Marcovis

this is amazing work man, where do you get that amazing quilt maple?

It was an ebay score.

Quick questions: 1) what finish? 2) direct stain, with or without sandback, and/or tinted colour coats?

1. MacFadden's nitro

2. It's double stained. I stained it really dark blue and sanded it back, then stained it with a lighter blue. I have a pic of it sanded back at the shop, I can post it tomorow.

Here's a shot I took today. I really like the natural limba!

I am interested in a cosmetic binding effect on the fingerboard only.

Binding a whole guitar body in PVC crap looks absolutely pointless to me anyway.

So, how to paint (or should I paint at al?l) the edges of the fretboard so to make them look like they were bound?

Any other methods for applying a fake binding besides painting?

If you don't like plastic binding, why don't you use wood binding? Here's a pic of a macassar ebony board I bound with maple.

amazing!!

that top is perfect! the finest i've ever seen.

very nice!! - the neck join is great - dont think we need to mention the top

I was really lucky to find that top, it was an ebay score! It was 10" x 24" x 10/4 with live edges on one side. I got this top and with the leftover wood I have about 9 headcaps and a piece I could use for 3-4 quilted maple fingerboards(only long enough for 22 frets). I paid somewhere around $175 which included the shipping from British Columbia.

Holy moly, that is wicked!!! As I said there is no stain I like better than that color blue. Although that blue with a slight black bursted edge is really nice as well. Those are also my favorite block inlays!! I like the reverse as well with the abalone on the outside ad mop V's. Very, very nice.

Hmmm, I don't remember paying you for a custom made les paul, must of done that while sleep shopping.

Headstock cap looks really nice as well. Keep the pictures coming! What is the color theme for the hardware? Man, I cannot wait to see this finished, it is looking EPIC!!!!!! Good stuff. J

Thanks, the metal hardware is nickel(bridge,string-through ferrules,jack plate,tuners), macassar ebony speed knobs, flame maple pickups rings, macassar ebony switch tip, and sperzel tuners.

Here is a shot of the back and neck

Here's a pic of the LP I took today. I need to finish sand the back and neck and then it's off to the spray booth.

Finished up the carve on the LP today.

Progress... I carved the top on Hogan's guitar and am carving the LP top now. Here is a shot of Hogan's guitar (neck is just sitting in pocket, not glued yet)

Another shot

Just the body

LP neck progress

A little more progress. Notice how the string through ferrules will match the arch of the figure .

Gouge + sandpaper is how I have always done it.

Here's a shot of the LP after routing the neck pocket and setting the neck angle.

If you want a one piece neck, there are a lot of places selling "set neck" blanks that are generally 3x3x30. I have got them in the past from exoticwoods.com, gilmerwood.com, alliedlutherie.com, and there are many others.

I've got a few flame tops.

Progess on Lp

Progress on Hogan's guitar

Got the inlay done on the LP tonight.

That is some beautiful lumber.How thick is the maple cap?

It's 7/8"

That LP looks wicked and the top is nuts, very clean work man

!!METAL MATT!!

Very clan indeed, I really like the ebony headstock overlay.

Thanks, I picked up 4 headcaps when I bought that one. They were $10 each from Marc @ Gilmer Wood and I believe he has more.

I started a couple new projects about two weeks ago. The first is another LP style guitar and the second is a design my buddy Hogan and I came up with for his guitar.

LP specs

Black limba body,KILLER quilt maple top(ebay score!), flame maple neck, macassar ebony headcap,22 fret Gibson scale macassar ebony fb w/flame maple binding. The top will be stained in a blue similar to PRS whale blue and the back and neck will be left natural. The guitar is also getting pearl and paua LP custom "v" blocks.

Hogan's guitar

Mahogany body, one piece flame maple top, mahogany neck, macassar ebony headcap and 25" scale fb, pearl star inlay at marker frets with his daughters name from the 9th-15th. As of now, the finish will be a traditional 3 tone burst with natural maple edge and natural back and neck. The guitar is also getting a LP style pickguard made from macassar ebony that will have a martini glass inlayed in it.

Here is a shot of the LP's quilt top.

Neck after routing for truss rod

LP Body

Macassar ebony fb and crazy macassar ebony headcap

All the wood for the LP

Hogan's guitar

Back

All the wood for Hogan's guitar

I have another project sort of in the works as well, but I am having trouble sourcing another black limba body that isn't extremely expensive. It is going to be based on a LP jr. I'll post pics when I get it started.

So many luthier courses are ridiculously expensive it makes me mad. Not a chance, dude.

I agree that there are some pretty expensive programs, but I do belive that at least some of them are worth it. I went to Roberto-Venn in the Fall of '01 and I know there are a few others on here who are graduates from there as well. I would bet that we all would agree it was worth every penny.

Since it's a tune-o-matic, have you flipped the saddle around yet? I've seen some guitars where you have to do this in order to intonate.

I was hammering my frets until last year when I bought a fret press.....I'll never go back.

woah, that's really bad news...so sorry to hear that. I hope that it all gets sorted out soon.

Hopefully it will, I should have them back by friday. It's funny how fast someone that owes you something will call you back once you have filed charged against them.

Not take away the thunder Mike. But you know that's not the case. Conrats on the GOTM! You earned it!

Will, that was a light hearted statement. Thanks, it's good to have you back and I wish the best to your family.

Haha, dominated. So what was the guys response?

shoot me an email

mike@gandlclothing.com