6 String Build Carvin Tribute

[Slidlow]

Slight update. I cleaned up the front and removed the excess from the back of the neck (purpleheart stringers). next is to start mapping it out using the center cut from the LB75 as a guide.

 

[Slidlow]

I was looking at my options and am thinking either spalted curly koa topped wings.

Or a full covered top with a lesser piece of koa I have that split into a bookmatch.

And looking at ipe for the fretboard.

 

[Videojunkie]

That spalted Koa is amazing. And that neck stands pretty well on its own.

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Yup, that spalted koa looks special

 

[Slidlow]

Seems like a consensus is building in favour of the spalted curly koa. So first I did a quick outline of the body using the usual tools. Took about 10 minutes. From what I can glean from photos it looks like Carvin kept the body width the same regardless of 4,5 or 6 string which is good as that makes the wings narrower and more likely the spalted curly koa will work.

 

[RichterScale]

I like both pieces of koa. Hard to pick.
The one you called lesser has wavy grain that seems to match the wave in the fingerboard.

 

[TerribleTim68]

It's hard to go wrong with "Koa" in general. I didn't pic because either one is pretty sweet and Koa in and of itself is pretty special. So either way, I'm good over here.

 

[Crawforde]

On that same subject of truing up wood strips, I've seen a few cool hand plane fixtures that woodworkers have built. The idea is that you bolt four ball bearings onto the side walls of a hand plane, like precision wheels. And you build a long straight fixture similar to my router fixture. Side clamping, metal bar rails on top. Clamp the strip in the fixture, and run the plane down it until the bearings are rolling on the rails. The rails determine the path of the plane blade, rather than sliding the base on the wood.

I think that would be a great project for Luthiers who really want to stay with hand-powered tools.

I think I like this.
I really didn’t need another project, but this is an excellent idea.

 

[Slidlow]

The spalted curly koa is not big enough. I have this piece of lacewood so I put it along with the more plain koa and am torn. Both will give a full width top.

and the lace wood will look like this (from the same piece).

 

[RichterScale]

Hmmm, choices are getting tougher.
I like the lace wood. It's like a big piece of all maple ray flecks on steroids. Super cool.
I think it's a good background to showcase fancy hardware and pups.
I like the koa grain for a more subtle hardware.

 

[MPU]

I think lacewood is too busy looking. I'd go with Koa, it has nice figure.

 

[Slidlow]

I do have choices. Some wood porn for everyone's pleasure.

Clockwise from the left - quilted maple, curly maple, curly thai crepe myrtle, lacewood, koa and lastly on the bottom curly claro walnut.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Are you totally sold on a full top? Or would you consider just leaving the neck laminates showing thru?

 

[RichterScale]

Throw a sweater over that lumber.
That's inappropriate.

 

[Slidlow]

Are you totally sold on a full top? Or would you consider just leaving the neck laminates showing thru?

No I'm not leaning either way at the moment. After looking at everything I am now considering the quilted maple just because it is already book matched and thicknessed thus saving a bunch of time. It also looks quite cool.

 

[Slidlow]

Throw a sweater over that lumber.
That's inappropriate.

I took the wrapper off this one just for you @RichterScale . How about book matched ebony top?

 

[Slidlow]

More wood. Picking out a fretboard. I have left to right - Honduran rosewood, East Indian Rosewood and Sissod. Lined up on top of the purpleheart for comparison. To the far left is some cherry that I am considering for the back of the body wings.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Looks like you picked the maple but I’m a sucker for Koa or Myrtle.

 

[Crawforde]

I think that East Indian rosewood looks good with the maple.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Yup, the East Indian is sweet. Higher contrast.