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Martin Guitar Kit (It's First Public Outing!)

This is where we don't want anything but evidence of your finest wood butchering in all its glorious, and photograph laden glory. Bring your finished products or WIP's, we love them all, so long as there's pictures, and plenty of 'em!

Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Malc2098 » 23 Sep 2020, 09:23

Andyp wrote:Are you happy with the results Malc?



It's not perfect, Andy, but neither is the guitar, or any of my work. I am not happy with the little clear blobs in the black glue that I can't get rid of.

So I am satisfied that it is the best I can come up with within my abilities and budget. I won't know what it will look like till it goes in the headstock and is lacquered over. But I will do a couple of trial runs in some mahogany stock to see what it looks like.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby 9fingers » 23 Sep 2020, 09:36

I rather like the relief shown on the unfilled one to be honest.
Perhaps a little laquer/varnish to seal the surface.
Just my 2p

You might be able to solve the pin hole problem with applying a small vacuum (reduced air pressure) to encourage the bubbles to come out before the filler sets.

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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Malc2098 » 23 Sep 2020, 10:04

9fingers wrote:I rather like the relief shown on the unfilled one to be honest.
Perhaps a little laquer/varnish to seal the surface.
Just my 2p

You might be able to solve the pin hole problem with applying a small vacuum (reduced air pressure) to encourage the bubbles to come out before the filler sets.

Bob


Thanks for your 2p. Bob. I've thought about just leaving layered relief. I'd have to fill it with CA so the lacquer has a flat surface to be sprayed on.

I'm not sure about the vacuum. It happened so randomly during the CA cure. I had no control over it.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby 9fingers » 23 Sep 2020, 10:08

Not sure that I understand why it needs to be smooth to be laquered but assume there is a good reason.

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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Andyp » 23 Sep 2020, 10:39

Are there any alternatives to the CA?
I do not think therefore I do not am.

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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Malc2098 » 23 Sep 2020, 10:49

9fingers wrote:Not sure that I understand why it needs to be smooth to be laquered but assume there is a good reason.

Bob


I want the whole to be flat and look like part of the headstock under the lacquer.

I think the nitrocellulose lacquer is so thin, that it would take multiple spray coats to fill, and those coats outside the logo would have to be cut back. CA glue is used in the luthier industry to fill dings and dents for repair prior to touch up spray.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Malc2098 » 23 Sep 2020, 10:50

Andyp wrote:Are there any alternatives to the CA?


CA glue is used in the luthier industry to fill dings and dents for repair prior to touch up spray. I used the acrylic paint as an alternative to the black CA glue.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Andyp » 23 Sep 2020, 12:09

Years ago I had a Davids Isopon epoxy resin kit to make paperweights and the like. IIRC is was very hard, clear and bubble free.
Might something similar be an idea worth trying?
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Malc2098 » 23 Sep 2020, 13:10

Andyp wrote:Years ago I had a Davids Isopon epoxy resin kit to make paperweights and the like. IIRC is was very hard, clear and bubble free.
Might something similar be an idea worth trying?



Might be, but we're talking a tiny amount. The bigger of the two diameters was only 30mm and the laser depth is probably less than 1mm, which is deep in lacquer terms.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby AJB Temple » 27 Sep 2020, 11:51

Interesting thread. I started making guitars when I was about 17 and have also made a lot of necks with fretboards and inlays for other people as a sideline when I was studying. Haven't made one for years now, and had absolutely no idea you can buy kits with most of the pieces cut out.

It seems to have turned out well. Do you think you will make one from scratch next - including wood selection and making the neck?

Looking forward to seeing the finished article.

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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Malc2098 » 27 Sep 2020, 12:06

AJB Temple wrote:Interesting thread. I started making guitars when I was about 17 and have also made a lot of necks with fretboards and inlays for other people as a sideline when I was studying. Haven't made one for years now, and had absolutely no idea you can buy kits with most of the pieces cut out.

It seems to have turned out well. Do you think you will make one from scratch next - including wood selection and making the neck?

Looking forward to seeing the finished article.

Adrian



Thank you, Adrian.

So much has changed in the twenty years between my second and third guitars. Suppliers have increased and access to suppliers is easier. CNC can cut accurate necks etc.

I have a part built Dreadnought ready to start on when these two are complete. I have a concert ukulele ready to start on, and I have ordered the wood and ancillaries for another acoustic and another ukulele from a supplier in Spain. If my research is correct the difference between AAA and A or B sound qualities is negligible but the visual qualities are different. So some decent sound quality B or C spruce or cedar and be very reasonable.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby AJB Temple » 27 Sep 2020, 12:47

Sounds very good.

When I was active - before a career intruded - I bought a lot of Brazilian rosewood, mahogany, spruce, ebony, figured maple and BE maple, boxwood, abalone, MOP, bone and so on. I still have this stock and one day when I retire I will start making ornate instruments again as my son is keen to learn. Still have a stock of old (unused) shellers and grovers as well.

A lot of this material is difficult or impossible to get hold of now so other materials have taken over.

My interest shifted to violins and I did a couple of courses in Cremona. Hand carved scrolls and hand cut beading looks easy when you watch masters do it, but isn't!

