Parlor Guitar

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

-- Thos. Angle

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

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

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 †

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

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.)

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

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.

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

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/

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)

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

Beautiful instrument. How does it sound?

-- Jiri

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

very nice

-- hap, gunbarrel city tx.

Thanks Hap.

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

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

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

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

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

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

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

-- Dana,Texas

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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/

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/

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

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

-- jeanmarc manosque france

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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.

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

-- Major Walt Timoschuk,III