Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Hi to you all,

This is a Dreadnaught I started building for my son two years ago. It was up to closed box this time last year but unfortunately I had an illiness to content with and was off work and out of the woodwork shop for over six months. I started back working on this one a few months ago and I'm very happy with the end result.

It is a standard Dreadnaught build off the Stew Mac Dready plan. This plan tucks the tone bars, fingers braces and the bridge plate. It will need to be tough as my son is hard on his guitars. The top is some very nice sitka spruce and the back and sides are Indian Rosewood. The binding is Myrtle along with the endgraft. Grover tuners and a very nice figured Queensland maple neck. I went for the EVO fretts to try an achieve some longer fret life. As I say, the Lad plays hard. The tone is very well balanced and it sounds a little tight. It will open out nicely after a few months of playing. A big sound with good volume as you would expect from a Dready and the sustain is wonderful. I reckon this is my best effort so far. I will ask Steve to record it for me so that mp3 will be posted at a later date.

Here are a few pictures and thanks for looking.

















(Edited By Kim 12/07/13: Here's a link to the sound file Alan mentioned above...great sounding guitar but really excellent playing to )

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single ... 94482&q=hi

Thanks for looking
Cheers
Alan

Nice looking Dreadie Al.

I like the unique treatment you gave the rosette and look forward to hearing the sound clips.

Regards

Hi Alan
Really nice looking guitar - and great to hear that you're back at it again! I know that i would hate to be away from the shed for that long - keep well and keep the guitars coming!
Rgds Steve

Looks great, I bet your son is a very happy fellow when he plays that!

Something he can keep for life and say "my dad made this"

Great Work, +1 for that rosette, That endpin looks like a Jack ,Do you have a K&K Pickup ?

Nice job Alan
Ditto re the sound clips

Hi Al, glad you are fit enough to get in the workshop again, the guitar looks great nice and neat and tidy. If it sounds like one of your best it must sound pretty good. I'll drop in one day soon.

Looks great Alan, a nice combination of timbers and I also like the unique look of the rosette.
What finish did you use? It looks to have a nice warm sheen without the gloss being overly reflective, it really lets the wood grain come through.

BTW many happy returns for the day.
Cheers

Thanks everone for your comments. It is so good to be full steam out in the workshop again. I am proud of this one and its going to be played hard so it will be a interesting to see how it stands up.

Tod: Yes it does have the k&k western mini fitted. It is very natural sounding so I like the pickup very much!

Taffy: It would be good to see you anytime.

68matts: Thanks for your best wishes. It is a shellac process and I like to try and get a matt finish as it looks more natural to me.

I will make sure we get a sound file of this one and post it here.

Thanks again

Alan

looks great Al well done again. Be interesting if your son learns to play different, changes his style etc when he gets this instrument bit like when your young and you get a better car to drive might not thrash it like your last one.

Thanks for your comments Luke. My son is a professional muso so his maton and takamine acoustic guitars are well used. I advised him not to gig this one and save it for recordings and wedding gigs. It will be interesting to see if he does save it for special occasions. If you are a father you will understand how much notice a son takes of his fathers advice. He does love this new one so I reckon he might take good care of it but it will be played heaps just like it should be

Cheers

Alan

Hi Al, yes I reckon "made to be played". I built a guitar of a guy who did not play it for two years, you can imagine how I felt. I told him it was "made to be played " so when he did play it he was a changed man, and he ordered another. I feel better now.

Glad to hear you're over the illness Alan.

It must make your son feel very happy and proud to sit down and jam with his hand made mojo endowed guitar, alongside his skillful and blues endowed dad.

Well done mate.

Cheers

Kim

it isn't just a guitar , it is an heirloom

What a shame, I have missed this one in the gallery! I only found it through the corresponding sound sample thread.

What can I say? It looks as good as it sounds!

Cheers,

Hi Alan,
Great looking Guitar, and it will be something for your son to cherish.
I bet you get a real kick out of watching him play it.
Cheers
Graham