Faux acoustic build.
- Thread starter gitlvr
- Start date
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gitlvr
Friend of Leo's
Cool! I think pine would be a great choice, but if I were you I'd order one of StewMac's 2nd grade tops for around $22. That's what's on mine, and I'm really happy with it. Hard to believe that's a second grade top. I think that might sound much better than ply. In the end, though, it's your build. Do what you think is best for you and your budget. I considered ply, but wasn't certain I could thickness it properly without revealing different layers of the ply, and a solid top was so cheap I just went that route.
As to body depth, I would have loved to have done it a little deeper, but the whole point for me was to make it comfortable enough for me to play, so in my case there was little choice. But if you can, I think that's a wise choice.
Just watch body depth in relation to finding a case that fits. I'm using a gig bag bought for an L-00 I own. Works pretty good. A little loose, but not so bad that it moves around inside.
I look forward to your progress!
PS: That's a little different body shape, isn't it? Dreadnaught, maybe?
I like the cutaway as well.
gitlvr
Friend of Leo's
Deano67, thanks so much. I'm glad you enjoyed my humble build. Much appreciated, and welcome officially to the forum.
RogerC
Poster Extraordinaire
That turned out great, Mike. Nicely done!
Just winging it, not too concerned with getting the most out of what I build. Always the more reason to do another one. Basically I want something acoustic that I can practice on but without the depth of a regular acoustic. I am just beginning to learn how to play and I like the idea of not having to plug in sometimes.
At some point in time I'll probably do a serious one, more just curious and would like to get my mistakes done on something I will not loose any sleep over. The body is something I came up with. I took the back half of a Telecaster, the top front of a Les Paul that I went a little wider with, drew the cuttaway and did a template.
I am also making a solid body with the same shape, not as thick, but with the neck as part of the body (can't remember the proper name for it at the moment) out of some spruce. I don't really plan on taking the guitars outside of the house so I am not concerned with dinging them up. And if I do, all the more reason to make another one. One day I hope to make some as good looking as yours but for now I just want to make something playable.
gitlvr
Friend of Leo's
That sounds like a plan. I had some of the same concerns with my first, and a budget that was pretty much non-existent. I built my first one from an old poplar cutting board. The neck came from an old chestnut centerpiece from an antique table. It was flatsawn and I wanted quartersawn, so I ripped it down into 6 pieces, flipped them 90 degrees and laminated them together. Put a solid finish on it, and with the first note I was hooked on building guitars.
gitlvr
Friend of Leo's
Yep. It was all lopsided, and had plenty of flaws, but it sounded good and played better than probably 3/4 of the guitars I've ever owned. And I built it! After that.....well, you see me on here still building, don'tcha? It would be so incredibly hard to stop, now.That first one always puts down roots in your heart
And without this forum, it might have gotten built, but it wouldn't have turned out half as good as it did. There are builders here that make me strive to build better. Best site on the 'net, IMHO.
gitlvr
Friend of Leo's
I thought about it for a while, played around with that back panel, moving it around to see what various sized openings did to the tone, and decided I'd try a sound port/sound hole. Here's how she looks now.
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I also did some more work on the bracing through the back panel access, thinning the tone bars down some more.
I think it sounds pretty good acoustically now. It's not a cannon, and definitely doesn't have the low end boom of a good dread, but it's volume is loud enough that it holds it's own with other acoustic guitars, and it's tone, which is pretty balanced with more of a midrange sound, cuts through well.
I will post a soundclip hopefully some time tommorrow evening, for those of you who might be interested.
It remains to be seen how the soundports will affect feedback through an amp, but since I play in church and am not close to cranking it anyway I've experienced no issues as of yet.
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I also did some more work on the bracing through the back panel access, thinning the tone bars down some more.
I think it sounds pretty good acoustically now. It's not a cannon, and definitely doesn't have the low end boom of a good dread, but it's volume is loud enough that it holds it's own with other acoustic guitars, and it's tone, which is pretty balanced with more of a midrange sound, cuts through well.
I will post a soundclip hopefully some time tommorrow evening, for those of you who might be interested.
It remains to be seen how the soundports will affect feedback through an amp, but since I play in church and am not close to cranking it anyway I've experienced no issues as of yet.
Well I am interested. Planning on putting my port in the same area. I need to rig up some jigs and stuff to continue on but that will have to wait until I get my work area set up in the basement. The big thing is to find space to store the stuff in the area I am taking over and a dust collection system. I should have mentioned earlier I and documenting mine in the Hack Build thread, which it is compared to yours. Every time I see a picture of yours I can't help but to think how nice it turned out.
gitlvr
Friend of Leo's
Thanks, printer2. I've been kind of watching yours as well, in between all the other stuff I've been caught up in working on. I need to go back and catch up.
I'm really gratified that this build inspired you to build. There are so many guys here that inspired me. It's good to sort of be a part of that tradition here. Good luck, and, as always, have fun!
I'm really gratified that this build inspired you to build. There are so many guys here that inspired me. It's good to sort of be a part of that tradition here. Good luck, and, as always, have fun!
Looking a little like an Adamas there now, without all that messy space-age plastic
gitlvr
Friend of Leo's
LOL,Dave. Gotta admit I took a little inspiration for the soundport there.
Paul M
TDPRI Member
What a beautiful, inspiring build. I enjoy an acoustic guitar but don't like the size, but a thin body looks like a great idea. I've been trying something similar, I hope it turns out as well as this when I finally get it finished
nosmo
Friend of Leo's
That turned out great. What a fantastic looking guitar.
gitlvr
Friend of Leo's
Paul, nosmo, thanks!
Paul, good luck with the build.
I enjoyed this one, even with all the difficulties.
Paul, good luck with the build.
I enjoyed this one, even with all the difficulties.
I_build_my_own
Friend of Leo's
this looks beyond awesome!!!!!!!!
Barncaster
Doctor of Teleocity
Hey Mike,
Would love to hear a sound clip if you get a chance. Unfortunately my right shoulder is a mess right now too. Tried playing acoustic the other night and it was painful. Electric Is comfortable however. Necessity is the mother of invention! I have to say you we're probably sweating bullitts drilling those holes in a completed guitar! Well done sir.
Rob
Would love to hear a sound clip if you get a chance. Unfortunately my right shoulder is a mess right now too. Tried playing acoustic the other night and it was painful. Electric Is comfortable however. Necessity is the mother of invention! I have to say you we're probably sweating bullitts drilling those holes in a completed guitar! Well done sir.
Rob
gitlvr
Friend of Leo's
I build my own, thanks very much!
I think the next itteration of this will be to attempt a true shallow body acoustic. That will take probably at least a year to begin, because I need to tool up for it first.
I hope to get the sound clip up this evening, but it'll probably be after 10 or so. Have church tonight, and busy today, so it'll be tonight before I get a chance.
And yeah, I was sweatin' pretty good cutting those holes, lol.
Rob, I'm sorry to hear that, but I think it is common as we get older for a lot of us. I went the route a lot of guys go at first; OM, L-00. Thought I might try a true parlor, but honestly, good ones cost too much, and I doubt a lot of lower priced ones would sound much better than this. And, like all the other body sizes I tried already, there's no telling whether it would work or not.
I think the next itteration of this will be to attempt a true shallow body acoustic. That will take probably at least a year to begin, because I need to tool up for it first.
I hope to get the sound clip up this evening, but it'll probably be after 10 or so. Have church tonight, and busy today, so it'll be tonight before I get a chance.
And yeah, I was sweatin' pretty good cutting those holes, lol.
