Less Tall Octave Guitar!

[pinefd]

Just a little update for the one or two of you out there who may care. I've made a fair amount of progress on my octave guitars #2 and 3 since I first started these two, exactly one month ago. I need to finish up the fingerboards (which should happen next week), install the headstock logos, drill and install the hardware and electronics, along with some other finishing touches. Then I strip all the hardware back off (as I did in #1 shown with the two others in the second photo below), and then I'm ready to finish them.

Here are #2 and 3:

And here are #1, 2 and 3:

Oh, and BTW, here's a photo of the installed headstock logo on #1:

Frank

 

[shanehouston]

:bug :dude:

 

[J.D.]

Did you give the fretboard more radius or did you keep it the same as full scale?

 

[pinefd]

Did you give the fretboard more radius or did you keep it the same as full scale?

Sorry it's taken so long to respond, J.D.; I was away for the weekend. I've kept the fretboard radius at 12" (like standard) since it is the same width and depth as that of a normal guitar. It's just the length that's different. I tried to make the feel of the neck and fingerboard just like that of a full sized guitar...at least up to this point.

 

[J.D.]

Interesting. I suppose it depends how it will be played. I assume since the bridge is standard that the nut is the equivalent width of that point on a standard fretboard as well? Reason why I ask is because on something like a Mandolin I would expect a very small neck with more taper and raduis, etc. Just curious is all.

 

[pinefd]

Interesting. I suppose it depends how it will be played. I assume since the bridge is standard that the nut is the equivalent width of that point on a standard fretboard as well? Reason why I ask is because on something like a Mandolin I would expect a very small neck with more taper and raduis, etc. Just curious is all.

Yes, the nut is normal width, and so is the bridge (which has a 12" radius as well). And you're also correct that a mandolin would have a smaller, more narrow neck, with more of a radius. Good question, though! This guitar is made with a Les Paul player in mind...with a normal feel to the neck. The only adjustment would be the width (length?) of the individual frets because of the shorter fingerboard.

 

[marklp69]

That is the one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Great work man!

 

[pinefd]

After about 5 1/2 weeks of work, I'm closing in on completing LT Octave #2 and 3. Just need to do some gluing up, and final shaping of a couple of things, and then it's on to finishing! Here's a progress photo as of today, showing #1, 2 and 3:

Frank

 

[Minibucker]

You should hire a midget to play it and put it on YouTube.

 

[pinefd]

You should hire a midget to play it and put it on YouTube.

I like the idea, but let's use a little sensitivity and political correctness here...I believe the term these days is "Less Tall" people.

 

[Minibucker]

Midget is just as scientific and politically correct a term as dwarf, it's up to the reader/listener to decide whether it's derogatory or not...just like with black, oriental, and gay. In this case, the terminology itself is innocent...the situation is what's absurd. ;-) So how about a black oriental gay midget NOT playing that guitar? Nothing offensive in that, right? ;-)

 

[pinefd]

Midget is just as scientific and politically correct a term as dwarf, it's up to the reader/listener to decide whether it's derogatory or not...just like with black, oriental, and gay. In this case, the terminology itself is innocent...the situation is what's absurd. ;-) So how about a black oriental gay midget NOT playing that guitar? Nothing offensive in that, right? ;-)

Ok...I'm on the phone with a talent scout. He wants to narrow the field a bit. Do we have a religious preference?

 

[Minibucker]

I object to the term 'scout'.

 

[pinefd]

I object to the term 'scout'.

I don't care what the heck you call him...but he's amazing at finding whatever I ask him to! Here's your black oriental gay midget, NOT playing the guitar...and he's from NY!

 

[Minibucker]

So can you get the Peter Green sound on that guitar?

 

[pinefd]

Just a quick update. I'm finally getting around to finishing these octave guitars, after much experimentation and practice. This is my first endeavor into the finishing end of things, and it's a bit foreign to me. The woodworking part came relatively easy; this part's been much more of a challenge. I've been doing lots of reading and watching of Dan's finishing videos for tips.

Anyway, I finally tackled the grain filler today on one of them. I'll let that dry for a couple of days, and I'll either start on the headstock tomorrow, or grain fill another guitar (or both). Meanwhile here are a couple of pics showing some of today's progress:

Frank

 

[pinefd]

While I'm waiting for the pore filler to dry, I figured I'd do the headstock. Here's what it looks like so far:

 

[denwing]

My gosh.. those are beautiful pieces of work.

 

[pinefd]

My gosh.. those are beautiful pieces of work.

Thanks denwing!

 

[Sterling1]

Magnificant work! You are a true craftsman!

I'm curious though, about how you get your top carve. I'm assuming the top blanks are flat?

Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing!