Thread: lil' mongrels build!

What kinda mahogany?

The Brazilian/farkin expensive stuff i have is dark straight after the thicknesser has had it's way with it.

Naw, I wish! Its some plantation grown american mahogany (swietenia macrophylla).

All that worries me is that there are a few little spots that need a little grain filler. If I pick "mahogany" colour it will stand out now and if I pick something lighter then it could well stand out later.

Maybe I should stain it mahogany colour? what would that do later as it darkens?

Nice work Lil mongrel. Your woodwork project is way better than the pencil box I made at high school.

I will enjoy watching you're progress.

Peter

Why not use a transparent epoxy filler. Then it won't matter if the colour changes. It can go over stained timber if you want to.

Just a thought.

Peter

Hi everyone!
Mongrel and I have done some more to the guitar, we carved one side with a rasp, and routed the control cavity dad did the routing, while I took notes on what to do. I was using a handsander to level the sides doen, and I was there for about 10 minutes saninding one part, and dad said "My Turn!!!!" then, within a minute, the whole guitar was even!! NO FAIR!!
I just cant believe that I'm building an actual electrric guitar!!! it's like Oh My God!!!!!!!!!!!

Lil' Mongrel

Good going, Lil' mongrel (+ the big bugger !)

I also made crappy little projects like pencil boxes and baseball bats on the lathe.
Had the students been given a chance to do something like build a guitar
instead of crappy projects, we all may have become luthiers !!!!!!

Glad to hear you're enjoying the journey so much.

B.T.W. Where are the progress pics ?

Mongrels going to send them when he gets home hopefully

the first thing i made last year, was a clock with a flying v on it, it works, thats a start!! lol

Lil' Mongrel

Sounds like I had better put up some pics!

First off, the REAL lil' mongrel!













Found out that my router and pattern following morticing bit arent long enough to route the control cavity deep enough, so I did some creative spade bit - ing and everthing should fit OK.

Lil' mongrel will be taking up router duties with the pickup cavities tomorrow. I bought a black plastic control panel cover from Stew Mac to go with the acrylic templates, but my abhorrance of plastic has won me over and I think we might make one out of the spare mahogany.
I'll hand over to the squirt now...

I set a bad example for all kids on the drill press...
I wasn't wearing saftey goggles!!!!!!!
the real lil mongrel is our dog jack, who sits at the door and winges when we work in there... he's a big tough shed dog!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Lil_Mongrel

I set a bad example for all kids on the drill press...
I wasn't wearing saftey goggles!!!!!!!
the real lil mongrel is our dog jack, who sits at the door and winges when we work in there... he's a big tough shed dog!!!!!!

You're right, you need to work safely And do tie your hair back really well. No kidding, it'd be a pity to lose some scalp ...

Looks cool so far. Looking forward to seeing more pics

i was a good girl yesterday...
i wore my glasses, earplugs (i was using a router) and I had my hair tied back.
ill get mongrel to send you guys some photos later today.

Lil' Mongrel

Originally Posted by Lil_Mongrel

i was a good girl yesterday...
i wore my glasses, earplugs (i was using a router) and I had my hair tied back.

That's the ticket...you're too young to be bald.

Great project by the way...beats the tea pot stand I made in school!

Now, a question (and forgive me as I am ignorant to guitar building)...in the last series of photos I see that you filed off quite a bit of the body at the back while the front remains intact. At the moment it seems the guitar will look a little strange with a flat top and a highly sculpted back. Is this just so it fits you more comfortably when you play while showing off the maximum surface area of Tassie oak?

Good question!
I was mainly doing that so that Lil' mongrel could let rip with a rasp without touching the top. Mahogany stands up a little better to "unseasoned" hands. The "belly carve" is well known to fender instruments and if you have ever played one without it for an extended period of time you know that you need it.

The back contours are functional rather than asthetic so far, we will put the final asthetic curve on the bottom of the back when I have made the timber control cavity cover.

Bare in mind that these pics are posted as they happen, and not necessarily at the end of a section. We may finish and post a days photos but be only half way thru a bit.

The top is only 10 mm or so thick, so the carve will only be subtle. The other reason it is being done last is that we haven't decided on the type of carve yet. We could go for a double carve, aka PRS's or for a curve top like a gibson - not all the way, just curved down at the edges. Because this is a first build, she doesn't yet have a real idea of what she wants, but having a guitar body in your hands makes these sort of things a lot easier.

She is having heaps of fun and is learing lots (like she needs to buy her father a thicknesser!) and we get to spend time together. Hell, more kids and family should build guitars. (though my wife calls herself the "guitar widow")
Keep the questions coming!

Jason

yes daddy, i kno u want a thicknesser..... ill talk to the "Guitar Widow about it... she's the one who holds the cash... lol

Lil' Mongrel