Steve's Guitar Making Part 8 - Finish 3 of 3

Hey Steve,
Thanks for taking the time to make and post these videos.
This is by far the best series of tutorials on guitar-making i've seen, it really helped me understand the process better.
Any plans on posting a final setup/final thoughts video?

Steve,
I am in the midst of FP my first guitar and greatly appreciate your contribution to the knowledge out there. It really helps to see the technique and thanks for your encouraging comments.

I suggest that instead of painting, you use aniline dyes mixed into the Shellac. In the end you would get very rich colors, but no real impact to sound. The dyes come in powder for and can then be added to the shellac.

Just a suggestion.

Steve, I've done wood working and cabinet making for years, and haveenjoyed this series. I've played guitar for years, and now look forward to retiring and giving it a go. I'd love to see the finished guitar and hear it played. Great job. I'd pay for the CDs as someone had suggested earlier. Thanks for your effort.

Sorry Confusion35, I've never tried painting one. Anyone else out there have any suggestions?

what if you wanna paint your gutar what kinda paint should u use?

Thanks, Steve, for all of your time and effort.
This is a real inspiration for me to build a guitar and through your teaching methods and demonstrations I now have the confidence to try my hand at one. You have also showed me that I don't need an elaborate array of (really) expensive equipment.
I am looking forward to seeing/hearing the finished, set-up product.
Thanks again, from Suthren Ontario!

Cant wait to see and hear the final project!!

dear steve,

lots of thanks from germany for posting these videos. you where a great help and inspiration for building my own guitar. it`s an elektric guitar and it`s now nearly completed. for the finish i first oiled the body and neck so that the schellack was easyer to put on. i jused a 2 cut of schellack in all steps and it made also a very shiny gloss. thanks again for all your work and your support. i think lots of people now would like to see and hear your completed guitar.

I was scared to try french polishing until I saw your videos. BRILLIANT.
i LIKE YOUR APPROACH AND STYLE.

You're videos were like a great book, I couldn't put it down. For someone who is interested in guitars n' woodworking, I would love to see the rest and hear what that badboy's gonna sound like. Thank you so much for what you're doing.

They don't get much more hand made than that.

If a picture is worth a thousand workds, your video is worth ten thousand, and all of them good! After reading the "required" literature, I had many questions. Your series really make it clear. Thanks for the excellent work!

hey mate great series. uve got great talent and skill. is there more videos to come on the bridge and nut stuff? also im probably not the only person whod love to hear how your guitar sounds and see how it looks all finished. would u be able to do a video of that as well. cheers mate

Steve:
I have watched all of your videos (I think.) I really appreciate you posting them. I have completed a mandolin already and plan on building a guitar soon. Did I miss a set of videos after the finish videos (part 8 - 1,2,3)? I would love to see the final setup and listen to your guitar.

Actually, there's a guy (marquisdelafange) on YouTube doing just that. Search on french polish piano.

Can i do my piano at the same way>?

I'm glad to hear you're going to build one. Getting people to give it a try was most of the goal of these postings. The neck is French polished in the same way as the body.
Enjoy

Hi Steve!
I was once thinking about making myself a guitar, but now after following your tutorial I'm TOTALLY going to build one! One question: What about the neck? Is it french polished in the same way?

Hey Steve....Sorry....I wasn't looking for any flaws in the tutorial....Just taught you were doing something different...always looking for new ideas you know..I have three guitars and a bouzouki on the bench right now and have french polished three...French polish has got to be the best finish but you only get out what you put into it...Its a slow process and if you are the type of person that wants things done yesterday forget it...Take care buddy....Larry....Labrador City, NL

Drat, someone caught my mixture goof.;-) Yes, Larry, you're right. I realized after doing this "dilute twice" sort of thing that it was kind of dumb. I never actually use the 2 pound cut at full concentration. Thanks for pointing this out. I tried baby oil, but the smell got to me after a while. I haven't tried mineral oil, but maybe I will since it's a lot cheaper than olive oil.

Hey Steve.Fellow guitar builder here..Great job on your tutorial..Some Luthiers sell this kind of info on a VHS or CD.I have tried a lot of finishes (no nitro)and the French Polish is by far the best. One question..You mix a 2 pound cut but use a 1 pound cut or less...Wouldn't it be better to mix the one pound cut in the beginning? Is there a reason for this.I use mineral oil or baby oil instead of olive oil which is kind of appropriate since we treat our guitars like babys.....Thanks, Larry

Steve,
Great stuff. I've watched this over this weekend and found it very useful. I've ordered a copy of William Cumpiano's book and identified some sources for materials so who knows ...

Thanks again, Peter.

I'm no finishing expert, but assuming your strat is maple or some other closed pore wood, I would expect that regular clear coat would work fine.

man i have all your videos on my favorites you should think about making a bass guitar