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Parlor Guitar

Project by rikkor posted 708 days ago 1944 views 3 times favorited 42 comments Add to Favorites Watch

This project has been underway for a while. It is a “parlour” size guitar (75-80% of a ‘real’ guitar). The top is Western Red Cedar, the back and sides are Bubinga. The bridge and fingerboard are Bloodwood. I purchased the Rosette on ebay. The soundbox has a nice thump, so I think it should project and sound pretty good when I get to strings.


42 comments so far

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4015 posts in 841 days


posted 708 days ago

Sure looks good but I think it needs some strings and frets. LOL very nice

-- Thos. Angle

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1097 days


posted 708 days ago

Looks great! I can’t wait to see it completed.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View Karson's profile

Karson

25271 posts in 1279 days


posted 708 days ago

Yes looks good. It will be nice to see it completed.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View DaveJ's profile

DaveJ

69 posts in 801 days


posted 708 days ago

Nice job rikkor. Have you taken a luthier class in the area? I have a buddy in town who’s considering taking a class.

-- Dave J. Oakdale, MN

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 708 days ago

Dave: No, I haven’t. The nearest one is 50 miles away, (Red Wing) is two semesters, 5 days a week, 8:00 to 4:00. I have done a lot of reading, and am on a couple of lutherie forums. (My work reflects a lack of training, too.)

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

779 posts in 779 days


posted 708 days ago

I do like the slight variation in the colour of the cedar top. It should polish up really well. A nice change from spruce which can be a bit bland. What are the lutherie forums rikkor?

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 708 days ago

Stewart: My favorite is the Musical Instrument Makers Forum: http://www.mimf.com. There is also Frets: http://www.frets.com, Project Guitar: http://www.projectguitar.ibforums.com/, and Official Luthiers Forum : http://www.luthiersforum.3element.com/forum/default2.asp.

There are undoubtedly others. I do like MIMF, it’s a lot like Lumberjocks.

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

779 posts in 779 days


posted 707 days ago

Thanks Rikkor; I’ll have a look at those.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5970 posts in 944 days


posted 707 days ago

If it sounds half as good as it looks – you’ve got a winner.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View mot's profile

mot

4901 posts in 915 days


posted 707 days ago

Wow! I’d love to be able to make something like this. I would be intimidated to screw it up though. Nice job!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 707 days ago

Tom: Thanks for your kind words. I’ve seen some of your projects. You have elevated me into the “swelled head” catagory.

View Jiri Parkman's profile

Jiri Parkman

602 posts in 691 days


posted 691 days ago

Beautiful instrument. How does it sound?

-- Jiri

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 690 days ago

Jiri, It is still under construction. It has a nice “thump” but the neck isn’t even attached yet.

View hap's profile

hap

223 posts in 667 days


posted 663 days ago

very nice

-- hap, gunbarrel city tx.

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 663 days ago

Thanks Hap.

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

6991 posts in 1178 days


posted 663 days ago

Looks like some fine craftsmanship. Making a hollow body takes a lot more work, & skill, than a solid body.

You should be proud of yourself.

Is this your first?

PS: It doesn’t look like you need any schooling for this.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 663 days ago

Thanks Dick. I have finished one. I have about four in various stages of construction. I also have a couple of ukes under construction.

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1768 posts in 875 days


posted 661 days ago

That’s gonna be a stunning little guitar rikkor – BTW, my wife plays a guitar with a WRC top…with really warm sound…not a parlor size, though she was looking at them at one point.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3785 posts in 1193 days


posted 661 days ago

It looks to be almost finished! A bloodwood finger board that is different. I like it.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 661 days ago

Thanks guys, it has been a fun project so far.

View Dana's profile

Dana

73 posts in 649 days


posted 649 days ago

It looks great to me. Can’t wait to see when you finish it.

-- Dana,Texas

View doralfun123's profile

doralfun123

37 posts in 674 days


posted 644 days ago

nice guitar !! id love to try my hand at making 1 ... my brother is a luthier in jax fl. im in kentucky if we were closer id make 1 with hin … i have a dreadnought and a parlor he made me and he is making me a brazillian with Adirondack top righ t now cant wait to get it talk to you soon ....dennis

View cabinetmaker2's profile

cabinetmaker2

35 posts in 642 days


posted 637 days ago

Great looking guitar, I have been wanting to build one for years but never got around to it.. I did build a steel lap guitar for a friend about 2 years ago, but that was a pretty simple build, took around 40 man hrs from start to finish, first time I ever built one, he still plays it, and says it works great, I cant play so I have to take his word for it…

-- Mark, Hancock Maine, rmarkham52@hotmail.com

View Mark Mazzo's profile

Mark Mazzo

343 posts in 791 days


posted 637 days ago

Hi Rikkor,

Just saw this post. I’m a guitar player from way back. Also being a woodworker, I’ve always wanted to build one. I was not sure whether to build from scratch or to start with a kit (I also used to frequent MIMF.com). A couple of years ago, I finally decided to start with the kit and bought a kit from Stewart MacDonald. Well, it’s 2 years later and I still have not started it!! I don’t really know why I never started it but, seeing your post may have given me the kick to get that project going. I think it would be a good background project while I am doing other furniture stuff.

