| Project by Dick, & Barb Cain | posted 1197 days ago | 2976 views | 6 times favorited | 28 comments | ![]() |
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One of my sons’ has been an avid Guitar player since his early high school days. He graduated in 1971. I always told him, that I’d build him a guitar someday. So 3 years ago I finally came through with the promise.
I had a lot of left over wood from various projects, so I decided to make a laminated body of the wood I had in my shop. It has Black Walnut, Ash, Mahogany, Red Oak, White Oak, & Birch. It turned out to be a beautiful blend of woods. The neck was purchased from a Guitar part supplier, but the tuning head is my design. I finished it with about 10 coats of Satin lacquer. You may notice it has no pick guard, because I hated to cover up such beautiful wood. My son installed the electronics to his liking.
I took a gamble on using all these wood species, because you don’t know what affect it will have on the sound. My son said this instrument will stand up to any Guitar he’s played.
So that made me plenty proud.
Also check out.>> My Blog, for a slideshow with music.
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Watch, & listen to this live slide guitar performance of “Sleep Walk” by Steve Cain.
-- -** 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
































28 comments so far
Obi
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2191 posts in 1135 days
posted 1134 days ago
I have a Yamaha Bass that I want to make a replica of … Any advice? Also, what advice does your son have for the electronics?
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7044 posts in 1197 days
posted 1134 days ago
Hi Obi,
I think your best bet for information about electronics, would be “The instrument makers forum” http://www.mimf.com/ You can get various wiring diagrams from the forum members. This forum is by Stewart Macdonald, the Guitar supply company.
-- -** 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
Shawn
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226 posts in 1051 days
posted 1051 days ago
As a guitar player myself, WOW, I loved my old tele…I think I’m gonna have to do this…when I finish the stuff for my wife and gifts… I may be your age when I finish, but one day I’m gonna build myself a guitar. Nice work Mr. Cain
-- Cheers
TaterSalad
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46 posts in 1044 days
posted 1023 days ago
Looks great!
Got a buddy at work that plays Bass and keeps saying we should build something. Probably when I get my Bandsaw and Jointer in a few months I will look into.
-- Kalamazoo, MI
Obi
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2191 posts in 1135 days
posted 1023 days ago
I got plans to build an electric guitar here
Also if you go to my site and click on Global Wood Sourse they have a guitar gallery with “Through Body” necks, the best and strongest way to make a guitar. Also, I have a diagram for “scalloping” the neck so you don’t have to put metal frets.
-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/
MsDebbieP
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14171 posts in 1059 days
posted 1023 days ago
Dick, this is beautiful, not just the guitar itself (which is amazing) but the gift you have given your son.
The bonus touch was the name. He must brag about it to everyone he knows.
Stunning!!!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Don
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2590 posts in 1075 days
posted 1023 days ago
Dick, your talents continue to amaze and impress me. One of my treasures is piece my Dad mad for me before I took up woodworking. I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as I should have at the time, but now that I know a little more about the thought and effort that goes into a project, and now that my Dad is no longer with us, you can imagine how I treasure this gift from my father.
I’m sure your son already had come to the same conclusion judging from what you have told us.
Lovely work, Dick.
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/
CharlieM1958
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7670 posts in 1116 days
posted 975 days ago
That’s amazing, Dick. If it hadn’t sounded good, you could have always used it in the kitchen as a cutting board. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
scottb
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3402 posts in 1225 days
posted 975 days ago
Nice Charlie. ;) .... nothing like doing a little food prep, while your pickin’
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7044 posts in 1197 days
posted 975 days ago
I just read about another use for a Guitar. They’re holding the annual Last Chance Curling Bonspiel, in Hibbing this week.
There’s a Curler that usually comes with a curling broom attached to a Guitar, & he serenades the audience from down on the ice. Cool !!
-- -** 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
DAN
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6456 posts in 881 days
posted 866 days ago
pretty guitar … excellent work
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Buckskin
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484 posts in 886 days
posted 866 days ago
I think that it plays well is just an added benefit to great craftsmanship! Amazing work!
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7044 posts in 1197 days
posted 866 days ago
Thanks Guys,
My Son just made a video from a dance he recently played. When I get a copy I may try , & embed some of it on Lumberjocks.
-- -** 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
mot
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4903 posts in 934 days
posted 865 days ago
Dick! This is awesome! I’m a stratocaster collector. I just love guitars but have never taken the challenge of making one. Really nice!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7044 posts in 1197 days
posted 865 days ago
Thanks Mott, You must be a Guitar picker also.
-- -** 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
YorkshireStewart
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784 posts in 799 days
posted 796 days ago
Absolutely beautiful! I love the stripey body And I just enjoyed Sleep Walk too. Thank you.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems
eViolinist
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18 posts in 609 days
posted 608 days ago
It looks great!
GaryK
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9537 posts in 886 days
posted 608 days ago
I missed this one the first time. Great job Dick! Always wanted en electric.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7044 posts in 1197 days
posted 608 days ago
Thanks Gary, & eViolinist!
I have so many projects on here, every once in awhile they come back to life. LOL
I have to thank eVioinist 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
RonPage
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58 posts in 598 days
posted 596 days ago
Dick,
I have a beautiful Korean built Tele style guitar with a spalted maple top. What they did was install a clear plexi pickguard for protection that still allowed the wood to show through.
What a great project for your son!
-- Ron, Bakersfield, CA. Measure twice, cut twice anyway.
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7044 posts in 1197 days
posted 596 days ago
Thank you Ron!
That’s a good idea, using Plexiglas for the pick guard.
I just embedded the Slide Guitar performance to this page, so you don’t have to jump around to look at it.
-- -** 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
woodpecker
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22 posts in 358 days
posted 355 days ago
My grandmother, fathers side was a Cain form Watertown NY. My son is James Cain
-- hahahahaha..hahahahaha..h.h.h.h.h.h.h
woodpecker
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22 posts in 358 days
posted 355 days ago
I,m still trying to figure out where to leave messages and where to reply?
-- hahahahaha..hahahahaha..h.h.h.h.h.h.h
woodpecker
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22 posts in 358 days
posted 355 days ago
Wow that’s beautiful it is good you waited your sons appreciation for you is much more now and he will appreciate the guitar a lot more. I have learned from reading that the wood used to make guitars was based more on availability than anything else contrary to common believe. You will get different results with different woods but hard dens wood sounds brite and softer wood sounds warm. Mixed wood sounds full.
-- hahahahaha..hahahahaha..h.h.h.h.h.h.h
Grumpy
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14932 posts in 749 days
posted 355 days ago
Beautiful job Dick. You certainly are a man of many talents.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7044 posts in 1197 days
posted 355 days ago
Thanks Grumpy!
Hi jem, I also have a son named James Cain.
Could your Grandmother have been from upper Michigan at one time.
-- -** 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
boundsteelblues
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9 posts in 86 days
posted 69 days ago
How did you add your name to the headstock?
-- A tree is our most intimate contact with nature. - George Nakashima
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7044 posts in 1197 days
posted 69 days ago
I have a neighbor who makes vinyl signs.
Check out a computer graphics sign business in your area.
They can cut out stick on vinyl lettering of any design you have in mind.
My son is in this business in Hot Springs, AR, but he doesn’t do this online.
You can contact my Grandson, & he may be able to assist you in a design.
-- -** 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