Hey Bruce, really liking that top (the rest is nice too). I'll be interested to hear your impressions on how this guitar sounds compared to a Bluegrass standard sound. Can't imagine it won't sound nice, but sometimes there are subtle differences that are noticeable.

The P-D is back burned for a couple more weeks while the finish hardens up. I can tell you that it is going to be a VERY strong voice, but just how it "sounds" is still up for grabs. Both Joe Helm and I have high expectations.

Meanwhile, I had a couple of days to kill while I waited for Jmat to come on Wednesday, so I made a neck for the Violin body I build a couple of months ago, glued it on, and already have some varnish on her. Then Jmat showed up, and we firmed up the details on his 3rd build from my hands. This will be a 13 fret 000 JB/2 MultiScale rendered in German spruce over Quartersawn "the Tree".

Here are a few pics of the fiddle (the color is from Pernambuco juice w/no further color added), and then a picture of Jmat's wood being joined:

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/V7/scrollcarving1.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/V7/3rdcoatscroll1.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/V7/3rdcoatscroll2.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/V7/3rdcoattop.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP18/V7/3rdcoatback.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP19/JmatTree/platesjoined.jpg

Sexauer = Luthier...:up:

Fiddle
 

Is that handsome fiddle coming to Grass Valley this year?

Certainly IF it's in the ballpark of my expectations. Probably anyway.

I have templated the plates for Jmat's project. This is rough just out of the thickness sander:

http://mojoluthier.com/LP19/JmatTree/templatetop.jpg

This set has been offered in my Woodlocker for about 10 years, and for reasons beyond me no one seemed to want it till now. It is a genuine "Tree" set, and it is the rarest thing as it is very well quartersawn. The typical tree sets are flatsawn. This may be relatively boring looking, but it is certainly more likely to bend well AND be less fragile. And relatively boring is a bit misleading in this case.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP19/JmatTree/templateback.jpg

That is anything but boring. I can see a lot of character in that wood and can't wait to see it wet! Outstanding.

Rosette and backstrip are in Jmat's tree guitar. Tried to get a better exposure of the tree figure by using sun and photoshop, but the earlier shot seems better. The backstrip is Amazon RW. The rosette is flamed koa.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP19/JmatTree/backstrip1.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP19/JmatTree/rosette1.jpg

When failing for ten years to sell the tree set I am using for this guitar, the deal was generally killed by my saying I was completely unwilling to build a cutaway with it. The stuff is notoriously difficult to bend tightly, and historically most guitars built from it have either been double sides, or lumpy dreadnoughts. So, of course, I am building a 000 cutaway.

So far I have bent 5 test pieces over 2 days trying to accomplish the deed. 3rd time was not a charm. I thought I would succede with #3, which is shown here in the back ground, but the good news is that #5 is in the foreground. It is a scrap from the back, and the actual side is yet to come.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP19/JmatTree/cutaway1.jpg

Oh boy, that has to be a little intense. Best of luck with number 6....

Can't imagine the feeling you guys experience when faced with the challenge of bending Tree Mahogany. Has to be intimidating!

I made a form for the cutaway bit and used a short blanket and scraps of SS sheet to bend the cutaway, which after a number of unsuccessful attempts I learned how to accomplish. Here is a shot of the actual piece of side in the form, and another of the side installed. The process should speed up at this point. "Perseverance furthers", a wise man is said to have said.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP19/JmatTree/cutawaybender2.jpg

http://mojoluthier.com/LP19/JmatTree/cutaway2.jpg

Bruce - I think that wood is ready to talk!

Bruce, thanks for sharing your cutaway bending process.

Most of the guitars that we see made from “The Tree” either 1) do not have a cutaway or 2) if they do have a cutaway, use thinner laminated side construction. With the figure comes interlocking grain and the propensity to crack when attempting to bend it.

Congrats on your successful solid wall cutaway on Jmat’s guitar...:up:

Very little I've done in my career has seemed as iffy to me as bending a cutaway in "the Tree". Since I have actually now accomplished it, it probably seems like nothing much to my audience here, but my stress level has dropped considerably.

http://mojoluthier.com/LP19/JmatTree/ribbons.jpg