been awhile. new project in the works

So last weekend I was at my uncle's 70th birthday party and was asked by my aunt to build a guitar for her granddaughter's upcoming birthday.  Gave her a few options, and we agreed on a slightly scaled down version of my Gibson L-00 mold.  I gathered some materials this week, and got started on the mold and neck blank over the past 2 days.

template i made by tracing my larger mold and scaling it down about 20%

gluing up some 2x6's for the mold

with the template traced on

gluing up neck blank

cut out mold, needs sanding

neck blank, 3 piece birch

I'm hoping to get the sides bent this weekend, stay tuned for more updates.

Chamber pot body

So awhile back Lou had been talking about how the Shitar isn't quite loud enough over at Paul Henry's, where they don't allow amplification.  I got the idea to make a resonator version to boost the volume a few notches, and borrowed an idea from some cigar boxes I've seen online.  The full specs and all the secrets will be posted in the next blog for my 100th post.  For now, here's a pic of the body all glued up and clamped.

I'll add more pics to this tomorrow after I clean up the edges.

New Project in the works

I got a bunch of preliminary work done on Lou's next Callahan creation today.  Not going to reveal exactly what it is until I get the body together, although many of you already know what it is.

By this weekend I should have most of the body done and I'll post some pics up.

Steel String Concert Ukulele

So the past week has been a nightmare.  I was almost done finishing the ukulele when I noticed some dull/dry spots in the finish.  It took forever, and multiple failing efforts, but I finally realized the finish I had mixed up got a hair in it and started to solidify.  I mixed up a new batch, and within a day and a half, I managed to fix it.  So here's the specs, and then some pics:

• 15" scale length
• Shape based on the classic Gibson L-00
• Bookmatched maple green burst front and back
• Matched maple sides
• Maple neck with steel reinforcement bar
• Slotted headstock with classical style tuners
• Ebony fretboard and bridge
• Mother of pearl inlays
• White plastic binding
• serial number #003

Thats all I can think of off the top of my head.  I still need to make the case for it, I would've had that done by now, but the problem with the finish cost me a week.  Anyways, here she is

Steel String Concert Ukulele finish update

So I said earlier that I would post a pic of the top once I flipped it over.  Just put another coat of finish on it and snapped a pic.  Starting to look good.  Should be done in 3-4 days.

Steel String Concert Ukulele

So I'm almost caught up on the gold/nylon string ukulele.  I decided that I might as well start putting the finish on the Steel string one.  I got some cheap disposable tupperware containers to keep the stuff in between coats since I was worried about wasting it and having to mix stuff multiple times.  Anyway, here's after 2 coats, as I expected, its really bringing that green back out, and making the flame look pretty damn awesome.

I'll post a pic of the top later after I get another coat on there.

Traditional Concert Ukulele update

So I've been trying to catch up on this one so I can do the finish on both ukes at the same time.  I've been slacking on taking pics with this one, but its almost identical to Michelle's, just getting nylon strings, and has slightly different neck dimensions.  I stained and attached the neck earlier.  Just took it out of the clamps about 20 minutes ago.

I have some touchups to do on the black areas.  I'm not quite happy with the blend on it yet, and the headstock will need some as well.  I'll get that done tomorrow and probably put the bridge on and start cutting the inlay for it.