Build Thread: Tahoe Guitars Madi RW/BC Lutz 00-14

[OddManOut]

A few shots of the bearclaw Lutz top under some raw finish.

[OddManOut]

Here is the ugly stuff...pore filler. But, this marks the last steps of the build...and it only gets better from here.

I guess the pores on this set of wood are HUGE.

Before the ugly...




The ugly...

[OddManOut]

Here is the first of two days of nitro coats. Definitely nicer than pore filler.








Mmmm...bearclaw.

[OddManOut]

A very brief update...

The final coats of finish have been applied. Now the guitar must hang while the finish cures. The final stages of work should commence the first week in May.



A pic of the guitar hanging...nice bearclaw!

[NEGuy]

Waiting for the finished product and "first note."

(Is that what you call it?)
.

[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by NEGuy

Waiting for the finished product and "first note."

(Is that what you call it?)
.

Indeed I do. Larry is starting the last stages tomorrow. Pictures will be forthcoming. Then a first notes vid, I'm sure.

Thanks for following this thread!

[OddManOut]

After something of a hiatus on this thread, here-and in several posts following-are a whole lot of pics to get caught up on the progress of the build.

Here the neck and bridge are being glued up. Larry uses hide glue for these two glue joints.


Larry warms the surface to be glued with a lamp.




The body is taped, ready for the bridge and neck.



Hide glue applied, the bridge is clamped in place.



The neck heel and fingerboard extension are warmed.



Hide glue applied, it is bolted in place.



And it's a clamp-o-rama.

[OddManOut]

In this sequence Larry drills the bridge pin holes. Once drilled, he chamfers the hole openings, widening the opening and graduating the edges.






The chamfering bit. I have no idea if that is what it is called...

[OddManOut]

It's fretting time at the OK Corral.

Larry with a bulk of EVO Gold fretwire.



A proper length of wire is cut.



Each fret position is measured and the wire cut to length.





The cut frets are organized by position.



More tape for protection.


A journey of 20 frets starts with the first fret...




The frets are then pressed in with a press, with appropriate hammer tapping.

[OddManOut]

The frets are in and the ends filed.






The tuners and nut are installed.

[NEGuy]

“First Note” can’t be too far away.

If you do post a “First Note” video, then I think it would be good to post another one a few weeks later after you have allowed the guitar to be “played in” (or “opened up” – whatever you want to call it).

I think there would be a noticeable difference.

Or have you not noticed this to be the case with Larry’s guitars? (I noticed it *for sure* with mine.)
.

[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by NEGuy

“First Note” can’t be too far away.

If you do post a “First Note” video, then I think it would be good to post another one a few weeks later after you have allowed the guitar to be “played in” (or “opened up” – whatever you want to call it).

I think there would be a noticeable difference.

Or have you not noticed this to be the case with Larry’s guitars? (I noticed it *for sure* with mine.)
.

It will be posted fairly soon, methinks.

A very good suggestion on the follow-up...I will do that.

They definitely change...a big change in the first minutes of play, then over the next 72 hours. Then a real "settling in" of the voice over the first few weeks. Over the next two or three years they slowly get even better. I think most players experience this latter period of change. It's cool to experience the earlier periods.

The 12-fret dread is just over a year old and it has become quite profound. Between years 2 and 3 both of my older Tahoes gained subtle, nuanced qualities in their respective voices. Who knows what will happen over a decade...

[OddManOut]

My Tahoe Guitar Co. 00-14 in Madi RW and bearclaw lutz is complete! It is in its infancy, of course, but already has a robust voice. It has great rumble, nice chime and most excellent string clarity. It definitely sounds bigger than a 00. It does have a large dynamic range...plays sweetly at low input, and barks loudly-but-happily when hit hard. Time will tell what she becomes over the coming weeks/months/years.

A big THANK YOU to luthier Larry Nair for his generosity, patience, and mad luthiery skills. He's built another beautiful guitar.

And thank YOU for following this thread.

A few pics and a video attached. I'm not sure the video embedded properly, so here is the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xsfXKwsJdU

Tahoe Guitar Co.
Model: S-14 (00-14) Deep Body
Back/Sides: Madagascar Rosewood
Top: Bearclaw Lutz Spruce
Neck: 5 piece Mahogany/Curly Maple/Walnut
Binding: Curly Mahogany
Top Purfle: Herringbone
Rosette: Paua
Bridge/Fretboard/Headplate: Ebony
Saddle/Nut/Pins: Bone
Bracing: Adirondack Spruce
Frets: EVO Gold
Tuners: Grover Sta-Tite Gold
Nut: 1 3/4"
Saddle: 2 1/4"
Scale: 25.4"

[gregg]

Congrats Jim.....I think it sounds great, always fun to hear those first few strums.

[OddManOut]

Originally Posted by gregg

Congrats Jim.....I think it sounds great, always fun to hear those first few strums.

Thanks, Greg. It has a nice "super Martin" type voice. I agree about the first notes/strums, and it is a really a cool experience to hear the guitar blossom into its basic voice over the first few weeks. An exciting time!

Thanks again!