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#1
03-15-2020, 10:44 AM
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50th birthday gift
Hi everyone. I have made a few guitars for myself in the past (most of which have been experimental), but this is actually’ the first I have made for somewhere else – although he didn’t know anything about it.
A group of us got together with the idea of giving an acoustic guitar to a very close friend’s 50th birthday. Whilst everyone else paid for materials, my input was to make the guitar. Here are some photos of build and finish. The recipient is a keen motorcyclist so I used this as a theme for the design from the headstock inlay to the disc brake and caliper inspired rosette. The five MOP discs representing his 5 decades. As gold is traditionally associated with 50th celebrations, I used brass for some of the inlay work to compliment the gold Grover machine heads. I used Richlite for the fretboard and string anchor but I wasn’t prepared for the toughness of this stuff. It machines very well but proved to be a nightmare when it came to cutting fret slots. African Mahogany for back and sides and Western Red Cedar for the soundboard. Other woods include Wenge and Meranti.                Any constructive criticism or advice welcome. Thanks for looking, Fred 
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#3
03-15-2020, 11:17 AM
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What a wonderful thing to do.....
When I see guitars like this, the patience that goes into it just takes me back. I've always thought of myself as quite patient in interpersonal matters, but woodworking is NOT one of my strong suits. I'm pretty sure if I ever made such an attempt, there would be lots of kindling.  Very well done...
__________________
"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving"
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#4
03-15-2020, 02:56 PM
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That is very cool and he must be a very deserving friend. Hopefully he will love it!
__________________
12-fret Small Body Addict & Sucker for Exquisite Craftsmanship
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#5
03-15-2020, 03:57 PM
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I'm glad to have about 15 more years to make friends with you - well, I guess 14 years. You will need time to make the guitar
Can I ask you about the bridge? That is a design I havent seen before!
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#6
03-15-2020, 04:18 PM
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#7
03-15-2020, 04:34 PM
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I have a Lowden with a pinless bridge and wanted to try one but I look at it and all I see a perforated line along the grain. I thought if I tried it the strings would just rip through the wood. I came up with this two piece idea with the top piece acting as an anchor for the strings. This piece is bolted through to the bridge plate under the soundboard which helps keep it all together and compress the bridge onto the soundboard. It works really well and for a relatively small bodied guitar it is very loud and rich in tone. The top piece is made from the Richlite off cut from the end of the fret board.    
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#8
03-15-2020, 05:04 PM
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If it sounds half as good as it looks, you've got a real winner there.
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#9
03-15-2020, 05:17 PM
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What a great gift! Love the wee mouse
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#10
03-15-2020, 05:53 PM
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Very Cool Gift!!!
Well done! I too love the mousie...
The whole thing is very nicely done! Interesting bridge for sure. Seems like a great idea. Be well and play often! Have fun Paul
__________________
4 John Kinnaird SS 12c CUSTOMS: Big Maple/WRC Dread(ish) Jumbo Spanish Cedar/WRC Jumbo OLD Brazilian RW/WRC Big Tunnel 14 RW/Bubinga Dread(ish) R.T 2 12c sinker RW/Claro 96 422ce bought new! 96 LKSM 12 552ce 12x12 J. Stepick Bari Weissy WRC/Walnut More
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#11
03-16-2020, 04:23 PM
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