Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Hi all

Finally completed my first build apart from a couple of minor things. It has taken a while because because I think I made a mistake on every single part of the build and had to redo things twice (or more). Here is the list of mistakes -

1. I made the top too thin at 80 thou. I ordered a new top from Tim to replace it, but I ended up just going with the original to see how it went. It is way thinner than 80 thou now due to sanding.
2. When I joined the top and back I used Titebond 3 and didn't get it perfect, so it left a horrible grey line in the top and back. I covered the back with a back strip, I should have re-joined the top but didn't, because I thought it would sand out for some reason.
3. I was too scared to use my big Triton router to cut the rosette channel so I used a paddle pop stick,xacto blade and blunt chisel instead - shouldn't have 'cause it looked rubbish. I ended up getting the router out to fix it and made the channel too wide as I measured wrong, and didn't account for the diameter of the cutter. (should have made a test cut). I then threw the top across the backyard like a frisbie. I retrieved it the next day and made a new rosette, waaaaaaay bigger than I wanted.
4. I then glued the back on crooked.
5. I took too much meat off the neck trying to get the angle right and ended up gluing more wood back on so it would meet the body at the 14th fret, it still isn't perfect, but I had enough.
6. I made a jig for my router to cut the binding channels, I shouldn't have as I f**cked up the channels too, making them really deep. I though I would be able to cut some thick bindings to cover it, but I couldn't bend them and they kept breaking. I ended up making bindings from the maple scraps from the back and gluing them in (they would bend). I then bought the proper bearings and cutter and re routed the channels over the top. I used thin binding strips this time but needed to make purfling strips as well to cover the first stuff up. Pain in the arse making them.
7. I sanded through the binding in one spot...argg. I just left it.
8. I tried using a homemade version of tru-oil as a finish. Looked like poo, so had to sand it off. Went with a can of spray varnish instead, still looks like poo.
9. Didn't get the tuners in the right spot and the strings foul slightly on the adjacent tuner.
10. I cant remember the other mistakes, but there were more.
11. I Just remembered - after I closed the box 5 cracks appeared across the top! I don't have a humidity controlled environment and was trying to get the whole thing together on the 1 day the humidity was around 50%, it obviously didn't work. I manage to glue up all but one properly, as you can see in the pics. Time will tell how long it holds together!!!

Anyway here are some pics, it is average at best, but it looks like a guitar at least. I will make a better effort on the next one hopefully.

Cheers

Col

It's alright Col, nothing wrong with a cock up or two, or three, or four, or......
It's all a good learning experience and from what I can see in the photo's you've coped with most of the problems pretty well.
Learn from No. 1, move onto No. 2 and keep having fun .

Hi Col
Dont be to hard on yourself great first build looks good from here .
We all make lots of mistakes fixing them is the hard part.
Yours sure looks a lot better than my first.
Regards Steve

It looks Ok to me Col, but the important thing is How Does She Sound ?

Tod Gilding wrote:It looks Ok to me Col, but the important thing is How Does She Sound ?

I am not a musician by any stretch of the imagination, and only a beginning guitarist with a $500 Washburn to compare it to, but I think it sounds a bit shit It is really loud though, and has heaps of sustain. I have no idea what a good guitar is supposed to sound like, but I don't think it sounds like this. Maybe I will make a sound clip and post it up later. It sounds like I am disappointed, but I'm not really as it is better than what I thought it would be.


Cheers

Col

Good job, Col !! Excellent aesthetic eye with the detail of matching f/board & bridge, colour of tuners & rosette balance your artistic maiden voyage.
As Tod said, it's all in the voice, mate...enjoy the journey!!

Gaz

Looks good Col, as mentioned everyone makes mistakes, i'm on my 8th guitar and just dicovered i've put the bridge patch in for a 12th fret join when it's supposed to be a 14 fretter, box is all closed, so don't feel alone with a few mistakes. Good first effort. Wayne

Hi Col
Looks ok to me
mistakes ,shit if I didnt make at least 2 every step of the build I would wonder where I went wrong ??
and I know its a cliche but it is so true that you do learn more by your mistakes ,lets face it if Lutherie was easy "girls would be doing it" ..............hang on theres some fantastic female luthiers,hmm nearly made another mistake
I spose its part of the attraction if we didnt improve it wouldnt be as addictive as it is ?
Dave

That is a very nice guitar Col, congrats!

Don't even mention the mistakes you made and most people will have a hard time to spot most of the still "spottable" mistakes.
I also think that the more mistakes one makes (especially unforgettable ones), the faster one can learn - either to avoid them or to cover them up respectively deal with them.

