Project by onoitsmatt | posted 01-08-2019 04:18 AM | 1074 views | 0 times favorited | 16 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
Over the last two years I have been slowly building this guitar. The back and sides are East Indian Rosewood. The top is bear claw Sitka spruce. Bindings are quilted maple. The soundhole rosette and end graft are olive. I finally finished it today. It sounds really good. Mistakes were made but I learned a lot from the build and look forward to making more guitars.
I documented the build on my Instagram account which is the same username as here on LJs onoitsmatt if anyone is interested in the whole process.
-- Matt - Phoenix, AZ
16 comments so far
Chiaroscuro
home | projects | blog
149 posts in 1744 days
#1 posted 01-08-2019 06:32 AM
Matt – that is beautiful! Is the bridge black walnut? Looks almost purple.
-- Todd
RPhillips
home | projects | blog
1317 posts in 2805 days
#2 posted 01-08-2019 12:31 PM
Good job! what an accomplishment!
I have hopes of making a guitar this spring. It will be mock up of a Gibson Explorer, maybe down the road I will try my hand at an acoustic too. Im a bit nervous about getting it right.
-- Rob - Indianapolis IN - Learning... one mistake at a time...
Scott Oldre
home | projects | blog
1128 posts in 4400 days
#3 posted 01-08-2019 01:00 PM
i have plans, and the wood, just no time to embark on this journey. Glad you jumped on the opportunity. Looks awesome.
-- Scott, Irmo SC
Planeman40
home | projects | blog
1532 posts in 3730 days
#4 posted 01-08-2019 01:07 PM
Absolutely beautiful work! I can appreciate what went into that as I built myself a classical guitar way back in the 1970s out of a book on “how to build a guitar”. Love the abalone perfling!
-- Always remember: It is a mathematical certainty that half the people in this country are below average in intelligence!
BFamous
home | projects | blog
344 posts in 1090 days
#5 posted 01-08-2019 01:34 PM
Beautiful guitar. It’s my dream (fantasy?) to make my own guitar some day. I’m envious of your work!
-- Brian Famous :: Charlotte, NC :: http://www.FamousArtisan.com
onoitsmatt
home | projects | blog
447 posts in 2145 days
#6 posted 01-08-2019 02:19 PM
@Todd, the bridge and fingerboard are also Indian Rosewood.
@Rob I’m thinking about doing an electric next. Hoping it will be easier but electrics seem to have their own unique challenges.
@Scott, haha, I think I didn’t itime either. This was a 40th birthday gift for a friend who turned 41 last month.
-- Matt - Phoenix, AZ
Planeman40
home | projects | blog
1532 posts in 3730 days
#7 posted 01-08-2019 02:36 PM
Yeah Matt, it was challenging. I was able to look inside some expensive classical guitars using a mirror on a stick to see how things were done. But the book was pretty comprehensive. The guitar came out surprisingly well though. I guess I should really post it here as a project.
-- Always remember: It is a mathematical certainty that half the people in this country are below average in intelligence!
bushmaster
home | projects | blog
4095 posts in 3252 days
#8 posted 01-08-2019 03:15 PM
I stand in awe to anyone that can build a musical instrument such as this, craftsmanship at its finest.
-- Brian - Hazelton, British Columbia
summerfi
home | projects | blog
4383 posts in 2656 days
#9 posted 01-08-2019 03:25 PM
Wonderful job Matt! You’re getting good at this!
-- Bob, Missoula, MT -- Rocky Mountain Saw Works http://www.rmsaws.com/p/about-us.html -- ~Non multa sed multum~
onoitsmatt
home | projects | blog
447 posts in 2145 days
#10 posted 01-08-2019 04:36 PM
@Brian Thank you!
@Bob. It has turned out better than that padauk uke! Also saw photos of those back saws you restored on the saw thread. I immediately went to your website to see if they were for sale. Seriously thinking about that brass back one if it’s still available, though I don’t need it. Awesome work on those and that Pearce one too!
-- Matt - Phoenix, AZ
Kaleb the Swede
home | projects | blog
1980 posts in 2939 days
#11 posted 01-08-2019 05:43 PM
Looks great! Did you do a traditional french polish or was it sprayed. Would love to play it
-- Just trying to build something beautiful
NormG
home | projects | blog
6508 posts in 3973 days
#12 posted 01-08-2019 07:30 PM
Wonderful Guitar, my oldest son has been thinking of getting into this type of woodworking
-- Norman - I never never make a mistake, I just change the design.
DMiller
home | projects | blog
541 posts in 1442 days
#13 posted 01-08-2019 08:42 PM
Looks Great! I’m working on a acoustic also right now- what finish did you use? Thanks!
-- Dale Miller Modesto, CA "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13. "Woodworking minus patience equals firewood."
onoitsmatt
home | projects | blog
447 posts in 2145 days
#14 posted 01-09-2019 12:11 AM
@Dale and Kaleb. It is French polished. I gave a ridiculous amount of thought to what finish to use. I ultimately opted for French polish because it’s cheap, and non toxic and looks great.
Getting a spray rig and doing nitro would likely have been easier but would definitely have been more expensive. French polish is also pretty forgiving, though labor intensive.
-- Matt - Phoenix, AZ
DMiller
home | projects | blog
541 posts in 1442 days
#15 posted 01-10-2019 03:34 AM
Thank you very much for the info on french polishing, Matt! How hard was the french polishing? Was it easy to get the hang of? That is the finish I would really like to do on my guitar, but from the little iv’e read about, it seems really daunting. Is there any good youtube videos you’d recommend? Thanks, I really appreciate your help! -Dale
-- Dale Miller Modesto, CA "I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13. "Woodworking minus patience equals firewood."
View all comments »
showing 1 through 15 of 16 comments
Have your say...