making guitars in kilkenny

p.mc

Been making slow progress on some guitars over the years. Be glad to hear from anyone with an inters est in the craft.

This is a classical with a french polish finish. my first:

Next a sprayed lacquer finish. needs a final polish and the bridge to be fixed

Working with paduk back and side

Meanwhile starting an acoustic with the great Sam Irwin in Bangor.

feylya

That's a hell of a result for your first. Congrats!

martinedwards

Really nice! well done!

p.mc

Thanks, love your statacoustic.

p.mc

Thanks, I could do with a lot more practice on the French polish

Flinty997

Looks amazing

p.mc

Cheers Flinty!

James2022

Great work and always nice to see more builders in Ireland. I'm a big fan of guitars and lutheiry but never tried my hand at building.

p.mc

Thanks James, doing a build is very rewarding but by God it takes a lot of time and maybe more patience than I possess!

petronius

Impressive, I bet it is a kind of therapy to do it. any issues sourcing materials?

p.mc

No issues as yet, there's a very good site in Spain called Madinter. Prices are going up of course. No-one gets Brazilian rosewood anymore

martinedwards

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119114637#Comment_119114637

Madinter are good, but I've used Maderas Barber a lot.

They speak English on the phone which is a big help!

p.mc

True, I've heard they're good. I remember reading about someone using native timber. Wonder how they got on. Sycamore maybe?

martinedwards

Sycamore is a member of the maple family... Similar to London Plane. which is used a fair bit in instruments.

I used Oak once. the easiest wood in the world to bend.... but has pores you could loose a small child in!

I ended up using mainly scavenged woods from a local shopfitter...

Walnut for preference as it bends well and looks pretty....

I also managed to scrounge some mango tables from a furniture importer (damaged in transit)

that was gorgeous, but the sawdust was.... just unpleasant to be around!

sometimes even walnut and mango on the same back.....

p.mc

That mango is a beauty alright, what finish do you use?

martinedwards

water based varnish from B&Q!