Great thread showing all the trials and trubulations. Well done from me. Adrian
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Malc2098 » 27 Sep 2020, 13:51

Cheers, Adrian.

Don't leave it too long before you start up again, and try to do some before you retire.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby AJB Temple » 27 Sep 2020, 17:52

No. Life moves on and our interests with it. I've made enough guitars, and bought and sold a lot too. Time to hand over to my son who is already older than I was when I started. I prefer the artistry of violins now. And musically I am firmly back at my classical piano roots.

So I will show him what to do and if he is interested give him the tools, moulds and stock. If he has no interest I will sell the materials to luthiers. Some of it will go instantly I suspect.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Phil » 28 Sep 2020, 13:04

Malc, thought of you when I saw this one


https://www.wwgoa.com/video/how-to-clam ... aign=a6134
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Malc2098 » 28 Sep 2020, 14:03

AJB Temple wrote:No. Life moves on and our interests with it. I've made enough guitars, and bought and sold a lot too. Time to hand over to my son who is already older than I was when I started. I prefer the artistry of violins now. And musically I am firmly back at my classical piano roots.

So I will show him what to do and if he is interested give him the tools, moulds and stock. If he has no interest I will sell the materials to luthiers. Some of it will go instantly I suspect.



Would love to see a WIP of a violin being made.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Headstock logo disc)

Postby Malc2098 » 28 Sep 2020, 14:05

Phil wrote:Malc, thought of you when I saw this one


https://www.wwgoa.com/video/how-to-clam ... aign=a6134



Thanks, Phil. It's a suggestion I made to another member a while ago for clamping an irregular shape. Unfortunately, I think he maybe a cyclist and sees the use of a new inner tube as sacrilege.! :D

I use a fabric tape from a nearby fabric mill to wrap around the guitar body to clamp the binding while the glue is curing.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Going through the grades)

Postby Malc2098 » 18 Oct 2020, 13:44

In between waiting for other bits and pieces to be finished, I started rubbing back the neck with wet and dry as it's had a few weeks to let the lacquer cure.

IMG_4594.JPG
(368.91 KiB)


The neck is completely matt now and I haven't got anything finer than 2500 apart from rubbing compound, so I shall leave it at that till I fit the headstock logo, hopefully in the next week or so.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Going through the grades)

Postby Malc2098 » 28 Oct 2020, 18:12

I've rubbed the 6 string back to 2500 grit all over and just started on the recent 12 string.

Here's the back just finished up to 2500.

IMG_4631.JPG
(345.17 KiB)


Rubbing compound and polish to go for finishing, but bridge and neck to go for fitting.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Going through the grades)

Postby Malc2098 » 31 Oct 2020, 21:03

Remember this?


IMG_4242.JPG
(201.4 KiB)

That huge gap that I built in to the neck joint 20m years ago! :oops:

This was my No 2 guitar that I made 20 years ago but never finished that had to go into storage while I sorted my life out and while I've been building the Martin 12 string (my No 3) I've been finishing this one off alongside it.

Well, I've been fitting the logo discs in the headstocks, spraying those and rubbing back both instruments through the grades up to 2500, followed by rubbing compound and followed by polish, and this is the result on the No2 guitar, the six string.

IMG_4645.JPG
(228.21 KiB)


IMG_4648.JPG
(285.85 KiB)


IMG_4639.JPG
(350.1 KiB)


IMG_4640.JPG
(344.96 KiB)


IMG_4641.JPG
(345.78 KiB)


IMG_4642.JPG
(229.04 KiB)


IMG_4643.JPG
(227.31 KiB)


IMG_4644.JPG
(182.11 KiB)


IMG_4646.JPG
(346.73 KiB)


IMG_4647.JPG
(338.53 KiB)


IMG_4634.JPG
(266.65 KiB)


I will string this instrument tomorrow.

Well, I'm quite chuffed with that, seeing that I started it over 20 years ago in a different part of the country and that it has been my first ever attempt at making an acoustic instrument and my first attempt at nitrocellulose lacquer spraying and finishing.

After I've strung it, I'll have a little play and see if I can record something decent for you to hear. Please understand that my woodworking skills are probably better than my playing.

The I'll get back to the Martin 000 12 string of the thread.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Going through the grades)

Postby DaveL » 31 Oct 2020, 22:39

Well I think you are quite right to be chuffed, that looks great.
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Going through the grades)

Postby Rod » 31 Oct 2020, 23:59

Very nice and shiny

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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Going through the grades)

Postby Andyp » 01 Nov 2020, 11:21

I get a little confused as to which guitar is which but the finish on them both looks excellent.

Looking forward to the concert
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cheers
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Going through the grades)

Postby Malc2098 » 01 Nov 2020, 16:39

Thanks, Gents.

I strung it this morning. Gosh, it's loud. I need to adjust the string height by shaving the bottom of the bone saddle.

IMG_4650.JPG
(204.93 KiB)
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Re: Martin Guitar Kit (Going through the grades)

Postby fiveeyes » 01 Nov 2020, 20:15

Cheers from the colonies, Malc. :obscene-drinkingcheers:
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