Can’t wait to see your finished guitar – it looks like a really nice instrument. Thanks for the inspiration!!

-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 637 days ago

Go for it, my friend. Try not to think of the guitar as a whole. Just work on a part of it. Soon it is just assembly.

View Bob A in NJ's profile

Bob A in NJ

519 posts in 877 days


posted 630 days ago

This is really cool. This type of woodworking is just fantastic, anything with curves, canoes and kayaks included, take not only good woodworker skills, but you must also be good at math, guess I’ll stick to boxes! :-)

-- Bob A in NJ

View MichaelW's profile

MichaelW

30 posts in 626 days


posted 626 days ago

Kudos to you Rikkor,
I have had a lot of supervision on weekends from the luthiere community here in Seattle and while I can imagine trying to do it from the various texts and webforums available, it was an intimidating prospect as I got started. Congrats on such an impressive accomplishment.

-- Michael, Seattle, WA

View Obi's profile

Obi

2191 posts in 1115 days


posted 528 days ago

Fine Job, I’m in the process of making a neck through body purple heart/ mahogany bass. Electric is easier, so my hat’s off to you.

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

View Obi's profile

Obi

2191 posts in 1115 days


posted 520 days ago

And even a grand piano starts out as sticks. When you look at it as simply putting sticks together “perfectly” it isn’t nearly as intimadating.

And one of my favorite links is Stewart-MacDonald for all your building supplies.

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

View Budman's profile

Budman

50 posts in 940 days


posted 473 days ago

Rikkor, Awesome looking guitar… How about an update, do you have it finished?
I too would LOVE to build guitars… (It’s defiantly on my list of upcoming projects)
My son & I recently spent a week at a school of Lutherie here in Michigan
http://www.galloupguitars.com/school/index.htm
We took a 4 day Technician Class, it was VERY good and we learned a lot. I can only wish that I had the time & money to take the 2 month, or the 6 month class.
-Rick

-- Rick, Michigan, rick.blodgettoil.com

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1750 posts in 595 days


posted 462 days ago

hello you have make a very beautiful guitar ace you encounters a difficulty during manufacture. very beautiful work congratulations

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View Hersh's profile

Hersh

59 posts in 593 days


posted 449 days ago

Wow, That is going to be a great guitar. Did you use spruce or WR Cedar for the top and bottom bracing? Love it, keep us informed on the progress. What kind of finish are you going to use?

-- Hersh from Port Angeles, WA - Gotta Complete That Project!

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 449 days ago

The bracing is Sitka spruce. I plan to finish with McFadden’s spray lacquer.

View mmh's profile

mmh

1366 posts in 600 days


posted 342 days ago

Someday I hope I can build a guitar too. I’d love to be able to play one, especially one that I’ve made myself. Lovely job so far. Please post the finished product.

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 342 days ago

Thanks. I hope to get back at it after Christmas. I will post progress.

View Ozfiddler's profile

Ozfiddler

28 posts in 301 days


posted 300 days ago

This looks great! Looking forward to seeing the finished guitar :-) I love the bloodwood against the cedar – nice rich combination. What sort of bending iron did you use?

-- Jerry, Australia

View mrtrim's profile

mrtrim

1700 posts in 759 days


posted 300 days ago

very nice job rikkor . i like the color combo as well

View Hersh's profile

Hersh

59 posts in 593 days


posted 281 days ago

rikkor,
How is the parlor guitar comming along? I would be intrested in your progress.

Thanks,
Hersh

-- Hersh from Port Angeles, WA - Gotta Complete That Project!

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 281 days ago

I will resume work soon. I have scheduled March 17 as my last day of work.

View rareddy's profile

rareddy

29 posts in 280 days


posted 268 days ago

How does one cut accurate grooves for the frets? And how accurate do they have to be?

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 753 days


posted 268 days ago

How does one cut accurate grooves for the frets? And how accurate do they have to be?

Obviously the more accurate the better. Here’s how I do it. From an accurately scaled drawing I make “white charcoal” pencil marks, on the fretboard blank, even with all the fret cuts on the drawing. Then I use a striking knife to make a finer mark within the “white charcoal” mark. Then I carefully cut the slots with the fret blade on my tablesaw. There are fixtures available to index the cuts.

View Minuteman's profile

Minuteman

53 posts in 254 days


posted 211 days ago

You have a good looking guitar! I bet the sound will be awesome.

-- Major Walt Timoschuk,III

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