Tele sized acoustic

[DarwinStrings]

This is the CF and balsa lattice braced job almost finished except for final set up and adding the pickup.

Specs

Sitka spruce top
Black wattle (A. auriculiformis) nice bit of figure for the local suburban weed, they sprout up everywhere and grow fast as.
Rock maple neck and bridge
Paua inlay
Buffalo horn bridge pins
18 fret to body 24 fret total

You can see that because I glued the bridge before finishing you get a ring in the finish around the bridge,the saddle will be dyed black on final set up. A shot of the figure in the wattle.

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You can see from the roof line of the van reflection that the soundboard is lightly carved, not flat.

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Remind me never to make a acoustic with a hatch in the back again please

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Fender style bolt on with small heel extension

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Headstock with surf theme

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Paua fret markers

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Jim

[Taffy Evans]

Nice one Jim, look real cool and is defiantly going to stand out in a crowd. What is the acoustic volume like?

[ozziebluesman]

Hey Jim this guitar has such beautiful lines. The inlay and design is wonderful. I love your work.

Cheers

Alan

[Bob Connor]

Lovely work Jim.

I'd like to hear a bit of it as well.

[Kim]

Beautiful work Jim, I really enjoy your unique approach to this craft. Classy, clever, and truly innovative its always something to look forward to...Any chance of another recording with your mates in the studio??

Cheers

Kim

[Clancy]

Looks great Jim.
Was this the one that had the laminated & curved 'flying braces'?

[sebastiaan56]

Pretty mate! I would love to hear a clip as well.

[Ron Wisdom]

Very, very slick!! I love your position markers. That was clever.

Ron

[DarwinStrings]

Thanks all. The volume is very good Taffy so far. I will get a sound clip once I do a final set up. At the moment I have it set with a very high action to really pull some tension on it all as I run it in so it is a bit uncomfy to play. Yep Craig the same one, here is a reminder pic.

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Jim

[Dominic]

Nice work Jim. Very cool guitar. And interesting design.
Cheers
Dom

[P Bill]

Wow! You're the baddest Jim !

[Allen]

That's really cool Jim.

Any chance you have a shot of the bracing you used on the top to add to the gallery shots?

[DarwinStrings]

No worries Allen. Just a quick note though, I would not brace quite like this again as I have completely re-though how I will do it in the future. This was a first for me and am happy with it as such, but believe I can improve on it. With the lack of information on this type of bracing for steel strings (I went with a set of .012's on this) I have over built it.

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Jim

[Allen]

A photo is worth a thousand words Jim. As you said, very little is documented about using lattice bracing, and any info about it is going to help others. Even if you wouldn't do it this way again, others will be able to see what they may want to stay clear of.

It's just so easy to over build them with the lattice. I'm still amazed at how stiff they become once you have them all laminated up.

[J.F. Custom]

Bit slow on the uptake here Jim sorry ( ) but that is some swish work.

Lovely chunk of Sitka and Black Wattle, not to mention innovative design and quality workmanship all round.

I'll add my voice to the others in the request for a sound byte.

Kudos for 'branching' out.

Jeremy.

[DarwinStrings]

Well it has been a long time coming but here is a web page http://wadefinn.com/Wade_Finnagin_Band/ ... _50th.html where you can hear this guitar. Unfortunately the guitar had a little buzz going and he phoned me after the recording to have a look at it. I wonder if any of you clever repair guys can hear what the buzz is. You will need "quicktime" to view it on his page. Oh and by the way He owns the guitar now.

Jim

Life is good when you are amongst the wood.

Edit...He will record again with this guitar so I will put up a clip with the buzz removed, just try to listen around it for now. Damn I grimace every time I hear it.

[DarwinStrings]

No takers on the buzz diagnosis, the most annoying thing was that he recorded with that buzz and it only took me one minute to work it out and fix it, one of the tuners nuts was loose and the washer was rattling.

Jim

[Moonstruck]

Wow. Awesome looking guitar mate. With the exception of the excess string hanging off the tuners

[DarwinStrings]

Thanks Tobias. They are there to poke the bass player in the ribs when he starts to fall asleep at rehearsals.

Jim

[Moonstruck]

Love your work!

[Tod Gilding]

Hi Jim Did Carlos Steal Your Design or did you knock this up for him

I Think I may have to make one of these, Any Advice that you can offer Jim ?

And I don't suppose anyone Knows who did make this one that Carlos has. I know Godin Guitars make something similar but I can't find anything like this on their Site.

Anyone that is interested can see Santana Play this Guitar Here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-5M1_DKvb0

[DarwinStrings]

Well if you want to make one like Carlos's you will maybe have to find your self a bit of IRW for a neck cause I know he favors that on his steel strings. A guess would be that that one is semi hollow with a UST but I remember seeing stuff like that with a magnetic PU in the end of the fret board as well as the UST.

Jim

[steve roberts]

Hi Jim
Nice work great result nice to see something differant
Regards Steve