Had an order for another stripes plaque in Walnut and Maple.  This one is an SFC Stripe, about 12" x 18", finished in Nitrocellulose lacquer.

 

 

And for a size comparison here it is in front of the guitar I recently built -

 

David

Nice big ol plaque David! And a beautiful job on the guitar as well!

Aside from the plaque, how does that guitar sound? Are you happy with the tone?

Thanks, John!  The guitar is close to the sound I want but I need to work on the intonation.  It's close but I want it closer.  Once I get that right, if I can ever get time to get back on it, I'll do a video of me playing it unless I can find a real picker.  The sound is bright, clear, with a lot of sustain.  I can strike a chord and still hear it 20 seconds later.  At this point I'm glad it hasn't self destructed by the string tension!

 

David

That is awesome David, I have always wanted to make a guitar, but am apprehensive about putting all that work into creating one, then it sounds like crap.

The little research I have done into Luthier, the woods make the difference, the older and more seasoned the better? Thanks for sharing David,

I think an axe would be a fairly simple build. But, an acoustic? A whole different ball of wax. My hat's off to you, David.

To see and hear a video of you strumming would be an awesome treat.

A build video or, pictures would also be fantastic. I'm sure you've got time for all that, right?

In the summer of 1974 I took the shop tour at CF Martin and got the bug to build.  Then in December 1974 I traveled to Wartrace, TN, to visit JW Gallagher & Sons to visit their shop and place an order to have a guitar built for me.  Seeing both in the short period of time, huge production facility but still hand made Martin guitars and Gallagher's small shop building about 75 guitars each year, just drove it home for me that I really need/want to build guitars.

 

I had a small shop, about 10x20, in 1985 and a sacrificial guitar with a top that needed replacing, a back that was split, and a fingerboard with issues.  So I replaced the top, the back, part of the neck and headstock and then refinished the guitar.  It sounded very good and I still play it.  But life got in the way and I didn't get to build again. 

 

So I started acquiring woods and tools and finally reached the point where it was either 'now or never' - I chose now.  I want to build many guitars the first one took a while because I was building templates, fixtures, forms, jigs, etc. for each step.  What took me 6 months to do on the first one I accomplished in a week on the second one.  I've had to put it aside to work on other things but when I get back on it I expect it to go much quicker.  And I have to tell you it is doable, not that difficult, and extremely rewarding!  The biggest tool in my shed is patience - I have a ton of it!

 

David

Great job on this set of Stripes David. Appreciate seeing your efforts.

Really enjoy reading about your passion and motivation for guitar making as well as where your started and where you are today.

Great inspiration for anyone doing  woodworking of all sorts.