My day job has always been as an engineer (Tool & Diemaking) but my fascination has always been with music.
I started out making necks, bodies or complete electric guitars but mostly repairs and resprays and one offs that couldn't be bought off the shelf (e.g lefty guitars or customer's own idea of what a guitar should look like). That has taken up my spare time for the last 15 years but I've always had a 'hankering' for building acoustics after my first rough attempt at 16, that did actually produce an albeit choked sound but a sound none the less.
The shape, look & skills needed to produce an acoustic archtop appealed to me so 2 years ago I started making those (with the assistance of Bob Benedetto & his book & DVD's). Haven't sold any of those to date as New Zealand guitarists seem to baulk at having to pay more than a Korean produced copy would cost them
Just recently started making Selmer style guitars also. These are great guitars, loud for their size (produce an incredible volume for a small bodied guitar) and a real punch in the sound. I was fortunate and was commissioned to make the first one for a local Jazz legend who wanted a 'non-standard' version and I really enjoyed making it so much that my second one (my own personal one) is now only a couple of weeks off completion. Should look good as I've used some beautifully figured Tasmanian Blackwood for the back and sides.
Here are a few shots of the Acoustic guitars I've knocked out so far. Hopefully my luthiery skills are better than my photography skills
The first Archtop ("Blondie") used European Spruce & Euro maple with a flame/birdseye maple neck. I cross braced the top to give a mellow typical modern jazz sound.
Then came the second one "La Castana" (the Brunette) which used Sitka and Western flamed Maple and had parallel bracing, gave a really nice open, cutting sound.
Then came the Selmer Style 'Petite Bouche', Sitka spruce soundboard, Indian Rosewood back and sides & a few "extra's" that the customer requested. (shorter than normal scale length and an electric pickup in the neck posn as well as a K&K under the soundboard)
The two rosewood volume knobs on the upper bout were sprayed after the photo was taken so are now the same shade as the sides (incase you were wondering!)
I look forward to picking up tips from you all that have way more experience than I do and maybe even adding something of value of my own.
but I somehow doubt it, I think there's a slight talent factor missing 
(post all of them and it would be like watching Auntie Mabel's holiday snaps for 3 hours!) Unfortunately I didn't bother with the latest build as I was doing for myself. I like to take build shots & make a slideshow and do a DVD for the customer usually.
