Guitony

My vote went to RFR on the basis of it being the guitar that I'd most likely part with money to own. The shape is just a classic, the workmanship and materials look amazing, I love the look of the shaped top and a 12 string LP DC design intrigues me! My #2 was pukko's Luciferi Airytone. Didn't quite make it to #1 for me because the design didn't appeal to me quite as much. However, some of workmanship touches are stunning - IMHO - and give me more ideas of what I could aspire to. The fretboard inlay, repeated on the control cavity cover, the truss rod cover, and the back of headstock shaping are all real wows for me, and demonstrate attention to detail that is just stunning.

Finally, for anyone who's been following the build progress on my blog, my apologies for the lack of progress over the last few weeks. All sorts of reasons, none of them particularly interesting! But, as of a few hours ago, this one is done ... It's a chambered Cherry body with a bookmatched Cherry cap. Both pieces came from a cherry plank, which took a little work to get it into shape, but was well worth the effort. Mahogany neck came from a standard blank, and a Wenge fingerboard. 25" scale, pair of "AXL by EMG" pickups (anyone know anything about those - I just got them because they were cheapish on eBay). A few last minute adjustments (like taking 2mm of the neck heel to get it to fit and play properly), and a few little bits to tidy up, but it's just about there. I'm happy with it (of course!) though the neck definitely fits into the "chunky" category. Next time I'll be a little less concerned about rasping through to the truss rod channel ... The body inlay around the soundholes is a piece of Mahogany (offcut from the neck, thicknessed to 2mm) and the inlay in the headstock is an offcut piece from the Cherry cap. Done for no reason other than I thought it might look a bit different. If I start another one now, I might just get it done in time for Christmas ...

Thanks all for the votes, and thanks Zyonsdream for the detailed critique. You're probably right, I chose the pickups based on tonal variety, and not wanting to take up more space with full-size HBs, rather than aesthetics! I won't be voting for myself ... I cast a "null vote" by just trying to look at the poll standings rather than voting!

Maybe ... but for many people, finding 5 days to spend in an old barn on the West coast of Scotland is already difficult ... so adding a couple more days to the course might make it too difficult for many to attend the course. Still, makes you wonder whether someone should / could set-up a finishing course somewhere, showing the different finishing options and techniques. Thinking aloud, that might still be difficult given the time that it takes some finishes to harden, or to complete each stage of a more complex process ... might only be 2 days work, but might have to spread out over a month to allow for in-between drying times, etc.

Name: Build #2. So called because it's my second self-build guitar, so no points for imagination. I made this one on the Bailey 5 day course (linked in my blog) earlier this year. Materials: Mahogany body & neck, with an Amazique top and Ebony fingerboard. Amazique veneer on the headstock. It's a heavy beastie! PickUps: IronGear P90 at the neck and IronGear JailHouse Rails in the middle & bridge positions. The JailHouse Rails are both single-coil sized Humbuckers, and are coil-tapped via a push/pull tone control. Standard 5-way selector switch. Finish: Simple clear laquer. Limited to what can be achieved within the 5 days, and I didn't want to hide any of the beauty of the top! Sounds: As you'd expect from a HB-loaded mahogany bodied heavy guitar ... plenty of thick, powerful, grunty sounds, lots of sustain. But switch in the P90 for some sharper sounds, or coil tap the middle/bridge p'ups for much cleaner, sharper, attack. For more pics and narrative of the guitar taking shape over the 5 days, see the link to "Bailey Build Blog 2008" on my guitar-building blog. You'll also see pics of Build #1 (from 2007) on there too. I'm just starting out with this hobby, and am keen to learn, learn, and then learn some more. So any and all comments, observations and criticisms are more than welcome.

Thanks for all the comments and questions. Some answers: The course costs around £1200-£1500. That includes everything - all materials, accommodation, food, tuition, spraying ... the lot. You can do it for less, by simplifying the design or using cheaper materials. The glue joints are generally left, clamped, to set at least overnight and sometimes longer (ie 24 hours +). No real tension is applied to any of the joints until day 5 (when the guitar is finally strung), so it's had plenty of time to set properly. Both guitars that I've built have been rock solid, so there's no problem with doing it that quickly. The guitar is generally ready for finishing by the end of the day 4. The paint sprayer then works through the night and the guitar is ready to finish (install the hardware and fret dressing) on the final day of the course. Obviously, this limits the range of finishes available - course attendees who want something more complex have to leave the guitar there for some weeks after finishing the course. Mine just has a clear satin lacquer applied - which is all I wanted. Some guitars are just oiled - there's time to apply 3 or 4 coats of oil and still have the guitar ready to finish on day 5. The best bit ... there's no easy answer to that one. For me, it was the gaining the confidence that I could build a guitar. It didn't teach me "how to", step by step, but it did give me the confidence to get on and try it myself. I've done 2 more since the course (late March) ... and have learned loads with both builds, and will probably still be learning loads with each build even after I've built dozens of guitars! The guy running the course is an excellent teacher - calm, patient, friendly, and a real expert. He gives so much confidence that even if something does go wrong ... it can generally be fixed. That reassurance/confidence was probably more important than learning any technical skill. And finally, I'll put some pics on the GOTM thread - thanks for the tip!

