Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 17, 2009 12:46am | #1

   This is going to be a great blog to watch, Cken, thanks for posting the link.  I love the title of your post too! ;-)

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
2. 
   gofigure57 | Jul 17, 2009 02:46am | #2

   Great thread CK.

   Tom

3. 
   pzaxtl | Jul 17, 2009 10:06am | #3

   Whew!  I checked out your blog and saw the pics of the neck.  Of course, I hadn't read the text all the way through and did a double take when I saw the 4 holes in the headstock.  For a very brief moment I was wondering if this was going to be an extremely short-scale acoustic bass. LOL!  Nice work.  Looking forward to seeing your progress.

    

   ♫ If you’re OCD and you know it wash your hands ♫

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/17/2009 3:08 am ET by pzaxtl

4. 
   RalphBarker | Jul 17, 2009 06:18pm | #4

   Thanks for the link, Chris. I'll look forward to the on-going entries.

   My approach tp guitar making would be called lootery - that is, rob a bank and buy an old Gibson. ;-)

5. 
   Ckenney | Jul 29, 2009 05:32pm | #5

   I have had a couple more posts on the progress. The neck is just about finished.
   http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/in-the-workshop

   Chris

   http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/
   a hobbyist's journey
1. 
   pzaxtl | Jul 30, 2009 09:35am | #6

   Nice.  Must be you like a big meaty neck, not quite a baseball bat, but plenty beefy. 

   ♫ If you’re OCD and you know it wash your hands ♫

1. 
   Ckenney | Jul 30, 2009 06:34pm | #7

   Well, no. Quite the opposite. You have to remember that this is for a parlor, Martin style 5, guitar, which is about 3/4 size. Because the neck is much shorter, joining the body at the twelfth fret, with a shorter scale, it looks fatter. Chris"clap, clap" "clap, clap" "clap, clap" "clap, clap" .....http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/
   a hobbyist's journey

6. 
   WillGeorge | Jul 31, 2009 08:01pm | #8

   Chris.. Lovely work there..

   I cannot play with anything but boys toys.. I have NO musical skills.

   I just loved this work..

   http://www.liquidguitars.com/html/electric_violins.html

   It would take me at least 15 years to make one 1/2 as good!

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/31/2009 1:03 pm by WillGeorge

7. 
   Ckenney | Aug 05, 2009 06:16pm | #9

   Progress update.

   The soundboard is finished. The latest blog entry has lots of pics on carving the bracing.

   Enjoy

   http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/in-the-workshop

   Chris

   http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/
   a hobbyist's journey
1. 
   WillGeorge | Aug 09, 2009 01:22am | #10

   You sure know how to piss off a finewoodworker.. OR me as a Finewoodburner?

   I work with long wood sticks.. I know nothing about music..I like almost any kind..

   BUT my China dolls play for me on a good piano and make mistakes.. I NEVER hear the mistakes.. They just have FUN at the old Piano!

   You posted

   Enjoy!

   I did and then some!

   Edited 8/8/2009 6:24 pm by WillGeorge

2. 
   Ckenney | Sep 16, 2009 05:59pm | #11

   Well, after a forced hiatus from the shop due to the start of school and some bad wisdom teeth, I was able to get back into the shop and make some progress on the guitar. A couple of new blog entries for you.http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/in-the-workshop/Chrishttp://acornhouse.wordpress.com/
   a hobbyist's journey

   Edited 9/16/2009 11:00 am ET by Ckenney

1. 
   WillGeorge | Sep 18, 2009 07:43pm | #12

   Irwin plastic clamps on such a fine instrument? And wooden spring clothespins?

   Is that Fine Woodworking?

   YES!

2. 
   Ckenney | Nov 06, 2009 07:27pm | #13

   The guitar is finished.
   Read about the build at:
   http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/in-the-workshop/
   See all the pics at:
   http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/gallery-pages/wood-for-music/parlor-guitars/no-2/Chrishttp://acornhouse.wordpress.com/
   a hobbyist's journey

1. 
   Ckenney | Nov 06, 2009 08:31pm | #14

   Here is a "teaser" pic for you all.Chrishttp://acornhouse.wordpress.com/
   a hobbyist's journey

   
1. 
   Eef | Nov 06, 2009 09:15pm | #15

   c,the mustachioed-guitar!very, very wonderful.
   eef

2. 
   Jimma | Nov 06, 2009 09:53pm | #16

   Fine looking project. Do you play? I've often wondered if a non-player could make an instrument with superior sound quality.

3. 
   Ckenney | Nov 08, 2009 02:08am | #17

   Jimma,
   Thanks. Yes, I do play. I think a non-player could build one, with a couple of caveats. Aside from starting with one of the various kits that are available (which should be useable by anyone), building from scratch is, for the most part, still just woodworking, albeit with much thinner material. There are a couple of tasks where a musical ear is very helpful; and that is thicknessing the top and back plates, and bracing. Being able to distinguish the difference in tones when tapping helps guide how thin to go, and when to stop scalloping the braces. Carving the neck shape is very dependant on feel; knowing what the final feel should be is almost a necessity. It would be hard to rely on templates. And, of course, the final set up needs an ear that can tune pitches.A good place to start would be one of the better how-to books. I can recommend Cumpiano's and Kincaid's. They go through every step, and Kincaid even includes a plan.Hope this helps.Chris
   http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/
   a hobbyist's journey

4. 
   Jimma | Nov 08, 2009 05:50am | #18

   Ummm... thanks for your detailed response, but I don't think I'm cut out for it. I did play tenor sax for a while, but so far haven't thought about making a wooden one! Jim

5. 
   Ckenney | Nov 14, 2009 03:08am | #20

   Hey gang,
   Last post from me in this thread. (Hush, I heard that!) I posted a couple of video clips so you can hear the two guitars. He is playing the same bits (more or less), so you can compare and contrast.
   http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/gallery-pages/wood-for-music/parlor-guitars/videos/Later,Chris
   http://acornhouse.wordpress.com/
   a hobbyist's journey

2. 
   srstool | Nov 10, 2009 01:13am | #19

   Chris, Great looking guitar. Very well done, no matter how you say it.

   ThanksKent --Lubbock,Texas