Allison build: slope shoulder dread, German spruce/black walnut

[cigarfan]

That little 0 has quite the mature sound for such a small package. Nice!

[Earwitness]

SJ:
What's the best guess for when your guitar is completed?

And, what are you playing now, while you wait?

[SJ VanSandt]

Hey Earwitness, I just noticed your post. I'm still waiting for John to spray the burst and carve the neck. He could have it done in a week, but I'm not holding my breath. I just hope he can wrap it up this month. In the meantime I'm mostly playing a Recording King dread I bought a few weeks ago to be my "beater" guitar. It's nowhere near the class of an Allison or a Collings or even a Gibson J-45, but it cost a whole lot less money, and I don't worry when taking it on weekend trips or to jams, etc. I just don't know how much play it will ever get once I have my new guitar in hand.

[SJ VanSandt]

Now I'm starting to get excited!

[cigarfan]

Oh, I like that burst. Schweeeet!

[SJ VanSandt]

Another one. I wonder if I should get him to warm up the maple binding somehow? It seems a little stark. I may just have to visit John's shop tomorrow!

[SJ VanSandt]

Sam Allison sanding the finish. Finish! As in ALMOST DONE!

[cigarfan]

Can't be long now. Can't wait to hear it.

[SJ VanSandt]

Progress! The neck is mostly carved:

Starting to look like a headstock:

John working on the neck set:

It's coming together! Another week or ten days, he says! Oh my, oh my, oh my:

[cigarfan]

Looking schweeet! I'm excited for you!

[Earwitness]

I have been wondering how your new guitar was coming.
I play my John Allison guitar every single day, and it is so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes. I sure would never want to have to replace it; wouldn't want to wait 7 months on a new one!

I guess it's like waiting on a kid to be born. You are building your emotional investment ahead of time.

[SJ VanSandt]

Originally Posted by Earwitness

I guess it's like waiting on a kid to be born. You are building your emotional investment ahead of time.

No kidding! I am kind of absurdly attached to it, considering I've no idea what it's going to sound like. Like an Allison, I'm sure, but though I like some of his work as well or better than anything else I've ever heard, I've never touched one of his AJs. Hill Country had a Collings with very similar specs (but not black walnut) that I thought was phenomenal sounding. I only hope my new guitar will be in that range. I've been playing lots of 12-fret, short scale guitars and like them a lot - I don't think I messed up asking for that. But, honestly, though the wait has been less than fun, I'm confident it's going to be a fine guitar and I'm going to have a blast playing it. Soon. Pleeease!

[SJ VanSandt]

Mahogany neck stained to match the walnut back and sides:



Finish is on, but still needs wet-sanding and buffing. Getting down to the nitty-gritty!

[SJ VanSandt]

Well, I guess this is about it for the "build thread," since John is stringing it up today and letting me pick it up tomorrow. Sorry I haven't been able to provide more real process shots and that my photos aren't very good, but it's been fun to see what I was able to see along the way. I'll start a NGD thread this weekend when I get a chance to take some photos, and try to make some sort of recording as soon as I can.

Meanwhile, here's the bridge being glued on:

[Earwitness]

Excellent! NGD coming up soon.