I started doing some acoustic stuff a few years back, but have still not finished one. I keep getting distracted along the way.
I have managed an unusual thinline I am kinda happy with, and have a 9 string fanned fret acoustic about 80% built, but I wanted to take a few steps back before driving that one to the finish line. Along the way i have had some part made bodies and necks and decided to see if i could bring some of them together int an unusual little instrument
So I have made a little 9 string acoustic parlour.
The top is port orford cedar, I made a mistake on the rosette, so filled it in and used a soundhole decal (shock horror!!). It had a few marks on the top so I stained it with a walnut stain, thought it was too dark so sanded back and followed with antique oak/pine mixed together
Back and sides are some plain walnut.
All the bracing has been reclaimed from practice attempts
Neck is one piece mahogany - bolt on in an attempt to stick with what i know.
The fretboard is some spare ebony with left over cream plastic dots
Tuners are some cheap ones I had lying around, but may not get used as the current buttons are too large
Head and scratchplate are thin celluloid sticky back plastic, although the adhesive is white so I may have a go at cleaning that off and using something clear, its a really nice translucent torty and the white backing makes in nastily bright. the binding is also tortoiseshell
Its getting an OEM fishman pickup& pre-amp too
The bridge is currently a 12 string one, but I may redesign and make an ebony one or just put 3 cream dots in the spare string holes... undecided
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Once i have all the 9 string quirks worked out on this I will be in a better place to finish the bigger fanned fret version
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I have not done any fret work yet or shaped the saddle, but it already plays well and the intonation is very close to perfect straight off the bat. It was sounding a bit boxy as i was tuning it up - but it sprang to life pretty quickly. I think I have got a rather special little guitar on the go here
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I don't know! For some reason my eyes keep getting drawn to it. A label may just be the thing it needs. Maybe you should just ignore me. It's damn cool though. To me, a tortoiseshell headstock shouldn't work, but it really does.
getting there
"9 string fanned fret acoustic about 80% built, but I wanted to take a few steps back before driving that one to the finish line"
In all honesty, I probably bit off more than I could chew with that one... but it will still get finished eventually
I know what you mean, I almost feel like the soundhole looks too big, and the wide ring doesn't help with that
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It looked really good last time you posted a progress picture - I'm sure it'll work out fine.