donald k wilson

Sitting here looking at these last two pictures I'm seeing maple and mahogany... cream and cherry... I need to think about this!

Sorry the tenon joint doesn't show that well in that picture, I'll try to get a better shot tomorrow. Here is a pic of the neck joint and back of the guitar, I decided to put a little birds eye maple neck plate and heel cap detail.

Here's a look at the neck joint after repair. This part of the guitar ended up missing, the upper neck and headstock were still attatched by the strings, I had to connect the dots. I don't trust this small a dovetail, I decided to go with a bolt on with a mortice and tenon for a little more "connection" . Brass inserts and countersunk f.h. machine screws to be installed.

Cream is interesting... What percent butterfat, it has to be just right. dkw

Very cool, I usually don't like designs like this either but this one has something... I would also like to know what the software is, great app. dkw

Now I am hopelessly confused.... No wait, I started that way! If I go trad it will be cherry no doubt but I'm having little pangs of unconvention. I think I have to do a color board, what's the r,g,b, for A1 dkw

The repaired body and rebuilt neck. Various stages of finish, raw wood, filler, fretboard is done. Aside from not being sure exactly how I was (am) going to dial it all in it has been pretty straightforward. The next decision is color...

The repairs actually weren't that difficult. The hardest part was deciding whether or not to do it in the first place. That took me 35 years!!!! I stripped the electronics, removed the broken neck, stripped the finish, removed enough material around the front p/u pocket to give a solid repair surface and made the replacement plug. Just some careful fitting and gluing. When I'm done I'll have more into it than a Musician's Friend Epi. sure, but I have a vintage Gibson... (at least some of it) thanks, dkw

Circa 1968, all mahogany, 2 paf humbuckers, belonged to a friend, my first garage band, priceless? dont ask... I can't believe I still have it!

Gluing a piece of veneer over the repair on the back, right now I'm thinking cherry to brown burst which will cover the veneer edge. There is a small repair on the front between the p/u cavity and the neck which will be covered by the pickguard. Not enough clamps???

Gluing the repair block into the back, not enough clamps???

Close up of the repairs to the body. New wood for the neck and front p/u cavity and a small repair to the wood outside the pot cavity.

This wasn't my planned next project but it tied in nicely with some production stuff I'm experimenting with. The guitar was smashed at a party... the neck was destroyed, the front p/u cavity was broken away, it probably should be firewood . (EXCEPT) I wanted to try my rebuilding skills and I wanted to work on a Gibson style neck and sg body for patterns. Here are the neck and bodyin the machine. The neck has been rebuilt and is ready for truss rod slot, the body is being cut for the repair pieces.

Guitar is looking great, bring on the case tutorial, I need a custom box for my archtop and I want some ideas!!! thanks, dkw

Looking really good! dkw

First acoustic of any type. I do repairs because I know players and I have a woodworking shop. I made a couple of ratty electrics years ago (one of them may resurface here soon). I'm with you this is very rewarding even in the duh moments. I'm not done yet, the tough question is what's next!!! thanks, dkw

I left mine unbound, I didn't feel like tackling that aspect of the project. The Benedetto book suggests binding f holes before the top is glued on using tape. You can get at them alot easier . Heating and prebending is also an option. Get them close before you try to stick them in the holes. Good luck, dkw

Nice work so far... I like the slim f holes. The color looks slightly blue in the last pic, is that accurate? It's really ghostly, nice effect if it is. dkw

Thanks everyone, this has been a great project and the forum has been a cool place to be, (thanks Jay5). jer, keep going with the cnc we haven't scratched the surface. (no pun intended) i-j-c, I love 335's I'm thinking of a travel guitar, I just checked out your post yesterday, looks great. Final pics of this guitar in a few days after everything settles down, I'll do some detail shots. Thanks again everyone. dkw

peghead with my initials carved at the top. I'll do some better pics when everything is all set. Thanks for all the encouragement and enthusiasm, I'm not done here...

here are a couple of teasers. I got the strings on and am now setting it up... neck has to move, strings and tailpiece have to settle in then bridge/nut final ht and intonation. none the less I played it for a couple of hours as everything was settling in last night. What a BLAST!!!

And into the final stretch, I wondered if I'd ever get here! Gluing the neck dovetail. I did this last night, I'll have strings on it later today. I should probably wait but I CAAAN'T STAAAND IIIT... I've got to play it.

ALMOST THERE!!! The tools of the trade. This is an antique finish, spirit varnish (with oil varnish not urethane) multiple coats, I think 10, sanded and padded into one another for build. Final sand with 800 grit on a foam backed pad to knock down the nubs then 3 grades of pumice/rottenstone with a felt block. Pumice works really well, cuts quickly, stays with the surface irregularities better than sandpaper and doesn't clog or gum. Final polish with Norton microfiber tack cloth and swirl remover hand glaze of your choice I use (Meguiars sp?) rub polish with a pad and finish off with tack cloth. It doesnt take that long to work up by hand, I can control the surface and don't burn thru. The varnish is still soft at this stage. I do all this on the cradle which is mounted on a lazy susan, this lets me rotate the guitar all around instead of me, and keep all the working surfaces in good light as I work. The final finish is beautiful, it glows, not a machine blasted gloss, but like I said, TIME, TIME, TIME! The work table is a 1935 Dodge stationwagon, entirely your option...

I have a Washburn Delta that is semimhollow. The body is made of 5 pieces of wood. Top and back +/- 1/4'" ply pressed arches, left and right sides bent also +/- 1/4 " ply. center block from neck to tail just wider than the pups. It is not chambered, the construction is similar to an archtop or "hollow body" hence the name semi hollow body. This guitar is somewhat acoustic and I travel with it all the time, it is light, loud enough to hear in a room with other people. The guitar has "resonance" and actually has a nice sustain. It will also feedback at the drop of a dime if you face the amp at volume! (heh heh heh) dkw

Thanks again A_J I want this guitar to say pick me up... I put the final coat on today!!! The humidity has been wicked and spirit varnishes don't dry in humid weather. Sometimes the third day for recoat. Like I said, never again. With any luck pics of final assembly this weekend. Next guitar is in the works, I may actually have a buyer. (fingers crossed) thanks for all the kind words, dkw.