Hi there ... my main criteria in choosing those pickups was to give me a wide range of sounds - which they certainly do - but to minimise the space taken up with hardware on the body! I'm guessing that "GOTM" is "guitar of the month" ... and that there's some sort of competition somewhere?? Then I run out of guessing! I should probably spend more time hunting through these on-line forums, but there's never enough time ...

Hey Al ... Did that piece of Ash come from Andy by any chance? I'm betting that it probably did, 'cos I know he's just started selling body blanks via eBay, and I know he had some Ash ones! I got some of his other pieces of the Ash, so I'm extra interested in how this build turns out. T

I've noticed loads of hits on the blog coming from this thread ... which I'd forgotten to update for a looonnnngggg time Ooops, and sorry all! You've not even got a pic of the finished Bailey Build #2 guitar, so ... and and To say that "I'm happy with it" would be a slight understatement. I love the look, the feel, and the (range of) sounds from this one. It's slightly heavy (OK, it's "very" heavy"), but then it's got a pretty thick Amazique top, and a solid mahogany body and neck. The range of sounds come from the combination of neck P90, and a pair of single coil humbuckers in the middle and bridge positions. Those are both coil tapped too. It seems to make most noises! BUT ... I've found a problem with guitar making. It's addictive. Since finishing this one, I've made one full and two part guitars, getting more adventurous (I think) each time. The details are on the blog, but if anyone wants to ask Qs or make comments here, I'll happily reply.

Just sneaked into the drying room to grab a sneaky photo of the guitar with the sealant coat on ... finished coat to come later tonight ...

I'm guessing from the blog stats that there have been a few visitors to the blog from this site. At the end of day 3, here's the guitar body, routed out and with the neck positioned in place. Tomorrow will be spent carving the body, planing it and then sanding it ... with 40 grit, 80 grit, 120 grit and (finally) 240 grit sandpaper. That'll be a fun day then

All - thanks for the comments @ MexNoob - I'll be keeping the blog updated, though I'll only be able to post the main summary details. There are a couple of guitar-making books available which might help you more ... @ Newbie22 - as above - the books are by Melvyn Hiscox and Martin Oakham (I think I got those names right). The carved top wasn't too difficult (amazingly). You will LOVE the course - everyone does, and Mark (and Carol) are amazing people to work with. @ Stereordinary - the most amazing thing is the combination of speed AND quality - no compromise on quality despite the 5 day schedule. @ WAK Guitars - the days are long and intensive, and Mark is an excellent tutor who has the process optimised. I've updated the blog at the end of day 1. More tomorrow.

I'm new here as an active member, but thought I'd share this project with you - in real time as it progresses (hopefully) through the next 5 days. I've benefitted from reading the posts over the last months, so hopefully this will give some benefit to others in return. Mark Bailey runs a 5 day, build-your-own-guitar course (www.baileyguitars.co.uk). The course starts with choosing the woods from the woodstore, and finishes with an amazing, self-built guitar. I know, 'cos I did it last year, and have come back for more this year. I've blogged some of the background HERE, and will also be updating the blog daily. If there's interest here, then I'll update this forum daily too. As the blog says, I'd spent years thinking that "one day" I'd be able to build a guitar for myself. However, a complete lack of wood-working ability had held me back! Doing the course last year proved to me that I could make a guitar. This year I've returned to (hopefully) learn a little more about how to build a guitar so that I can build some more when I get home, without Mark's expert eye and guidance throughout the process. This is last year's output (solid ash body, maple neck & ebony fingerboard) And this is the start of this year's course - after the selected woods (mahogany body & neck, ebony fingerboard, Amazique cap) have been planed and thicknessed. If - in 5 days time - the finished guitar this time is anywhere near as good as last year's, then I'll be a very happy man (again).