Less Tall Octave Guitar!

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by RFR

If you hit it with a real nice wet coat of clear right away you can melt the color and have it be a bit more subtle.

Roman, so are you saying that right after the last burst coat, if I hit it with a wet coat of clear, the burst will melt together better? I assume that would also help make the atomization less visible, since the tiny droplets would also melt into the background? Don't we have to be careful about the color running when applying a wet clear coat right afterwards? I was purposely being careful not to do too wet a clear coat afterwards for this very reason. Thanks!

[pinefd]

It was four weeks ago yesterday that I applied the final coats of clear, so I marked the occasion by spending part of the day final sanding and buffing the guitar by hand. In spite of the fact that the guitar was done entirely with rattle cans, it shined up quite nicely. I've decided to do the headstock over again, because I wasn't satisfied with the outcome. I made the mistake with the very last clear coat (four weeks ago) of putting it on too heavy, and to my surprise, it melted the black paint partly over the MOP logo. I didn't expect that to happen considering I had at least eight or nine coats underneath that coat, but now I've learned my lesson (I hope).

Anyway, here's one photo showing the results from yesterday's work:

[decoy205]

Originally Posted by pinefd

It was four weeks ago yesterday that I applied the final coats of clear, so I marked the occasion by spending part of the day final sanding and buffing the guitar by hand. In spite of the fact that the guitar was done entirely with rattle cans, it shined up quite nicely. I've decided to do the headstock over again, because I wasn't satisfied with the outcome. I made the mistake with the very last clear coat (four weeks ago) of putting it on too heavy, and to my surprise, it melted the black paint partly over the MOP logo. I didn't expect that to happen considering I had at least eight or nine coats underneath that coat, but now I've learned my lesson (I hope).

Anyway, here's one photo showing the results from yesterday's work:

That is easy on the eyes boy. Gorgeous!

[lexluthier]

What scale did you use on that? I know Matte has had a few octave guitars in the past.

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by decoy205

That is easy on the eyes boy. Gorgeous!

Thanks decoy!

Originally Posted by lexluthier

What scale did you use on that? I know Matte has had a few octave guitars in the past.

This guitar has a scale length of 14.7 inches. I was able to use a modified mandolin fret scale template (I added one additional fret on the low side) to get that scale with 22 frets.

And yes, Matte has had other octave guitars in the past, along with just about every other type of guitar under the sun...except maybe a regular six string?

[FLICKOFLASH]

Matte ???

[Mr Bones]

Having played this guitar, I can testify that it is more than just good looks. I've been thinking about this guitar since I played it. It has a really unique sound, which is very different from other octave guitars. I was just talking with Will about it the other day. It really sounds much more mandolin than guitar.

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by nmguitars

Having played this guitar, I can testify that it is more than just good looks. I've been thinking about this guitar since I played it. It has a really unique sound, which is very different from other octave guitars. I was just talking with Will about it the other day. It really sounds much more mandolin than guitar.

Thanks Nick! I'm so glad you got a chance to play it, and that you liked it. I wonder if Mike (mmcquain) will eventually be publishing his videotapes of the jam, 'cuz I'd really like to hear you playing that thing again. And as to the sound, I think it's supposed to sound mandolinish. In fact, I just had a pickup custom wound for me (to Matte's specs), that will probably accentuate that sound. I'll be interested to hear how it sounds versus the Burstbucker that I had in there.

Originally Posted by FLICKOFLASH

Matte ???

Flick, Matte (Henderson) is the guy I mentioned in my first post of this thread. He's the one that originally asked me to make a Les Paul style octave guitar...and after explaining to me what the heck an octave guitar was, I was happy to oblige.

Matte is a highly regarded session guitarist who has played and/or recorded with artists like Jewel, Natalie Merchant, Percy Jones, Henry Kaiser, Bill Dixon, and a bunch of other folks I've never heard of. Matte's also pretty well known on TGP, and has one of the most incredible collections of seven string guitars that you'd ever want to see. I got to see some of them when I visited him a few weeks ago. He lives only 20 minutes from me.

[lexluthier]

I've kept up with the progress on this one on the TGP, it sure looks killer! I've known Matte for around a decade, he's had some really sick fiddles over the years, including a lot of 6 strings!

I have been looking for an old Robin octave guitar for some time, I may have to go the DIY route I think.

[pinefd]

Originally Posted by lexluthier

I've kept up with the progress on this one on the TGP, it sure looks killer! I've known Matte for around a decade, he's had some really sick fiddles over the years, including a lot of 6 strings!

I have been looking for an old Robin octave guitar for some time, I may have to go the DIY route I think.

Thanks Lex!

And just a quick update on my progress with the guitar I'm working on for Matte. I did the grain filling on the back and neck last week, and after some touchups on it earlier this week, it's on to the top. So today I shot the burst, and will start on the clear coats tomorrow. It looks very Stanleyburst-ish, and with some clear on it, it should make the colors look a little deeper and richer. The top has great peek-a-boo qualities. From some angles it's got almost monster flames while from others it's almost a plaintop. I hope you like it! I know I'm going to have a hard time giving this one up.

[pinefd]

Here's another shot of the guitar I'm working on now:

[rabidhamster]

Thats Hot!

[pinefd]

Well, I finally got around to finishing up this puppy (Octave Guitar #3). I had to wait a month for the lacquer to dry, and then illness struck, forcing me to be sidelined for a few additional weeks. Anyway, here is the finished product...I hope you like it!







And here's an indoor shot to show how dramatically different this peek-a-boo flame can look under different lighting conditions:

[mmcquain]

Great job Frank... as with your others, that one is awesome. And that flame really does hide and pop out depending on the lighting conditions.

[decoy205]

These are amazing! How do they play Frank?? This is the coolest thing.

It's like you put your R9 in the dryer lol.

[mmcquain]

Decoy - They play pretty nicely (I got to try one at the NC jam a few months back). Of course, my fat fingers didn't do too well with the higher frets. Forum member Nick played it and it was very cool sounding. He even played a little slide on it at the jam.

[decoy205]

Originally Posted by mmcquain

Decoy - They play pretty nicely (I got to try one at the NC jam a few months back). Of course, my fat fingers didn't do too well with the higher frets. Forum member Nick played it and it was very cool sounding. He even played a little slide on it at the jam.

Thats cool. I think I saw pics of someone playing it. Is there any clips? You tube?

[mmcquain]

Originally Posted by decoy205

Thats cool. I think I saw pics of someone playing it. Is there any clips? You tube?

Here's a pic of it in action from the jam. I video taped a lot of the jam and want to burn it off to DVD soon. When I do that I will post on here and will send copies to anybody that is interested. Some cool playing - not only the mini Paul but all the jammers in general - heck, even Tom Murphy was there and jammed with us.

[mmcquain]

And here's a close up of the one Nick is playing...

[jkinnison90]

Very nice!

[pinefd]

Thanks for the nice comments, guys!

And thanks, Mike, for helping me out by fielding some of these questions...my brother (who's a big Martin Guitar nut) is here visiting for the weekend, so I haven't had a chance to check in for a while.


Frank

[drewbertca]

WOW!!! Awesome......Turned out amazing

[TheWellGoodShow]

wow, that is amazing.