made bender as well as making my own kerfing and neck. Hope you enjoy the photos.

https://i.imgur.com/CKEqglA.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qFHYKFu.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ghkJJic.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NRm9FtE.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/NKIlg3m.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/515UYic.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2uLfwOn.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/nEaruSo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/A5CRhYe.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mp96K8o.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/vUpM68t.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xOkE9V8.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/l246HLW.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8F4R7RW.jpg

That is pretty amazing work! Thank you for the pics.

Wow, great work! I too built a Stew Mac 000 12 fret as my first build and had a blast. Mine looks like a first build while yours looks like it could be your 100th. What kind of finish did you use?

Keith

Quote:

Originally Posted by koolimy (Post 6767980)

That is pretty amazing work! Thank you for the pics.

Thank you for the kind words :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SColumbusSt (Post 6768174)

Thank you, I think the photos made it look better than it actually is ;) I used Mohawk's instrument lacquer, I thinned with a 50:50 mix of lacquer thinner and Sherwin Williams K27 lacquer retarder. It leveled out on it's own really nicely, level sand was done with 800 grit then I just buffed/polished from there :D

Very nicely done - good job! How's it sound, play?

Thanks for posting the pics.

Looks awesome man !!!! Fun times ! Family heirlooms !

Quote:

Originally Posted by difalkner (Post 6769260)

Very nicely done - good job! How's it sound, play?

Playability is passable, I need to work on my set up skills. It sounds better than I expected, very strong trebles. I’ll have to figure out how to get a clip loaded

Nice guitar!
Great photography!
Looks like you’re a pen maker as well. So am I.

Just received the LMII package of woods for my first build today. Hopefully I can make something as nice as yours.

Thx, rink.

Addictive but also self satisfying, nothing IMO feels better than taking a lump of wood and shaping it myself to create an end product, you are well and truly on your way as a builder

Steve

Phenomenal and really inspiring!