Build 2 Update

Working on guitar build number 2. Number 1 turned into the Hurricane Irene model and still has issues that may never be worked out. Right now she is sitting on the bench as inspiration for number 2.

This guitar has bubinga sides and back with a leapordwood back stripe, and will have matching leaporwood bindings. I really like the look of the leapordwood, it makes a nice contrast with many woods.


Mahogany linings and installing mahogany side reinforcement strips.

The inside back center strip being installed in my make shift go bar deck

I had some old mahogany boards from a friend given to me years ago that came from salvaged pallets. They will make great braces and lining strips.



Back braces being fitted and glued.

Carving the back braces

Gluing up the sitka spruce top.

To be continued...

Seagull S6

Picked up this busted Seagull  S6 model to see if it could be repaired. The verdict is still out, since I am not sure if I will continue on or just scrap it for parts. The top was busted up pretty bad and so it was taken off completely and what remained was glued back together.

Plywood sides and back with cherry veneer. Solid cedar top.

Back was seperated as well

Inside look at LR Baggs micro eq equalizer w/volume, bass, treble controls

Jack plug end pin

Bolted neck joint. Brown plastic binding with small plastic cream purfling.

Removed all the braces from the top to salvage. There is a  plywood brace mixed with spruce braces. If continued new top will have all new replacement spruce braces.

Appears to be poplar neck block, tailblock, and linings



Some more pictures of taking apart, cleaning up, gluing back together.

That was the easy part. I picked out a cedar set that I had for the replacement top. Now to decide to continue on or not. I have done a top replacement similar to this with plywood sides and have had a hard time with the bindings and damaging finish on sides. To be continued..

Lacey Act and CITES

Is it legal?

Lately I have been reading a lot about the Lacey Act and CITES and what affect it is having on the guitar making and wood working industry. As a carpenter, life long wood worker, novice musician and luthier, I am concerned about the right to possess, purchase, or trade the basic material and instruments used in our trades to make a living and pursue our life's work.

I was introduced to CITES a few years back when buying a few orchids and came across the book "Orchid Fever" written by Eric Hansen about the billion dollar orchid industry, and the sale and transportation of endangered plant species. Very interesting reading, I did not realize at the time that I would be introduced to it again while pursuing my career and artistic craft.

The materials used to build and decorate instruments with to entertain ourselves and our families for hundreds, maybe thousands of years has become the center of current national and international laws. Granted most of the wood and other products in the center of the controversy are exotic and not typically used in every day life, but how long will it be before more and more natural resources are depleted and become rare and valuable commodities added to the list of endangered and illegal items.

How do I know where it came from?

There is some good information in a document recently posted on the Guild of  American Luthier's web page regarding the Lacey Act and CITES, and an article in the latest issue of the GAL's quarterly journal. I support the Guild and thank them for all the work done on behalf of their members.

From the Fall 2011 issue of the American Luthierie Quarterly Journal article by R.E. Brune, transcribed from his 2011 GAL Convention lecture quoted: "converting a pre-CITES set of Brazilian Rosewood into a new guitar is a violation of federal law", and "it is illegal to repair or restore old or antique pre-CITES objects such as musical instruments".

Here is the link to the GAL web site Chuck Erikson article regarding the  Lacey ACT and CITES:
http://www.luth.org/cites.htm

I do not attempt to validate or disclaim these articles, only provide the information. I understand that these issues are complicated.There are many questions regarding the way these laws are written, regulated, and potentially enforced now and in the future. If we are in violation of the law by innocently pursuing our life's work and hobbies we must be informed in order to continue working without fear or the possibility of incrimination. If the laws need to be changed it is the responsibilty of those elected to look after our well being to make those changes on our behalf.

Can I fix this?

Thank you to the GAL for providing this information, and good luck to you in all your endeavors.

"Endure Fort"

Robert

Redemptive Humidity (not relative)

Well, its been raining for 4 days with terrible flooding, and it finally stopped and the sun came out. I was  able to get back to the shop without a boat and guess what. Nature had done what I was afraid to do, simulated the environment that caused the damage to the new guitar body in the first place.

Yes, it was like a sauna when I walked in. I felt the guitar laying on the bench and the wood was very pliable and the glue was soft and mushy enough to put it back into shape and glue it back together. Wow, was I surprised. The picture of the hygrometer was taken about an hour after I opened the door and turned on the fan. It was probably 90% and about 85 degrees F when I first walked in .

I immediately grabbed my glue (yellow resin glue this time) and blue painters tape and went to work. Shaping and molding like a sculpture. It was pretty wild. It was like the guitar building Gods were looking over me. I was afraid to stop until I was complete because the conditions were changing rapidly back to normal.

Looking at this picture it looks a little lop sided, but who cares, we're moving again. It will never be perfect, but what in life is? Character comes from adversity, and this baby has had its share of that!

Will fill you in later with another update on this and some other stuff I'm working on.. I picked up some necks from the Martin factory that are sweet...thanks for checking on me..

Robert

Irene Update

We got hit pretty hard by Hurricane Irene. I hope everyone is safe and getting through the incredible damage caused by the storm.

At the shop the heat and humidity was so bad after the storm that the new guitar literally exploded. The glue softened from the heat and the wood swelled from the increased humidity causing it to bust loose from the seams.

I have been using liquid hide glue for this build, but I am seriously thinking that I will go back to the

yellow aliphatic resin glue. I cannot control the environment in the shop and it may hold up better for me.

When I get taught a luthier lesson I get hit hard, no subtle suggestions, just full blown explosions. This one was especially difficult to handle since I have worked so hard and long on this project. I am not certain if the guitar can be put back without exposing it to the same extreme conditions that caused the damage. By doing that I would be exposing the rest of it to the same conditions unless I could localize and control it. Man, thats tough, may have to hang her up and use her for future inspiration...or as a reminder of what not to do.. that sucks!

I will get back to you on this one, maybe I am being to emotional right now, and can fix it. For now I am not certain what to do, so I will drop back and punt..

In the mean time I need to get the chainsaw out and cut up that Dogwood that fell over in the yard from the storm. I already have plans for that wood, even though it will take a few years to cure properly. If you have never seen Dogwood, it has heartwood like walnut., with a contrasting white sapwood...beautiful.

Guitar Bindings

Working on bindings this week..

Got everything dry fitted and ready for glue..