#017 - KT's Kids Chamber Pot

Regan finally fell asleep, so I taped off and stained the top.  My goal was to make it look beat up and antique, even though the wood is relatively new.  I went with a dark walnut stain, and tried to give it the appearance of sitting out in the sun too long.  Once it dries, I'll shoot it, and tomorrow I'll tape it off the other way and paint the back/sides and neck.

#016 - The Kylecaster

Well, ended up not running into any problems with setting it up.  The bridge came shipped almost in the right position, just needed a few minor adjustments.  Got it strung up, tested it out, and everything was good, so here it is:

• 4 piece Alder body, green automotive paint
• 1 piece curly maple neck
• Rosewood 25.5" scale fretboard (not sure what specific species this is, it came with the neck blank already tapered and fretted)
• 1/4" mother of pearl position markers
• Fender style bridge/tremolo and tuners
• 3 single coil alnico pickups

#016 - The Kylecaster

Got the headstock shot and started assembling everything today.  Just needs a little wetsanding to smooth the neck where I took off the tape, possibly some touchups with the green stain, put on the tuners and string her up.  Got the wiring done as well, and it works, so maybe by tomorrow I'll have it ready for a test run.

#016 - The "Kylecaster"

Finally got the stupid decal that I've been waiting on and has been holding me up for a week or two.  Just applied it, and once its cured for a couple hours, I can shoot some nitro over it and assemble the guitar.

Since its a Stratocaster copy, and the soon to be new owner's name is Kyle, I'm calling this one the Kylecaster.  Any others I do will probably have a different name or just my name on the decal since the guy sent me 4 to make up for the delay and I can just remove the "Kylecaster" portion.

#017 - Chamber Pot for KT's Kids/Liars Club toy drive

Regan went down for a nap, so I decided to cut out the neck/headstock before joining her in sleep.  Went with a slightly less triangular headstock this time to cut down on stress on the strings.  I need a nap, so I'll shape it later or tomorrow or something and get it joined up.

#017 - Chamber Pot for KT's Kids/Liars club toy drive

got some more done in the past couple days.  put some 1/4" poplar bindings on the body.  Also, I had a spare fretboard in my wood closet from a project I started for myself but haven't finished, so I popped it off and will be using it on this.  Got the neck blank glued up, jointed/trued up, cut the profile, and put in the 1/2x1/8" steel reinforcement bar.  Now I've got the fretboard clamped and glued, as well as a walnut headstock veneer.  Also made a routing template for the mortise and tenon neck joint. 

Not sure what color to stain the top yet, the rest will be painted black.  Thinking a reddish brown.

#017 - Chamber Pot for KT's Kids benefit raffle

So every year since I turned 21 basically, I've been going to the annual toy drive at Liar's Club for KT's Kids charity benefiting the rehabilitation room at Schwab hospital.  (Forgive me if I messed up that info, I'll post the flyer anyways)

Last year I had donated a gift certificate, but either nobody won it, or nobody claimed it, so this year I decided that I'll just bring a shitar since i have so much wood laying around. 

All of the wood I'm using was salvaged from remodelling our entryway here in Chicago, birch plywood from wall panels, and select pine from door frames.  Using my standard brass jello mold pan for the cone and a steel cover plate I found at thrift stores in Oak Park.  I'm thinking about doing all black with a green top.

So come on out december 8th and support a great cause and try to win the chamber pot!

#016 - Stratocaster copy

Finished spraying the clearcoats today on the body and neck.  Starting to assemble it, and as soon as I get the decal, I can apply that and spray the headstock.

Love that flame on the neck.  Came out pretty good with the new dye, I just wish it had matched the color a little better, but I wasn't about to paint over that grain.

#005 - Soprano Ukulele

Finally got around to finishing this one after 2 years on the shelf. Offered it to a friend who commissioned the green strat at a discount due to some cracks in the back.

-Maple body
-Select Pine reinforced neck
-Rosewood 13.7" scale fretboard
-Rosewood bridge
-Geared guitar tuners
-Overall length - 20"
-Lower bout - 6"
-Upper bout - 4.5"
-Waist - 3.75"
-Figured Walnut Headstock with branded reverse Callahan logo

#014 - Lou Shields Resonator

Got it all glued up last night, and added the vertical soundwell supports this morning before routing it flush.  Had a couple small chipouts, but the bindings will cover those.

Now I've got a ton of sanding in store for me to smooth the edges and remove some burns and repaired splits.

#005 - Soprano Ukulele

So the stain I normally use for colored instruments wouldn't take over the putty I used to fill some bad areas, so I had to go with paint.  Turned out pretty well I think, I'm getting used to all this painting now.  Just gotta wait for the poly on the headstock to dry and I'll attach the tuners.  Also got a little bit of scraping to do on the fretboard, and make a nut and she's ready to rock.

#014 - Lou Shields Resonator

Got a bunch done on this one this week.  As soon as the clamps come off of the braces, I'll glue up the top to the rest of the body.

hoping to have it flush routed and sanded tomorrow.

#016 - Stratocaster copy

Got this one almost done, basically waiting for the custom decal to arrive so i can put it on, clearcoat the whole thing, and assemble it.