My third guitar

[David Stiles]

Yesterday, I finished my third guitar. I must thank the members of ANZLF for the wealth of great content here, both old and new. I have found this to be a resource that is indispensable.

Sitka Spruce & Northern Silky Oak with Burdekin Plum fretboard & bridge.

If I may indulge is a little bit of showing off, here are some pictures:

[seeaxe]

Stunning! You would have to be pleased with that.
What kind of bracing did you use? Looks like it might be a falcate!!

[David Stiles]

Thanks Richard, it is actually X braced.

I went Falcate on previous build. This time I was mentoring a school student who was making a dreadnought for his woodwork project so I did X bracing for him to copy. I'm very happy with the sound. Nice bass and really sings up high. I can now understand why spruce is so popular.

David

[WJ Guitars]

Excellent guitar build. I like the northern silky oak back and sides.

Wayne

[johnparchem]

Very nice! I love everything about it.

[kiwigeo]

If I may indulge is a little bit of showing off, here are some pictures:

You may indulge...in fact we insist on it!! Nice work on that guitar David....I love its simple clean lines. Nice work on that rosette as well.

[Mark McLean]

Absolutely lovely. Great aesthetic and execution. I haven't seen a neck done in silky oak before. It looks very nice - but how was it to carve and shape? How do you think it will go for stability - time will tell? If it performs well for necks I would consider trying it as an alternative to maple.

[David Stiles]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments.

Mark, the Silky oak was easy enough to carve, virtually no different to Qld Maple. It looks like it would be tricky but I had no issues with it at all. It did need pore filling though. As far as stability, I did the scarf about 6 months ago and it was perfectly straight when I went back to it a few weeks ago. I hardly have any pressure on the truss rod either. Time will tell.

[lamanoditrento]

Well done David. I do like a clean-looking fretboard without fret markers. What is your finish?

[David Stiles]

Thanks Trent, guitar is French Polished using 'advanced method' from Gore/Gillet book except that I used a water based grain filler on the Silky Oak first. I think all shellac finish may have looked better but Silky Oak needed a lot of filling.