Enjoy this guitar, and enjoy building the next one(s)!

Looks damned fine to me
No expert - but consensus here is - well done!
Learning from mistakes is great, but also learning how to cover up mistakes even better

Thanks for the comments guys, you are all a good bunch on here.


Cheers

Col

colburge wrote:Thanks for the comments guys, you are all a good bunch on here.


Cheers

Col

No we're not...it's absolute shit!

Nothing wrong with it Col, I like the look of the blonde Maple timber for a change from the Indian rosewoods e.t.c.
The fact that you've made a few mistakes and recognised them as such and that it bothered you enough to mention them here is a sign that you have the right attitude toward building and that the next will be undoubtedly much easier on your blood pressure People that know they've made a cock up but think "oh what the hell, I'll just carry on" are the people that never improve and ultimately move on to making playhuts for children ( ).
As they say "If you've never made a mistake, you've never made anything" and how you fix them is the important thing, to me you've done a pretty good job here. Keep this build in a prominent place, look at it and play it with pride as it's your first and also look at it as a reminder of what to watch out for on subsequent guitars.

Nice work Col,
I bet it sounds better than you think. We are our own worst critics. As said, if you don't tell the people you show it to what errors you've corrected, they'll never know.....

Hi Col,

It turned out great. I really had to laugh though. Your description of the mistakes you made sounds very much like the internal dialog I had with myself when assessing mine .

Looks great to me, you should be proud of that and Nick is spot on "if you havn't made a mistake you have never made anything". As I am on my first have made three necks two sets of backs and sides, I just keep chucking stuff in the bin and it's only been 6 months or so how long did you take with yours?

EricDownunder wrote:Looks great to me, you should be proud of that and Nick is spot on "if you havn't made a mistake you have never made anything". As I am on my first have made three necks two sets of backs and sides, I just keep chucking stuff in the bin and it's only been 6 months or so how long did you take with yours?

I think I started the build in the middle of January, so it hasn't taken that long. It should be faster the next time around because I will be using jigs and moulds etc. and I hopefully will have the right tools. I plan on making a climate controlled room in my shed and spending a little bit of money on a few quality items (if I ever get some spare money) to make things easier and repeatable.

cheers

Col

What part of Brisbane are you from Col? If you don't mind traveling to the Gold Coast you are welcome to run your next top through my drum sander.

BBk wrote:What part of Brisbane are you from Col? If you don't mind traveling to the Gold Coast you are welcome to run your next top through my drum sander.

I am up at Morayfield 1/2hr from the Sunshine Coast; a bit of a trip to the Goldie, but thats OK - I may have to take you up on it when I get around to the next one. I was thinking about buying one with my tax cheque, but I think the money could probably be better utilised at the moment. I will definitely get back to you when the time comes, thanks heaps.


Col

No worries mate, any time.

Lovely work for a first one Col.

What's on the drawing board for the next one?

Regards

Bob Connor wrote:Lovely work for a first one Col.

What's on the drawing board for the next one?

Regards

Thanks Bob,

I am not completely sure yet, I think I will make a parlour size guitar or Uke, I like the small guitars. I purchased a nice set of WA Sheoak and some Claro Walnut from Tim in his sale, and I was thinking about matching that with a Bunya top I got from him earlier on in the piece. Also got some Native Olive and spruce from him for a Uke which I want to use. It will be a little while yet as I want to build a humidified / air-conditioned room in my little shed, and get set up properly as I am sick of working in disorganised filth. I also got Trevor and Gerards ' books so I am set.

Cheers

Col

"Go the dogs"

Nice one Col.
It`s how we fix our mistakes that counts. That`s how we get good.

My first guitar is still a flat pack . Two more ukulele`s to finish then start my guitar.

Where abouts in Brisbane are you from?
I`m at Redbank Plains near Ipswich.

soulman wrote:Nice one Col.
It`s how we fix our mistakes that counts. That`s how we get good.

My first guitar is still a flat pack . Two more ukulele`s to finish then start my guitar.

Where abouts in Brisbane are you from?
I`m at Redbank Plains near Ipswich.

I'm at Morayfield, not far really. Good luck with the Ukes, love to see some pics when done.

Cheers

Col

Well done Col the guitar looks fine to me. Your not on your own with mistakes in you first build in fact my fourteenth I had a major stuff up with the neck and had to build another one. You will have already learnt heaps and you next will be much closer to your expectations.

All good mate it's such a great hobby.

Cheers

Alan

Ha! Great stuff and thanks for posting Col, well done on the tenacity.

Jim