Number 3 amateur build finally done

[KingCavalier]

Well I finally finished number three. It’s a copy of an OM from the Grellier plans.
I started it on 02/25/2013 and finished it 12/06/2014
It was a real struggle at times, I had to do quite a few things over and over.
The cosmetic flaws are too many to count. Over all I’m very pleased with the results.
It sounds just like I hoped it would. The setup came out great and it’s a joy to play.

The back strip, end graft and headstock back inlays were inspired by a combination of work
I saw in the Custom shop. Especially, Simon Fay and Indian Hill Mike. The Rosette started out
with a Somogyi tiled look, I went with the overlapping tiles to complement the rest of the inlay.

I started this build before the “Is it Emulation or worse?” thread in the Custom Shop.
When I first read that thread I thought, so what, I’m just a hobby builder.
After thinking about it for a while I realized my backstrip etc. was way too close to the above mentioned.

My sincere apologies to both and anyone else I may have emulated a little too closely. Going forward I’m looking for some design elements I can call my own.

Thanks for looking.

SA

Top- Adirondack red spruce
Back/sides- Indian rosewood w/4peice back
Binding- Curly Maple
Purfling – B/W/B with Blue Pau Abalone
Rosette – Cocobolo tiles with Blue Pau Abalone purfling
Back bracing- Adirondack red spruce
Top bracing- ¼ Adirondack red spruce
Neck – 5 piece laminate – Sapele, rosewood and Curly maple
Tuners – Gotoh 510 Cosmo Black
Finish – Nitrocellulose Lacquer

[Ned Milburn]

Beautiful! Nice job. How does it sound and play??

[repete]

I'm impressed. Thats a LOT or ornamentation work.

Interesting "rosette."

You know the flaws, but we dont, so dont say anything about them!

I have a kit guitar waiting to be built and I plan to do a handful of things to spiff it up a bit.

-r

[Neil K Walk]

Flaws? Copy catting decorative inlays? I see none of that. I see a very polished piece of art with an attention to detail. You should be proud. Worry about the fine details on the next one.

In fact, I'm envious. I'm spinning my wheels on #2 and can't decide on a theme. I keep thinking at this point I should be focusing on skills over establishing my own style. You are clearly beyond that point.

[printer2]

Yeah, I see it, the mole on the left cheek. Flaws, Ill show you flaws. Hope my next one looks half as good.

[terryj47]

If it sounds half as good as it looks you have a winner! Beautiful work. Keep at it and they'll be standing in line to place orders.

[GeoffStGermaine]

Fantastic! Very nice looking guitar and I wouldn't have guessed it would only be your 3rd.

[bnjp]

That's gorgeous. Great work!

[BUG]

Beautiful work, man. I see you put a sound port in it. This is something new to me. What do you see as the positive advantages and negative disadvantages of a sound port? I'm still learning, slowly.

[Murray Hunt]

Looks amazing, well done!

[Aubade Acoustics]

Beautiful work for # 3. There are so many different styles out there it is hard not to do something that resembles another builders style. Don't worry to much about it. I have owned some very expensive guitars and guess what? They are not perfect either. Have you figured out by now that building guitars is an addiction and can cause you to make decisions that are not financially sound. Wonder if there are any physicians treating it yet and is it covered under my health plan?
Keep up the good work

[LouieAtienza]

Beautiful work! Hope it sounds as good as it looks!

[RoosterX]

Outstanding! That's a work of art!

[pickitluther]

Real nice work. I would like to know how you go about cutting the channel for that type of rosette ?

[Neil K Walk]

Originally Posted by pickitluther

Real nice work. I would like to know how you go about cutting the channel for that type of rosette ?

+1


As do I. I've been in the early stages of my second build but the rosette has been sort of a roadblock. I've been admiring the works of Stehr, Mayes, Kostel, McKnight, etc. but have been trying to come up with my own idea based on a theme. I've tried to hold to the idea that "less is more" over borrowing another's style.

After going through art school I've long since resigned myself to accept that new ideas are very rare and creativity now lies in interpretations of inspirations. I believe the term for that thought is "post modernism." Even Jimmi Wingert did a nice interpretation of Klimpt for a rosette.