Time Flies! I have not started any new builds yet as my wife’s health continues to preclude any prolonged shop time. I have been doing some repairs and pretty much finished a project that has been sitting around the shop for almost three years.
It is a 1916-ish Gibson U style harp guitar and I finally strung it up. I was quite amazed at the big sound. The sub bass strings vibrating sympathetically with open string folk chords in the first position gives almost a reverb effect. You can feel the whole beast vibrate in your lap.
It had back cracks, a huge full length side crack on the bass side right along the lining, cracks on the treble side and top as well.
Fretboard binding was off and it needed a neck level and refret as well as a new bridge as the old one was too high for the neck set and reseting a neck on one of these is frightening.
I had to remove the back for the inside the box work and replace the kerfed lining on the back in order to properly fix the cracks. The back had to be partially rebound.
All the tuning machines were corroded and needed cleaning and lubrication. Lots of other stuff too numerous to mention.
It has been a fun project.
Jerry Bassett, a ukulele builder from the twin cities has been coming up regularly for advice on guitar making. It has been a very seamless transition for him and he brought up the finished instrument in the white and it looked great. He also brought a surprise, a beautiful Ukulele for my granddaughter Claire. Thank you Jerry. She loves it!!
I have the materials picked out for two OM’s. One will be a double side Bird’s Eye Maple (inner side East Indian Rosewood) and a Lutz top. The other probably a double side Mahogany/Adi instrument. As my wife’s health improves I’ll get going on them. Did I mention it’s !!#@$ cold!