Nacogdoches Student Build FINAL PICTURES

[roberts]

Hey Dan - This has been pure joy to follow. Looking forward to your assessment of the guitar when you get it into your hands. Most luthiers - and you're now one of them - are highly self-critical so we'll be expecting the straight scoop

best,
Robert

[nootis]

Originally Posted by Nemoman

Very cool, Dan--it looks like a sweet little guitar!

I look forward to seeing and trying it out one of these days.

Cheers

Thanks Kevin. I will most definitely bring it to B.I.G. as long as Vasu and John agree to bring theirs. I'd love for you to play it.

Originally Posted by roberts

Hey Dan - This has been pure joy to follow. Looking forward to your assessment of the guitar when you get it into your hands. Most luthiers - and you're now one of them - are highly self-critical so we'll be expecting the straight scoop

best,
Robert

Thanks Robert. I don't know if I'd call myself a luthier. I'm more like an actor playing the roll of a luthier on TV, or in this case, the AGF. However, the supporting cast has a knack and history of turning out great results, so I think luck is firmly on my side.

So, without further ado, the last batch of photos until we see the finish on this honey.

After a hearty celebration breakfast at Dollie's and some cups of coffee we made our way to the shop and started in on the bridge. I opted for a pyramid bridge because I like the traditional flair it provides, especially on a small bodied guitar. Here I am sanding the ends to start the process off.



Roughing out the plane of the pyramid. This process takes time, and one needs to whittle away bits and pieces at a time using a chisel, rasp file, sanding block and a razor blade or scraping tool. Steve is particularly fond of neck and bridge shaping, for it's like sculpting. I'm no Michelangelo, but his name came up in conversation.



After getting things to an acceptable state, we went on to sanding the bridge plate to match the arch of the top. We have to be careful now, for that Redwood is soft!



We inlaid fret dots.



And made the truss rod cover.



By the way, for those of you who don't know, Bob Tucker's favorite color was purple. He would be proud of this little OO.



Finally, and with much bitter sweetness, we took final photos of what we had achieved.



Again, what a fantastic week and just an unforgettable experience, but like most good things, they had to come to an end. However in some sense, I also feel its like a new beginning. Perhaps I'm delirious, but I see myself trying to build myself another one in the near future. Except, I'm thinking it might take a year or more instead of a week next time.

Thanks for following along. It has been fun keeping up with this thread, but almost as much work as it was to build the guitar. I am however humbled and grateful for everyone's nice comments and encouragement along the way.

Now the worst part is waiting to pluck the strings of the creation I so lovingly helped coaxed into this world.

[TomB'sox]

You know, if the western boys want to promote their build offers, I would not object to them having your guitars at their table as long as the 3 builds do not make theirs look bad . That is up to Steve and Ryan. There you got my attention...I think the purple end wedge is what did it for me!

[doodahdoug]

Dan, you have the look of a journeyman luthier moving through all the stages of construction under Steve and Ryan's careful supervision. That's a great looking 00 guitar. I marvel that it gets to this stage in only 1 week. Glad to hear you're bringing it with you to B.I.G. in September. I look forward to checking it out up close.

[nootis]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

You know, if the western boys want to promote their build offers, I would not object to them having your guitars at their table as long as the 3 builds do not make theirs look bad . That is up to Steve and Ryan. There you got my attention...I think the purple end wedge is what did it for me!

Thanks Tom. The end wedge does it for me too!

Originally Posted by doodahdoug

Dan, you have the look of a journeyman luthier moving through all the stages of construction under Steve and Ryan's careful supervision. That's a great looking 00 guitar. I marvel that it gets to this stage in only 1 week. Glad to hear you're bringing it with you to B.I.G. in September. I look forward to checking it out up close.

Thanks Doug. I'm glad I have you fooled. I'm the Leonardo DiCaprio of lutherie. However, I can't wait to let you try it.

[Steve Kinnaird]

Well, this was a blast. Tiring, but lots of fun. Dan, we’ll really miss you in our certain-to-be-lonely shop tomorrow. The guitar you built was inspiring to me, but it is the camaraderie and friendship developed through the creation of a musical instrument that is the best part. Thanks again for coming Dan, and when we get updates from Tony we’ll send them along. See you at B.I.G.!

Steve

[Deft Tungsman]

What a cool experience and a beautiful little geetar you've built for yourself there, amigo!! Looking forward to your reading impressions once you get it back from the finishing process, all strung up and ready to play.

Till then, here's to withdrawal...

[SColumbusSt]

Looks great and what a fun week.

[nootis]

So my little OO is back from the finisher and strung up, and it'll ship next week. I think Ryan will be taking some glamour shots of it today if all went according to plan. Here are some teasers...









And the best for last. I wished I could have been there! Both Steve and Ryan say it sounds great...

[johnnydobbers]

super cool

[canuck7]

Very nice!!! Sweet looking 00 !!!

[doodahdoug]

Your 00 looks awesome Dan and what a fun experience building it with Steve and Ryan, congratulations!

[Guitars44me]

Sweet little hot rod!

I really like the headstock backplate and matching tuner buttons, as well as the beautiful end graft.

You will be playing it real soon now.

Enjoy

Paul

[nootis]

Originally Posted by johnnydobbers

super cool

Thanks johnnydobbers!

Originally Posted by canuck7

Very nice!!! Sweet looking 00 !!!

Thanks canuck7, I do say so myself!

Originally Posted by doodahdoug

Your 00 looks awesome Dan and what a fun experience building it with Steve and Ryan, congratulations!

Thanks Doug. I can't wait for you to try it.

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

Sweet little hot rod!

I really like the headstock backplate and matching tuner buttons, as well as the beautiful end graft.

You will be playing it real soon now.

Enjoy

Paul

Thanks Paul. It all came together wonderfully, and to see it and actually play it.... I'm on Cloud 9!

I also posted a NGD in the General Section, so if you have seen it, this may be redundant...

The guitar arrived yesterday, and while I haven't had much time with it, my initial reaction is love at first strum. It has an amazing low end bass for such a small guitar, and mids and trebles come off clear and effortless. The warmth of Redwood and the overtones of the Rosewood reaffirms that I made a good choice in selecting tone woods that I love. The 12 fret short scale and the small size and overall feather-light build makes for an effortless playable guitar. I really couldn't be happier with the result, and to think that most of it came from my own hands (with some great coaching) only makes it that much more sweet. It is a guitar that I will forever hang on to, and I will forever hang on to the memories and friendship that forged while building it. Hopefully this is the first of many, for I plan on building another sooner than later. Weather wasn't cooperating with Ryan to take some glamour shots, but I was able to attempt to take my own this morning with my phone....

[canuck7]

That’s one nice looking 00….really like the simple elegant lines and wood selection…I’m partial to tops like this. Beautiful!!