First Build!

[Bizman62]

The images don't show, they ask me to sign to Google and even after that all I get is a no-go sign. With your post count you should be able to apply the images directly to the post instead of linking.

Other than that your project sounds interesting!

[I Like Turtles]

 

Hello all!!! Back from the dead!!! It has been six and a half years since I have done any work on this guitar, and about 11 years since I started it. At this pace I plan to be done by the time I am 70. Anyways, I finally have some better woodworking skills and enough money to buy necessities. Plus, I am not a total moron anymore, just a partial one.

I decided to sort of reset this project because there were a lot of issues:

 

1. The fretboard was way too thin -- I was warned by many on here about that one 

2. The frets were not seated in all the way

3. I hate hardtail style bridges

4. Everything was just... ugly and rough and quite poorly done. 

 

All that being said, I took off the fretboard using a clothes iron and some putty knives and the back of a thin flush cut saw.

I then sharpened my handplane and got to work making things flat that were supposed to be flat. Particularly the top, neck-fretboard joint, and the back. Didn't have to take off much material, so it wasn't too bad. 

I am going to swap the hardtail bridge out for a recessed tune-o-matic. So to deal with the existing holes, I got some plug cutting bits from good old harbor freight and cut a few for the string ferrule holes in the back, and the bridge holes in the front.

I bought some cool macassar ebony veneer that I plan on laminating to the top and back faces (excluding the carved edges). Starting to think that I may as well just fill the front holes with some epoxy instead of having to drill them out and plug them, since they will be covered up anyways. I don't see how that would be an issue according to my googling. I also roughed up the neck a little when I was removing the fretboard, and I'll probably fill that spot up with epoxy and wood dust as well.

Here's a veneer shot. Looks like it matches the general color scheme here. Not sure yet if I'm going to bookmatch it or just tilt one sheet to fit the whole face. If I tilt it, it would either have a cool effect, or look like total crap. I'll mock it up before I do it. Also, have you guys seen this technique for laminating a veneer? Looks really easy. https://youtu.be/dysWUDX6PdE

So anyways, I ordered a bunch of parts, a new pre-slotted fretboard from LMII (no zero fret this time because I'm a big boy), and a fret press attachment for my drill press so these new frets actually get seated. Hopefully I'm not breaking any forum rules with this hyperbump! This time I mean business. Thanks for reading.

[komodo]

Love your tenacity. The veneer would give me pause, only because you have nice progress here and getting crisp edges/lines on the bevels looks tough. But maybe I'm overthinking it. I'm always trying to think a couple steps out with what ifs to manage the risk of each action.

[mistermikev]

"I mean bidness" - I like that... biotch slap that wood into shape!  guitar is looking lovely.

are those white blocks in the neck the top side of a scarf joint mid neck or something?  just curious.

[Armaan]

Looks amazing - even without the veneer!

[ShatnersBassoon]

Looking great! I love Wenge

[Lumberjack]

Great to see you pushing ahead on this project - reading through the years has been fun!