Finished Jazz Guitar

Due to some problems with uploading photos on Blogger, it's taken me a while to get these pics of the finished jazz guitar up, but here it is....

Below: stylised f-holes.

Above: the beautiful flamed maple back.

Below: the headstock in the style of a pen nib.

Below: the finished article.

Above: a very happy customer!



Jazz Guitar

More shots of the progression of the jazz commission...

Above: Tailpiece with a mother-of-pearl pen-nib inlay as the commissioner collects fountain pens.

Below: The back is bound and the top binding is my next job.

Above: just a fact, lol.

Below: the tailpiece and bridge, as yet unfixed.

Above: front of the jazz guitar.

Below: the back.

Below:  a custom stylised pen-nib headstock.



Jazz Guitar Commission continues...

I've been able to make good progress on the jazz guitar commission I am undertaking.  The following photos show the sides being bent and clamped in an adjustable jig of my own design.

The photo below shows the box being closed with the use of bobbin clamps.

Jazz Guitar

I am excited to be starting work on a commission for an archtop jazz guitar.

Below is a photo of the back, top, sides and neck in their original state as they were shipped to me.  The top is sitka spruce and the back and sides are fiddleback maple.

As you can see below, both the top and back are carved by hand.

Here's the ubiquitous shot of a luthier listening to the tap tones of a guitar top.

I'll keep you updated.

Milos Karadaglic

Recently at the Rosehill Theatre in Whitehaven, Cumbria, we were treated to an outstanding performance of classical guitar by Milos Karadaglic.  Not only is he a gifted player, but he's a really nice guy too.

Jazz Guitar Commission

In preparation for my upcoming commission to make a jazz guitar I have recently made a prototype top (below).  The carving has gone so well that I've decided to finish the top and make it into a second jazz guitar.  I'll be posting its progression here.

Hawaiian Guitar

I was recently asked to take a look at a Hawaiian guitar to see if I could refresh it a little.  It definitely had a little of the home-made about it which gave it a unique charm.  In my opinion, instruments like these which have been made by and passed down through family members (which this one has) have no less value than the most expensive guitar.

Below: the tuning peg insert on the right is in its original condition; on the left I have applied a little elbow grease to bring out the shine.

Above: the guitar with all plates removed.

Below: routered cavities.

Below: tuning peg components.

Finished Guitar

Just in time for Christmas Eve delivery, here is the finished article!  We did our best with the photos under some extremely dark clouds.  Minutes after we took these the Heavens opened, but my wife couldn't let it go without taking some shots.

Not long 'til Christmas...

...and the guitar I'm making is nearly finished.  Here are some more shots of its progress:

In the photo above, the bent sides are being held in place by a jig I designed whilst I peg on the kerfing.

Below is the roughed-out neck, fret board and truss rod.

Above: the back and top showing the bracing patterns.

Below: glueing down the top using the jig and elastic.

Above: ready to add the back.

Below: I add my signature to the inside of the guitar.

Below: closing the box.

Bracing

Below is a photo showing the guitar back with bracing in place.  I prefer to glue most of the braces in place and carve them in-situ.

Guitar Order

Here are a couple more photos of the guitar I am currently working on.  Here's the roughed-out back with the centre strip in place:

And here I'm using go-bars to keep the sound hole doughnut in place while it's being glued:



Christmas Guitar Order

I've just received a box of goodies from LMI which will be transformed into a guitar by Christmas - I hope!

The rosewood back:

The design for the guitar and a template showing the bracing pattern:

 

A general view of my workshop:

I will keep you updated on its progress.

 

Video Clips

Lee Shackley kindly sent along these clips he took of Mike Simpson playing the Stephen John guitar he recently acquired from me.  Please click the links below to see them on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ka3u2QCI3g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkfVuHNS6to

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j017rZLbFSQ

I'm pleased to see that Mike is really enjoying playing it!

Guitar Commission

Just started my next commission to be made in time for Christmas - a dreadnought-size guitar of my own design with rosewood back and sides and a spruce top.  Will be posting photos as it comes along.  Someone's going to be very surprised come Christmas morning...

Guitar Photoshoot

A small selection of photos of a recently made Stephen John acoustic, now sold to musician and friend Lee Shackley.  My wife waded into the cold depths of Crummock in the Lake District to get these!