Trying something new!

[derbex]

I wasn't a huge fan of the bridge when I first saw it, but it's grown on me -looks like my face fungus

[fox]

Well new top now fitted...

[OneChordTrick]

That looks better, to my eyes anyway. This is a fascinating thread, thanks for sharing

[fox]

Thanks, the new arch top seems to add more volume but less sustain, overall I feel it is an improvement.
I discovered a few things along the way too.
Truoil is very time consuming to apply & takes an age to get hard & you cant spray anything over it! (well at least not acrylic lacquer)
I really did not feel like starting over with the oil on the new top as it would take weeks to get it to match the rest of the body. So I sprayed the top with a lacquer however, even the tiny amount of overspray that seeped past the masking tape, reacted badly with the truiol!
Not easy this guitar building lark....

[sonic]

I have found from gun stock finishing (then used on my EOM neck). That truoil needs to be applied by hand not brush built up in very thin layers. The heat from your hands helps it harden. To rub down after a few coats use linseed oil with wet and dry as opposed to water. It doesn’t pick up and spoil the finish as I have found with water. Unless the truoil was very hard before rubbing down. I learned the technique from a gentleman who finishes shotgun stocks to a deep lustre with good depth to the shine too. I have had good results but am still working to get the standard he does. There’s another trick I read about on a shooting forum about hardening Truoil off quicker by spraying or adding something else. Can’t remember what but a search on gun stock refinishing might supply the answer. It truly is a lovely piece of work and I hope you have achieved the sound you are after. It has been very interesting following this build.

[fox]

Thanks Sonic, nice tip about the linseed oil.
Truoil is quite time consuming but does offer a partially nice finish when you get it right but, can be very frustrating getting there.
I also build gun stocks (air guns mainly) but I really specialise in spearguns. I use two pack polyurethane for those, I have often thought about using 2pac poly on my instruments but I fear it would be too thick & ridged a finish for the purpose.
However I have found nothing better than 2pac for giving that amazing shine & depth of finish!

[fox]

My friend James again, only an ipad vid but sounds ok with head phones.

[CES]

Really looks nice! Hard to judge the sound on my tinny work computer speaker, but will give a better listen when I get home. Agree this iteration sounds a little better than the first, even on the junky speaker. Thanks for posting, it's been fun to watch this project develop!

[fox]

Thanks Chuck, I don't own a decent camera ( that father Christmas he no listen) I found it interesting to hear it being played in front of me. Certainly a punchy & loud tenor.

[fox]

A bit more poor quality video....

[derbex]

It is interesting to hear an instrument played at you -I have a mandolin that I don't really like the sound of when I play it, but when it was played to me it was quite impressive.

Also interesting to hear how different the two guitars are, the one with the striped headstock has more of a guitar 'character', wheras the one in this thread has seems to have something of a banjo/resonator twang to it. Both sound good.

[soliver]

Looks and sounds good

[fox]

I
Also interesting to hear how different the two guitars are, the one with the striped headstock has more of a guitar 'character', wheras the one in this thread has seems to have something of a banjo/resonator twang to it. Both sound good.

Both are strung with the same strings - 12 18w 30w 45w but the flat top scale is 21" & the arch top is 23"
The flat top has wider spacing at the bridge (both have 32mm nuts) I feel the flat top has slightly more sustain but slightly less volume.
I think the more mellow flat top lends itself towards more gentle playing, fingerpicking, strumming & chord melody. Whereas I think the archtop is more a session guitar.
Anyway the archtop will be shipped out to a new owner mid January, I will be sad to see it go....