Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Hi guys,
Close-up photos of the rosette as requested by Todd and Eric. The rosette is made of a mrytle burl inlaid with abalone shell - quite simple but I thought it looked good on the cedar top.

Todd: The left-handed guitar has already been delivered so I don't have an opportunity to take any more photos at this stage. However, the rosette was exactly the same as this one, but with extra diagonal abalone shell inlays.

Bruce: New Guinea rosewood back and sides - I did not find any need to pour fill, just sanded with 400 paper and used the true oil (6 coats). There are still some grain pores showing but I rather liked the natural timber look. I'm not sure what you should use if you wanted to fill all grain pores prior to oil, but I dare say it may vary on different types of timber (depending on how close the grain was).
Regards
Steve

Thanks for putting the pics up Steve, colours are a real nice choice for the cedar top, they work together buitifully.
Must get some abalone!

Thanks Very Much Steve, I will soon be making a rosette similar, and I was Concerned that my rosette overall with the shell that I have 3mm would make the rosette look to fat and also I didn't want the wood section to look to thin, you seem to have struck a good balance . thanks again

How wide is your purf ?

Hi Todd,
- the outside diameter of the burl is 140mm
- the inside diameter of the burl is 108mm
- the abalone purfling is 1.5mm.
First I inlay the burl, then using the same centre I use a 1.5mm router cutter to line up and cut the purfling lines. I then inlay the 1.5mm purfling, sand, cut out the sound hole .. and that's it - ready to go.
Regards
Steve

Thanks Steve.

Very nice Steve. Wayne