killemall8

Thanks Scott! I always appreciate the positivity you dish out.

Looks pretty good. That shallow carve is actually getting pretty common on thin guitars. Looks like your nut width barley fit on the outside of the laminates. That is always the first thing i measure when doing multi laminate necks.

Ok, so after hours of re sanding and buffing, i got it to a presentable state. There are still a few little scratches, but looks better than before. EMG 81 60 set Hipshot Griplok tuners

An easier way to do it is to leave the neck and headstock piece full sized, then bandsaw then to the correct thickness. That gives you way more room for a volute.

I always make my neck blanks about 1/8- 1/4" thinner than my bodies will be. Obviously this only applies for set necks. The thicker your neck blank is, the further down the neck the scarf will be.

Very nice. That almost looks like a factory guitar it is so clean. Is it nearly identical to the one in your profile pic?

Still man, you are lightyears ahead of where i was at my 3rd build. And i probably had a lot more tools than you do. This picture makes it look way better than it is. In person, it has a million vertical scratches that i cant buff out.

A very interesting month. A very wide variety of builds! Wix- I am pretty anti tele on any level, with very rare acceptances. This one was just a little too plain for me. Looks well made, nice finish. Just a bit too standard for my liking. Big D- Very well made guitar. Not too big on the shape, and as mentioned, a little too busy. A few less laminates and it would be a great looking guitar to me. Those gearless tuners are pretty cool! Demonx- Another solid, brutal guitar. As cool as it is, it has become a little too "standard", but it has a really great theme going on. RAD- It takes a LOT to make me even kind of like a tele style guitar. But this one is just so different and out there, it impressed me enough to get my vote. I didnt think that headstock was going to work with it, but i think it looks good with it. All of it looks so perfect and precise as well. Good month, everybody!

Thanks man. That is probably what i really need to hear. When it comes down to it, i really WANT to build. I just dont want to deal with the problems or the stress that come along with it. But i guess that is true with anything in life, right? I will do my best to take a break and then start over. I still have a lot of ideas for builds i need to get done before i move anyway. Thanks for all your concern and support, everybody. I may post things out of emotion sometimes, but it is a real struggle to decide whether or not to keep on building.

Supple, When i first started, i did only oil finishes. They eventually sell, but it is usually a huge turn off to the buyers and market. I wish i could stick with them. I have looked into contracting out finishes. I would in a heartbeat if i could fit it in the budget.

Thanks for all the replies. In the past couple years, i changed my goals and intentions of building. It used to be become as successful as possible. I changed my mindset and perspective and decided to seek excellence instead, and improve every build. That is another reason i have a hard time with it, because it seems like every other build is not as good as some i have made, instead of improving every build. I wont be selling any of my tools either way. Only 3 of the tools i use are mine. My bandsaw, planer and router. Everything else powertool related is my dads. All of that will stay in the shop. Even though i dont want to, i will probably still have to finish up what i have left. I cant stand having left over stuff going to waste. Either that or sell the wood and other stuff i have on hand. I think what has really pushed me over the edge is that i have had finish issues on 5 of my last 8 guitars, that about cut the value of those guitars in half. Once i have trouble with it initially, i can never get it to come out right. Pankara, I believe you have only made a few guitars, correct? That one you made with the piezo was nicer than about my 30th guitar i made. You learned correctly and did things right. I am a much slower learner. I dont know what the future holds. I know in a month i will be wanting to build again. But as soon as i go to start one, i lose all motivation. We will see where it goes. I appreciate all the replies and concern.

I wouldnt quite say that. I am more using it as a reason to finally walk away. I am on edge right now with it as it is. I havnt had the joy for it in quite a few years. I am sure i would regret it. But at what cost do i keep trying to work on this? Last year i worked on guitars nearly every single day for the entire year. My total profit was 1800$ after spending 2850$. I know it isnt about the money, but i was basically working for free, just to keep making them. I put every bit of effort i can possibly muster into these guitars, and there just isnt much of a return.

Thanks Dough, i appreciate that. I feel like no matter how good the woodworking or construction on a guitar is, if the finish isnt perfect, it discredits the entire build. It sucks to go to a guitar store and see 200$ guitars with perfect finishes. Even if i finish throughout the year, i wont be able to build after that. I currently live with my parents, and that is where our woodshop is. I have to move at the end of the year, and when i do, i wont be able to build anymore.

Talking to myself, but alrighty. I accept defeat with gloss finishes. Not worth it anymore at this point. Leveled the last coats i sprayed with 2000 grit paper. Looks perfect, then i buff it. And out of nowhere a ton of deep scratches show up. NO matter how careful i am with keeping the paper clean, somehow little grains of dust or dirt get under then paper and scratch it deep while i am wet sanding. Then it is impossible to get them out withought spending hours sanding back with lower grit. And no matter what, the last scratches still dont buff out. Another guitar that will probably sit on the shelf for a long time. I am actually pretty glad i am at the end of my career. Times like this that i remember why i hate this "job" so much. Love the idea of it, despise how difficult it is to actually make something nice.

The pic shows up on my end. Looks pretty good!

Excellent work Doug. I really like that black ash finish scheme. That black veneer between the maple also looks great.

Been letting the top cure, and been attempting to finish sand the back and sides. I really feel like I am at my limit here. I have finish sanded over 100 guitars in my building career, and i dont think i can handle doing another. I dont understand how full time builders do this so often. Pure misery.

So i have since done 3 separate applications of clear on the top. If i had correctly done the epoxy sealer, i think i could have gotten away with just one. But i am loving using this 2k clear that actually dries on wood. And having it be crystal clear and not tinted really brings out the real figure of the grain. I will be using this from now on! Too bad it is so hazardous. I am also going to do some kandy colored finishes on my next few builds too. If i can ever get to them.

Negatory, i haddnt even noticed that until you pointed it out. Sometimes things just work

Thanks for the link. Do you actually need the installation tool, or can you just hammer them in?

McMaster-Carr 4-40 brass insert with shoulder. I googled this and couldnt fine anything.

Where did you get those brass inserts for the direct mount pickups? Been looking for those.

man that thing is insanely tiny for that neck. Cant play it standing up, and because of its shape you probably cant play it sitting down. Unless i am missing something?