Win a Handmade Vincent Guitar!

We are raffling a guitar built by David Vincent in class using it for demos during our Acoustic Guitar Construction class, finish applied by Matt Hannafin, Proceeds go to the Roger Benedict Memorial Scholarship Fund for String Instrument Repair Students.

Mahogany Back and Sides, Sitka Spruce top, Sloped D, 12 fret body, bracing and scale length design from a 1930’s era Gibson Roy Smeck

Raffle Tickets are $5 Drawing held Oct. 3^rd Red Wing

For tickets contact David Vincent, MN. State College-SE Tech, 308 Pioneer Rd. Red Wing MN, 55066

Make checks out to MSC-ST Foundation

For more information about the Roger Benedict Memorial Scholarship please visit the college website here:  Roger Benedict Scholarship

...and to wrap it all up.

It's the last week of the 2nd semester and I really cannot state enough, it really does go fast! For the past two weeks mostly everyone in the 2nd year program has gotten their guitar sprayed or is just finishing up spraying their instruments--some of those who used UV polyester or 2k polyurethane have already buffed their guitar!

I can honestly say I've just sat in the room next to the spray booth (where we all hang our guitars) and stared at all the interesting designs. There has been a multitude of colors flying around, literally.

As you can see, there really is a large variety of guitar being built and sprayed. The bass on the left is actually the second instrument that a student has made this semester. The second from the left has been buffed out and is about to get the bridge on. The next guitar has been level sanded and is soon to be buffed, and the last guitar is all sanded out and is about to receive some color (possibly a black to blue sunburst?).

On the right here is a baritone acoustic that had just been sprayed. Yes, that bridge IS in the correct spot--this is a fan-fret guitar.

To the left is my guitar, after I sprayed a sunburst and several coats of reduced lacquer. This was taken just before I started level sanding to prep for more coats of lacquer.

This last picture is an archtop guitar built by a student, coated with 2k polyurethane. This was made in archtop class, and is amoung a few others being built. Last week, for the first time in the history of the school, an archtop guitar was buffed and strung-up during class. What's more amazing, is there will certainly be a few more ready in time for the guitar show this upcoming tuesday, May 10th. A couple mandolins and possibly a violin or two will also be ready for the show--which is no easy feat.

All in all, a very productive and exciting first second year program...Let me try that again. All things considered, it was a very productive and learned opening second year program. Some things went smooth and better than expected, while others were rough and will be refined for the next class. However, the information we learned through those difficulties *cough* UV Polyester *cough*, helped us to learn things we wouldn't have if they hadn't happened.

Luke P

...And the Spraying Begins

We are just over the halfway point of the second semester, and the instruments are really looking fine. As I'm sure I mentioned in my last post, the progress of all these instruments is all over the place. Most people are done, or getting close to being done with the instrument bodies and are working to finish their necks. Currently, there are two students in the process of spraying finish and more getting ready!

Our group as a whole seems to be cutting and installing inlays with a lot of enthusiasm. Pearl and abalone birds, roses, and trees are really taking shape on headstocks and fingerboards. It is cool to see the instruments get a refined look to them just by adding a bit of pearl.

In archtop class, things are just as spread out. Some guitars are getting close to being sprayed, which seems to be way ahead of the game for this early in the year, while we violin builders prepare to start the carve of the scroll! I can honestly say I have learned to use my hand tools 100% more efficiently after this class--which is great!

The CNC machine is often running, along with the constant hum of the router; these projects are really going fast!

Getting close to Valentine's Day--Did I mention we love our instruments?

In room 401, guitars are starting to take shape for the second year students. This semester, we have a wide array of guitars being built, from a neck-thru electric to a baritone acoustic guitar.

The electric guitars seem to be all over the place as far as how complete each is. A student building a "SG" style guitar just finished gluing on the neck to the body, while a couple others are just starting the neck. This all seems to depend on how simple or extreme the design is. A common theme among carved top builders seems to be carving the top on the CNC machine. One text run has been done so far, and it turned out great!

On the other hand, the acoustic builders seem to be in pretty close pace with each other. Most have been starting to glue on kerfing, some even gluing the box together. It is amazing to see how large (baritone) or how small (ukulele) some instruments are!

Regardless of the type, all instruments are being constructed carefully and with a well thought-out plan.

Luke

Spring Semester 2011

It's week two of the first spring semester in the Guitar Development and Production program. Our current classes include Advanced Guitar Construction, Advanced Inlay and Archtop (in which we continue the instrument we started last semester).

In our Advanced Guitar Construction classes, we are building the instruments that we previously made templates and molds for in CAD/CNC class last November and December. We have 16 weeks to complete the instrument we designed and are graded according to our weekly progress and the overall build. This class focuses on building a guitar from the ground up, while paying close attention to how much time each step will take and consequently, the whole process.

In our new Inlay class, we will all be aiming our sights on completing a number custom inlay projects both by hand and on the CNC machine. This two credit class will be a great door opener to the intricate world of inlays.

Things are being picked up where they were left off before our winter break. A lot of the guitar and mandolin builders have the final arches done with f-holes in and are getting ready to glue the box together. Those who are constructing an instrument with margins (violins/a few mandolins) are mostly finishing up final top arches--after having scraped down purfling.

-Luke