We've started work on two new acoustic guitars for to get a jump start on the new year. They are both dreadnaughts built using the Stewart-MacDonalds "Herringbone Guitar" plans. Descriptions of these two instruments:

• The first has all of the basic characteristics of a Martin HD28, as follows:
  • Master Grade Sitka spruce top
  • Herringbone soundhole ring and top purflings
  • Indian rosewood back and sides
  • Vintage-style Sitka Spruce scalloped bracing
  • Mahogany neck
  • Macassar ebony fingerboard and bridge
  • Rosewood headstock overlay
  • Gold butterbean tuning machines
• The second will be built to the same plan, but with the following differences:
  • AAA Bearclaw Sitka spruce top
  • California hybrid walnut back & sides
  • Curly maple neck with walnut center stripe
  • Macassar ebony fingerboard and bridge
  • California hybrid headstock overlay

The back and side wood for the second guitar was provided by Brian Blain of Blain Farms. Brian is the largest grower and processor of pecans in California, and he also cuts and sells claro walnut, english walnut, and pecan wood for woodworkers and luthiers.

Both instruments will be equipped with K & K Sound Pure Western Mini pickup systems

First, pictures of the tops for these two guitars. The wood for both of these tops came from Luthier's Mercantile in Santa Rosa CA:

Now pictures of the backs - The first two are the hybrid walnut from Blain Farms:

next the Indian Rosewood, from Luthier's Mercantile in Santa Rosa CA:

The sides that will be used for these two guitars:

The neck blanks - the mahogany will be used with the Indian rosewood, while the curly maple will be used with the hybrid walnut:

And the bindings and purflings. The maple and herringbone will be used with the Indian rosewood back & sides, while the rosewood and multicolor will be used with the California hybrid back & sides:

1/6/08: The sides have bent and the assembly of the body begins. here the sides, neck and heel blocks, and back have been glued together for the hybrid walnut guitar:

The Indian rosewood guitar body assembly is also in progress:

Bodies after they are all glued together:

The necks: First, the neck for S/N SC0007 after carving:

The neck for S/N SC0008 hasn't been carved yet at this point:

Today (Jan 14) the frets were installed on both necks. This fret wire came from Luthier's Mercantile - it's a new product, made from a gold-colored metal so the frets should coordinate well with the gold hardware I'll be using on these guitars.

Both of the guitars are shown with the necks temporarily mounted to the bodies. Lookin' good! :-)

These pictures are of the hybrid walnut and bearclaw guitar during finishing:

The hybrid walnut & bearclaw guitar is almost finished:

Still need to install the endpin jack: