MICHAEL BASHKIN: 00-12c (Swiss Alpine “Moon” Spruce / Koa) - Page 4

iim7V7IM7 · #46 05-03-2018, 06:21 PM

Michael has created a contrasting end graft for the guitar. The dark pieces of wood are Gaboon Ebony, the white purfling lines are Holly and the small triagular pieces are Koa. The deep pores in the Koa can also been seen here.

Nemoman · #47 05-03-2018, 06:29 PM

Nice!!! That looks awesome--assuming the headstock is following this theme, it will look incredible as well.

iim7V7IM7 · #48 05-03-2018, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Nice!!! That looks awesome--assuming the headstock is following this theme, it will look incredible as well.

The plan...

chippygreen · #49 05-03-2018, 08:12 PM

Are you selecting ebony/koa accent for the headstock top plate as well? I think that would look incredible! I see now how the backstrip ties it all together...

iim7V7IM7 · #50 05-03-2018, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chippygreen

Are you selecting ebony/koa accent for the headstock top plate as well? I think that would look incredible! I see now how the backstrip ties it all together...

Yes, but the headplate veneer will use Macassar Ebony, Holly and Koa. The binding will be Gaboon Ebony. There is a cohesive method to Michael’s madness ...

chippygreen · #51 05-03-2018, 11:21 PM

Oh, that's a really lovely choice now that you describe it - the headstock binding picks out the back strip and endgraft, and macassar ebony veneer will have figuring and tonal (in the color sense) values to create the visual interest to draw the eye to the headstock. Did you elect to put a pinstripe or purfling strip down the back of the neck?

I really love the macassar ebony on my Carter Poulsen - it's what drew me to it in the first place - so now I'm dying to see the outcome on your build!

iim7V7IM7 · #52 05-04-2018, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chippygreen

Oh, that's a really lovely choice now that you describe it - the headstock binding picks out the back strip and endgraft, and macassar ebony veneer will have figuring and tonal (in the color sense) values to create the visual interest to draw the eye to the headstock. Did you elect to put a pinstripe or purfling strip down the back of the neck?

I really love the macassar ebony on my Carter Poulsen - it's what drew me to it in the first place - so now I'm dying to see the outcome on your build!

TBD...We have discussed a three-piece neck Mahogany/Ebony/Mahogany and a one-piece Mahogany neck options but we have not yet crossed that bridge. Once he is through “the box”, I am sure that we will discuss it.

MinorKey · #53 05-04-2018, 04:35 AM

Looks good!

Guitars44me · #54 05-04-2018, 10:42 AM

How did I miss this build thread until last night? What a beauty! Love the woods and design features, and it should be super comfy, too.
Have fun!

Paul

J.R. Rogers · #55 05-04-2018, 01:44 PM

Looking great! That end graft is a work of art. The Rodgers tuners are the right touch. I've always wanted a set of those on one of my guitars.

JR

cigarfan · #56 05-04-2018, 03:40 PM

Really nice Bob. Great theme. Will certainly be one of a kind.

iim7V7IM7 · #57 05-04-2018, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinorKey

Looks good!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

How did I miss this build thread until last night? What a beauty! Love the woods and design features, and it should be super comfy, too.
Have fun!

Paul

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.R. Rogers

Looking great! That end graft is a work of art. The Rodgers tuners are the right touch. I've always wanted a set of those on one of my guitars.

JR

Quote:

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Really nice Bob. Great theme. Will certainly be one of a kind.

Thanks to all for your kind words and well wishes...

iim7V7IM7 · #58 05-04-2018, 04:49 PM

Michael is moving right along on the guitar. He has applied shellac to the back and sides to slow down the water vapor transmission rate into the Koa (a stable wood that likely doesn’t need this but boy does it look good!). Michael also likes to cap his upper bout back x-brace with a body wood cap. It looks like this guitar is #155 for Michael.

Here is a shot of the completed top and back/sides reflecting Michael’s traditional approach to top bracing that he is currently using on his guitars together with his hybrid approach to back bracing. The top is signed and the box is now closed and can be seen on his go-bar deck.

The body binding/purfling channels have been routed (top).The beautiful Koa back is beginning to reveal its figure without finish and the contrasting Ebony/Holly backstrip floats among the curl (bottom).

This is a neat sequence of photos illustrating Michael’s approach to creating a Florentine cutaway binding channel.

This image montage shows the creation of a Gaboon Ebony/Holly/Koa segmented end graft.

Lastly, we made a decision on the neck to go with a one-piece Honduran Mahogany neck and Michael is thinking about an interesting 12th-fret marker inlay for the fingerboard (tbd).

TomB'sox · #59 05-04-2018, 06:40 PM

This is a neat sequence of photos illustrating Michael’s approach to creating a Florentine cutaway binding channel.

Having done some wood working in the past, it blows me away that a hand chisel can be used across the grain like this and get a nice neat coil of wood and a clean result. I know he scored the wood to mark the channel first, but the cross grain wood just is hard for me to fathom.

Sure shows a true master at work! The Koa is looking great Bob!

iim7V7IM7 · #60 05-04-2018, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Having done some wood working in the past, it blows me away that a hand chisel can be used across the grain like this and get a nice neat coil of wood and a clean result. I know he scored the wood to mark the channel first, but the cross grain wood just is hard for me to fathom.

Sure shows a true master at work! The Koa is looking great Bob!

Thanks Tom...

Have fun on your upcoming trip...