2nd build in progress! How about a Sycamore 00C 12fret?

Kitchen Guitars · #1 07-05-2010, 06:10 AM

I have some wide to thin grain lined Adi for top wood. I think I will use a 100 year+ oak fence post from here on the farm for the neck wood. Here is the first step..... 2nd step. Fix band saw. The blade keeps jumping off.

A 00 based loosely on the Epiphone design ( a fatter butt than the Gibson 00)
The topside will be 3-3 1/2" at the upper top, 4-1/2 on the lower top and bout end. The Sycamore was rescued from a local burn pile. I let it sit in the wood room for a few months. Tim McKnight cut it down to board sets as a demo for McJam 09'. So, they have sat pressed in stickers for a touch over a year.

If it goes well maybe I will break out the stash of Snakewood binding

Wish me luck. Your input drives me!

D. Churchland · #2 07-05-2010, 06:27 AM

I always thought sycamore was a wild looking wood, but it's awesome!

Looks great YJ, looking forward to seeing this one come together

coldshot · #3 07-05-2010, 07:20 PM

I'll be looking forward to this build as well John, all the best with it mate.

Kurt · #4 07-05-2010, 09:28 PM

So...what does sycamore tap like?

Kitchen Guitars · #5 07-06-2010, 04:45 AM

Its pretty muted. I tapped it next to maple and the thud was duller. Tim has told me he's not a huge Sycamore fan. Yamaha uses it on their CPX series. While they sound pretty good unplugged they are made for the stage.
I lucked out on the first build. Maybe it will sound good, maybe not...But I figure why not make pretty while learning.

Kitchen Guitars · #6 07-06-2010, 04:50 AM

2 things. One, it was not fix the Band Saw it was learn how to set it up properly.
I redid the outline of the body shape. I made a half body shape out of plexyglass, then retraced the same shape on both sides. I have the frame cut out and the side bending form made. Now I have to figure out making a pattern for the sides.

Kurt · #7 07-06-2010, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yamaha Junkie

Its pretty muted. I tapped it next to maple and the thud was duller.

Maybe it will sound good, maybe not...But I figure why not make pretty while learning.

"Pretty" is a given. More reason to refine that sitka top, I'd guess. Or perhaps you can engineer your own hollow back on this build? Now, THAT would be progress! And btw, I don't think you "got lucky." I think you're meticulous and a perfectionist on top of being an artist.

Kitchen Guitars · #8 07-06-2010, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurt

"Pretty" is a given. More reason to refine that sitka top, I'd guess. Or perhaps you can engineer your own hollow back on this build? Now, THAT would be progress! And btw, I don't think you "got lucky." I think you're meticulous and a perfectionist on top of being an artist.

Thanks again. Hollow back. Hmmm gotta think on that one....BTW I corrected my top wood. Same wood I'd picked but the words "Red" and "Adi" have me thinking its an Adirondack top wood. Which was the wood I searched for to make an all Pennsylvania guitar. No luck finding any Pa topwood, so at least its the type of wood I searched for.

Kitchen Guitars · #9 07-06-2010, 01:19 PM

Welp its been turned into a 14 fret. 12 fret would change my favored layout of the body.
Here's where I am so far

Kitchen Guitars · #10 07-08-2010, 05:14 AM

Last night Neil (Kwakatak) stopped by. We joined the back and prepped the topwood.

Lastest snag in my plan. The fence posts are Locust not Oak. Can I make a neck out of Locust?

Neil K Walk · #11 07-08-2010, 11:49 AM

It was very informative. The flamed maple center strip looks nice and really pops against the grain of the sycamore. Thanks for letting me be part of the sendoff.

Are you still going to join the top today? Have you decided what material to use for the neck?

Kitchen Guitars · #12 07-08-2010, 08:12 PM

I messed with the back a bit more and listed some guitars for sale on the classifieds.Top will happen tomorrow

Kurt · #13 07-09-2010, 12:34 PM

Okay, likely a naive statement: black locust is an immensely hot-burning firewood. I would think that if it burns that hot (which would suggest its a dense, strong wood) and if it makes for a good fencepost (which would suggest its a dense, strong wood), then it ought to make a sound neck.

I asked my father about the wood, because he used to make jewelry and other artwork out of all sorts of wood, and he said he loved black locust because it often had borer holes in it that made for neat aesthetics. That's not what you want, I know, so that may be a downside.

As in all matters: Ask Tim. But I also sense that you like to try, to experiment, to dabble, so my money says you'll go for it...

Neil K Walk · #14 07-09-2010, 08:54 PM

Sounds like a blade chewer upper to me. I'm jus' sayin' *shrugs*

YJ, do you have any more neck blanks from your luthier buyout or are you gonna carve out your own neck this time?

Kitchen Guitars · #15 07-10-2010, 05:02 AM

The top is joined. It taps a nice contrast to the tone of the back. I took a hunk of paper. Rubber cemented it to the side of my Epiphone. Wholla! I have my side stencil! Neil if you wanna watch the wood bend ya better make it quick!
Neil- neck wood; I have a great custom made Maple neck with Mahogany strips in it that I thought would be perfect for the project....duh I want to go shortscale. So, yep I have necks. Nope, none will work for the project.
I'll cut down a hunk of Locust and see what it looks like inside. I have a beautiful block of Mahogany in Que.. Its big enough to make 2 1 piece necks
Today I have to figure out how to adjust my thickness sander. Also, I need to make my molds wider. But, for the moment I am off to go make a "Butterfly" Birthday cake for one of my kido's.