New Build: Tahoe Guitars 000-12

[OddManOut]

This guitar was gifted to my nephew, an exceptionally talented guitarist deserving of a fine guitar.

Tahoe Guitars

000-12
East Indian Rosewood
Adi Spruce
Koa Binding
Mahogany/Maple/Walnut Neck
Slothead
Adi Bracing
Modified Tongue Brace
25.4" Scale
1 3/4" Nut

[OddManOut]

I have finally found some time to update this thread. Larry has provided me with a ton of pictures of the build process...too many to post here. So I have included a sample of pics and the link to the PhotoBucket album with everything I have. Enjoy!

Click for complete album of 000-12 build pics



Raw slothead, five-piece mahogany-maple-walnut neck




Comparison of 12-fret and 14-fret neck blanks

[OddManOut]

Well...a photo of the finish. These pics came in from Larry about an hour after I did the previous update. I had to share as I think the curly koa/rosewood just popped under the first coats for sprayed shellac. Just imagine when it is buffed out! Note the yellow hue imparted on the red spruce top by the blond shellac. That top was creamy white in the raw.

He will do another spray session with shellac, then finish it (no pun intended) with KTM9.

She's getting close!!!!




FWIW, compare with the woods under a naptha wipe...

[Berf]

Looks great... not long to wait now.

[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by Berf

Looks great... not long to wait now.

Thanks...yes...I am itching to play her.

[rlouie]

looks great!!!! that's some wide grain adi for the top!!!!! I love wide grain tops :-)

[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by rlouie

looks great!!!! that's some wide grain adi for the top!!!!! I love wide grain tops :-)

Thanks for the compliment! I, too, like the pine box look.

Larry has a large number of Adi tops that he purchased from OSW. They are of a lower grade due to the width and prominence of the grain-i.e. they are not "clean tops".

Even though they are not clean, the tops in his collection have it where it counts...well quartered, stiff, nice tap tone. We culled this top from about 15. We chose 5 tops from the 15 for stiffness and tap tone, then did density measurements. This one was hands-down the winner. It had the best tap tone and the lowest density. One other top was slightly stiffer, but markedly heavier and more dense.

I suppose it is worth noting that one of these OSW tops found its way onto the "OMOM" guitar listed in my signature and a fine, fine sounding guitar it is.

It's a waiting game at this point. A few more weeks and we will start the process of playing her and letting the voice develop. Exciting!

[OddManOut]

Here is a brief update of the progress of my Tahoe Guitars EIR/Adi 000-12.

Larry filled the pores and sprayed the last coats of finish. The undercoats are blonde shellac, the top coats are KTM-9 (water-based lacquer).

Now it sits for a few weeks prior to the final assembly and initial set up.

"Waiting is the hardest part."

Click for full set of pics

Coated in filler. Sure am glad it comes off.




Right after final spray (these images are video captures).




Note the freshly-sprayed neck in the background. Looks like another guitar body is being sprayed as well.

[OddManOut]

A couple more pics just came in...

[OddManOut]

Here is a quick update on my Tahoe Guitars EIR/Adi 000-12.

Finding myself aimlessly browsing the local mall due to a girls-only Christmas cookie party at the house, I called Larry on a whim to see if I could come visit my guitar-in-progress. Indeed he was working in the shop and invited me over. I was, of course, delighted.

The finish has been resting a week, likely will be two more weeks until she's strung up and making music. So close...yet so far. The neck and the bridge are not yet glued.

Upon inspecting her under the pre-buffed finish I discovered

(1) The Adi top has some nice speckled bearclaw;
(2) The EIR back has some cross banding with a bit of maple-like chatoyance (the 3D effect of the curl). I have never seen a set of EIR quite like it. I took a video (linked below), but it does not do the EIR justice.

Needless to say I am quite pleased. Hopefully she will be as good sounding as she is good looking.

Thanks, Larry, for having me over!!! You da man!

Enjoy the pics!

Click for full set of Tahoe 000-12 pics

Click for video of back


There be bearclaw!


The cross bands visible below actually "move" in and out as the guitar is rotated. Curly EIR? Wild!




The silver sword of Tahoe...

[Dru Edwards]

Love the pics! Can you tell me what a "Tongue Brace" is? You indicated that this guitar doesn't have one. Thanks.

[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Love the pics! Can you tell me what a "Tongue Brace" is? You indicated that this guitar doesn't have one. Thanks.

A picture is worth a thousand words...it is the long brace at the top.

Click for traditional tongue brace pic

Whether or not the absence of a flat brace above the transverse brace affects tone is debatable.

Having said that, it turns out that Larry used a pair of flat braces to transfer the rotational force of the neck to the top of the transverse brace. See below.

[OddManOut]

A quick update on my Tahoe Guitars EIR/Adi 000-12.

The neck and bridge are attached. All that remains are slotting and reaming the bridge, install the tuners and setting her up. I've heard a rumor tomorrow is the day I get her.

[OddManOut]

My Tahoe Guitars EIR/Adi 000-12 is finished! Yesterday I went to Larry's and witnessed the installation of the tuners and the final setup of this guitar.

I will do a write-up of the guitar itself in the main discussion area.

A big thank you to Larry Nair for not only buillding a fine guitar, but for his generosity in allowing me access to the build process. Being able to witness key moments of the build is a unique gift Larry has given me for which I will be forever grateful. In particular I helped to hand pick the materials, I was present for the voicing of the top, and-one of the absolute joys of this process-I got to be present for the first notes a guitar made (I recorded this on the video linked below). This helps to make this guitar truly mine. I look forward to playing it for many years.

Enjoy the pics and thanks for following this thread.

Click for complete set of Tahoe 000-12 Pics

Click for first notes video

[ukejon]

Beautiful guitar. Love the "first notes" video...what a riot.