Again, not directly related to Taylor!

[sachi]

I thought you all might be interested in how I'm proceeding on the Kolaya build.

After I tried out Brad's Amazon Rosewood and Tornillo Carmens, I opted for the Rosewood and Cedar combination. I am purposely instructing Brad only on the main woods and construction; I'm letting him choose how to go from there. This is in part because I am not looking for something that sounds like X; I want a guitar that sounds good but it can be completely different from anything else I have, and I'll enjoy it all the more for that reason. And the other part is that I like Brad's artistic taste and I want to give him his head on the design. It should be fun to see how it comes out!

I did ask Brad to make a guitar using the lattice bracing that he used in the earlier Rosewood Carmen that I tried. I thought that guitar was really quite exceptional. I also asked for a cutaway, but I did not feel that the bevel was of any particular use for me, so I'm skipping that.

And now, here are some pics! First up shows the sides. There is a little strip of sapwood that I think will be attractive.




Here are the sides matched with the back.


Going through the planer, I think . . .


Gluing up the back:




And the top:


And finally, bending the sides:

[ctkarslake]

Thanks for sharing those shots.  It's nice to see all the wooden tools etc. around to build a guitar.  It's not all CNC machines and lasers (yet).

Keep posting whatever you can for our hungry eyes to enjoy!

[Go Navy]

Rosewood and cedar!  Yes!

[Edward]

I am always in awe of guitar builders ...and for that matter, fine woodworkers!

I have personally built a few electrics and was and am very pround of them.  Yet my best is but rudimentary child's play for a real luthier who crafts fine acoustics.  Yet I still recall (with reminiscent tear of joy welling up ) choosing the wood, planing it down, and penciling in my first lines.  Ahhh, the wood aroma, the feel of the grain, sawdust in the air ...  Huge Kudos to you on this build!

Edward

[sachi]

Moving right along!

Brad is building this with double sides and is using bloodwood for the inner layer, which should add interest for anyone who wants to peer inside the soundhole.

The bloodwood:


Here's a pic of the two sides getting laid up in the form:


And here Brad is cutting out the back:


The back roughed out:


Back strip added:


And bracing added already! Right now it's in the straight-braced heavy-duty mode, but I suspect those braces are going to be pruned down a bit before it's all glued together.


More to come!

[mgap]

Thanks sachi, I find this very interesting.  I think it great to watch someone that can cut a perfect line on a band saw.  Woodworking in general is a fine craft, and guitar building is even better.

Keep the updates coming I am enjoying the process.

[sachi]

And here are some pics of today's work.

Shaping the braces:






This looks like the final shape of the back braces here – Brad says it has a good tap tone.


And here Brad is preparing to lay up one of the double sides:


Slathering on the glue:


And it's all bound up to set for a night!

[Edward]

I am so tuned in here ...waiting eagerly for the next installment of: as the guitar turns! 
Keep em coming, man!!!

Edward

[mea1970]

absolutely fascinating. what an impressive skill! can't wait to see the final product!

[sachi]

absolutely fascinating. what an impressive skill! can't wait to see the final product!

Yeah, the skill just amazes me too. I couldn't glue two pieces of wood together without getting a body part stuck to it somewhere.

[sachi]

And Brad is moving right along! He's laying out the neck on this block of wood:


I take it from this pic that my guitar will be a double-neck!


Working on the sides of the guitar:


The sides are finished:


This shows the bloodwood on the inside. It looks nice without any finish.


And finally, working on the cutaway. Here you can see the two layers and the form.


Gluing the layers:


And setting it up under the clamps:

[sachi]

More pictures! Brad is working on the rosette and is starting to glue the sides to the blocks. First up is a picture of the rosette rings:


Laying out the design:




And done! The lighter wood is spalted maple; the other wood is I dunno, but it looks nice! Brad wanted to do an asymmetric rosette and I think this one looks very nice.


Brad also tested the vibration nodes on the back. I guess this pattern is good:


Here is a fabulous and exciting picture of the neck block being glued up.


The sides are being glued to the neck block inside the mold:


Fun with clamps:


Setting the cutaway support block in place:


And my tenth picture: All glued up and nowhere to go!


I must say this is moving right along! Thanks Brad!

[CodeBlueEMT]

 Thanks for sharing the pics. 

[Redwood Tree]

These are some of the best pictures I've ever seen of the production.
 Your guitar is going to be beautiful.!

[SMan]

The guitar is looking great.  I love following build threads.  It's interesting to see the different methods that builders use.  This one will be a beauty for sure. 

Having now built two acoustics and an electric I hope to have a shop dedicated to building guitars by the end of the year.