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Old 01-18-2014, 05:53 PM
D. Ramsey D. Ramsey is offline
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Default Build with Phoenix Guitar Co. Ziricote / Bearclaw Sitka

Recently George Leach of the Phoenix Guitar Co. moved to Southern California and just so happens he is 10 minutes from my house. I started to get to know him first at Healdsburg Guitar festival and had read about his class in Phoenix from a couple of AGF members.

I have spent a few years studying and even took a class through Simscal but I still have never finished my first guitar. I do have a few guitars partially done and learned a whole lot from spending time with Peter ( Cornerstone Guitars ) and have had Steve Saville build a couple of guitars for me.

I was convinced I didn't have the patience to do good enough work to complete a guitar on my own.

Well as I got to know George Leach and saw how patient and gracious he is and real close to home I thought I am going to complete one this time.
So beginning next week I'm going to begin and have a thread on the process to help not let me off the hook with a commitment of showing what I am doing.

Here is the Back and sides w the mold of a deep bodied size similar to a 0000 and it will be a 12 string guitar.... Wish me luck



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Old 01-18-2014, 08:39 PM
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mikealpine mikealpine is offline
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Very ambitious and highly commendable! Wishing you luck and fun on the journey!!
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Old 01-18-2014, 08:50 PM
D. Ramsey D. Ramsey is offline
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Thank you Mikealpine
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Old 01-20-2014, 04:45 PM
Habanera Hal Habanera Hal is offline
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Gorgeous set of ziricote. Good luck with the build!
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Old 01-21-2014, 12:07 AM
D. Ramsey D. Ramsey is offline
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Thanks Hal,

Ziricote is one of my favorite looking woods

Got this from a friend who lives in Belieze and gets the most beautiful wood I've seen.

If you wish to get in touch with him send me a note
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Old 01-21-2014, 08:58 PM
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Default Progress!

Got started today By joining the top and bending sides. Tomorrow we will join the Back and begin rosette.

Here are a few pictures

George is checking me out making sure my side set up is right before bending







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Old 01-22-2014, 09:49 PM
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Today we glued the Neck and Tail block to the sides.

Also installed the Rosette and glued the back together.

Won't do much tomorrow but we are going to see Tommy Emmanuel, Martin Taylor and Ed Gerhard in Redondo Beach.

Friday is Namm! Going to be busy for awhile



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Old 01-29-2014, 08:14 PM
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Well! .......... The backs to the Ziricote were still too unstable and needs to acclimate to Georges shop a bit longer so instead of waiting I have switched to a set of Shedua that George had.

So after a minor setback we are moving forward again.

Got the sides bent today and joined the back. I'm still using the Bearclaw Sitka top and finished the rosette today also.

Building Guitars is just like the rest of life as -Roseanne Roseannadanna said "It just goes to show ya, it's always something"




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Old 01-30-2014, 10:30 PM
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Got the back laid out and glued on the center strip.
Also got the tail and neck block glued in today



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Old 02-05-2014, 12:53 AM
D. Ramsey D. Ramsey is offline
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Progressing right along... added Back Braces and Top braces today

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
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Old 02-05-2014, 06:42 AM
theotigno theotigno is offline
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Looking good! George is a good guy and great builder. I took two guitar building classes (see signature below). I'm glad to hear that a custom build is being documented here! Congratulations on the new build!
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Old 02-05-2014, 06:55 AM
kramster kramster is offline
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A very good builder. I have seen some of his guitars.
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Old 02-12-2014, 12:42 AM
D. Ramsey D. Ramsey is offline
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Got the Kerfing finished and will attach the back and top next!



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Old 02-12-2014, 10:37 AM
Leo Sears Leo Sears is offline
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That lining looks interesting. Could you tell us a bit about it. I don't think that I've seen other guitars with that style.
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Old 02-12-2014, 12:57 PM
D. Ramsey D. Ramsey is offline
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Hi Leo,
Thanks for the interest in my build.

That is linings that Kevin Ryan makes in his shop and sells through his AST line called A4 ....This is the Spanish Cypress set. It is laser cut to very fine lines on both sides and flexes any way you choose.

Wonderful to work with as is his Zipflex (shell inlay ) that I used on my rosette.
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12 string, build thread, phoenix guitar co., ziricote

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