Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

This is an instrument I've been building for forum member Greg Luker for some time now. His brief was a figured Blackwood OM/OOO styled instrument with a Blackwood top.

I was originally going to brace the top with Blackwood but I piked out at the last minute and did it with Spruce
after feeling the weight of the top at final thickness (which was around 2.7mm). Once the top was on I really got stuck into the sanding of it (particularly around the perimeter) so it's probably closer to 2.5mm in it's finished state. The closed box certainly had a much better "boing" after the sanding.

This is the first instrument I've built with a Blackwood top so I'm quite pleased to say it sounds pretty damned good. I've just been comparing it with my 1980's Martin D18 (which is a really loud and sweet sounding dready) and the volume is comparable. The overall sound is quite different but you expect that.

I'm taking this to Port Fairy (with Greg's permission) so I'm interested to see what the makers and players think of it.

The tuners are Gotoh 510's. First time I've used the black ones and they're very sexy items. I think I'll be using them again. The fingerboard and bridge are Brigalow with some Satin Box veneers under the Headstock overlays.

The bindings are Blackwood sapwood and remind me to never again try and bend them around a cutaway. They were a challenge but we got there eventually.

Regards

Congratulations Greg, your a lucky fella.

I love the look of this guitar.

I built an all Blackwood guitar and was pleasently surprised with the tone of the instrument.

Beautiful work Bob.

Cheers

Alan

Looks fabulous Bob. And thanks for persevering with the Blackwood sapwood bindings, I reckon they look great!
It's been very tough to wait 'patiently' during the build, and now it's finished it's going to be even tougher to wait some more but I know it's worth the wait!

Thanks,
GregL.

It's all Blackwood.......nuff said.


Beaut job Bob and great purchase Greg.

Bob, that's just a beauty. Spectacular in fact.

Very nice Bob
I am about to embark on a full Koa build hope it look near as good as the blackwood beautiful work.
Regards Steve

Absolutely amazing!

The bridge looks like it was saying "I'm lost in the middle of blackwood"...

Another Beauty Bob. You have been busy lately, don't you also have a couple of lap steels on the go ? Where do you find the time

Thanks everyone.

Todd a lot of these have been under construction for over a year and I tend to get busy just before the Port Fairy Folk Festival each year to finish them off for the show.

Yes there are a couple of electric lap steels on the go as well as 4 ukeleles and an OM for a mate in tassie who lost all of his instruments in bushfires recently. I also want to rebuild all of my moulds and give the shed an enema. So yes it's going to be a busy few months.

Looks fantastic Bob, i can't believe the figure in that neck just amazing
Rod.

WOW Bob!!!

Excellent use of a spectacular collection of aussie blackwood
Figured sap wood bindings are simply a master stroke that make this a truly unique guitar and they pull the package together just beautifully.

Fantastic score there Greg congratulations and well done.

Cheers

Kim