Custom 6-string for Auset

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 10 Jan 2012 7:52 pm

I'm making this for my wife Auset. Actually, I've got people with real woodworking skills doing most of the building. I designed it and I'll be finishing it, so I can't really take credit for the bulk of the work. My pattern maker friend is handling most of it. Another local luthier is inlaying maple strips for the frets and mother of pearl dots for markers. The fretboard is cocobolo. The body is ash. The top is quilted maple. Custom Zum keyhead and bridge. 23" scale, 3/8" spacing all the way down. I think the weight is coming in right at 8lbs. French polish shellac finish. I'm already practicing the finishing on a spare maple board. I'll update photos as it comes along.

Brad

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 11 Jan 2012 5:01 am

Excellent!

Peter den Hartogh · Post by **Peter den Hartogh** » 11 Jan 2012 8:40 am

Beautiful!

Did you plan a matching stand for this?

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 11 Jan 2012 9:42 am

She likes to play with the steel on her lap. So no stand in the works, yet.

And thanks for the various recommendations for pickups. I found a used Peter Florance Voodoo humbucker here locally that I'm gonna try at first.

Brad

Gary Stevenson · Post by **Gary Stevenson** » 11 Jan 2012 3:30 pm

That is going to be one beautiful lap steel. I can't wait to see the finish product!

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 11 Jan 2012 4:27 pm

That's some sweet quilt!

Jerry Gleason · Post by **Jerry Gleason** » 11 Jan 2012 6:10 pm

Beautiful design and woodwork. I love that keyhead and bridge, too.

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 11 Jan 2012 6:43 pm

Thats going to finish out very nice Brad!

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 11 Jan 2012 9:45 pm

Gorgeous, Brad. if it sounds as good... umm.....

Ray DeVoe · Post by **Ray DeVoe** » 12 Jan 2012 8:41 am

Hey Brad

Must be nice to be one of those guys who can do just about anything

Looks great. Im sure she will love it.

Ray D

Jeff Spencer · Post by **Jeff Spencer** » 12 Jan 2012 1:57 pm

NICE! look forward to the end result. - well done!

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 12 Jan 2012 7:43 pm

Fretboard got finished today:

Peter den Hartogh · Post by **Peter den Hartogh** » 12 Jan 2012 9:07 pm

I can't really judge from the keyhead pic, but from here it looks like the tuner for string 6 could be tad too close to the nut,
which might be a problem when using the first fret.
Maybe test it out first before mounting the whole keyhead assembly in its final position.
The nut can remain where it is, but now it is still feasible to move the keyhead assembly away from the fretboard.
You might need a metal or wooden spacer to mount the nut on, though.
Just thinking.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 13 Jan 2012 6:24 am

Peter, I have to admit that I didn't really calculate for that factor. At this point, the headstock wood has been cut to fit, so we'll have to live with it. Fortunately, my wife's hands are tiny and hopefully wont be crashing into the tuning keys when down at the 1st fret. I'll report back as this thing comes together.

B

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 17 Jan 2012 8:40 am

READY FOR FINISH:

NEARLY DONE:

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 17 Jan 2012 8:44 am

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 17 Jan 2012 9:09 am

Beautiful. Nice job on the FP!

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 17 Jan 2012 9:19 am

Thanks.

The French Polish is a very fun, forgiving, and addictive process. Very rewarding and actually pretty darn fast compared to oil and spray methods. I'll still need to protect the shellac with some outer glazes and/or wax to help keep it solvent/alcohol proof. Don't want to spill any Pappy Van Winkle on it and melt the finish.

We plan to glue down the fretboard tomorrow, do some final cleanup, wire it up and be done, hopefully before the weekend.

Brad

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Jan 2012 9:27 am

Brad Sarno wrote:Peter, I have to admit that I didn't really calculate for that factor. At this point, the headstock wood has been cut to fit, so we'll have to live with it. Fortunately, my wife's hands are tiny and hopefully wont be crashing into the tuning keys when down at the 1st fret. I'll report back as this thing comes together.

B

I think what the nut is lacking in distance is made up for by the height.

Stunning work on the finish. Some really nice figure on that body and fretboard.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 17 Jan 2012 10:51 am

True Mike.

Last night we sized up the keyhead with nut in place and my wife, since this is for her, checked out the clearance with the bar at the first fret. She clear it fine. If it were me, the left of my palm may bump the top of the low tuning key, but not enough to be a real issue. You're right, the height really does help there. I have more of an issue with that on our '66 bolt-on push/pull Emmons. So it looks like that issue is not going to present a problem, whew.

And thank for the kind words Mike. My friend and guitar maker, Scott Walker in Santa Cruz, CA provided the nice cut of cocobolo. He also referred me to Whale Bay for the maple top. Apparently they're known for sourcing some of the most beautiful western woods for instrument builders. And the ash came from a place in AZ. I was surprised to see how beautiful the ash turned out. I didn't bother filling its pores since they're so deep, and really it helps keep the ash looking more natural and organic and even grippy on the lap.

Brad

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 17 Jan 2012 11:13 am

I'll have to check out Whale Bay.
I've been getting my ash (and lots of other stuff) from Woodworkers Source here in Phx. You have to keep dropping by to get the really good stuff but it's worth it.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 17 Jan 2012 11:21 am

That's where I got this ash, Woodworker's Source in PHX... It was luck of the draw, totally ordered blind over the phone. It was actually a 60" x 11 board. My patternmaker/woodworker friend picked out the best section of that board where he essentially centered the whole body symmetrically to almost get a bookmatched effect.

But for figured, instrument grade maples, check out Whale Bay.

B

Mike D · Post by **Mike D** » 17 Jan 2012 11:29 am

Yeah they carry immense pieces of Ash, Alder, Oak etc. You have to move it all yourself too. One day I think I moved about 10K lbs of Ash to get to the piece I wanted.
Another day I was there they had these gigantic slabs of Bubinga. 3-4 feet wide and some 100+ inches long. My wallet was a little light for any of those though.

They do re-sawing and planing for a decent price too.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 18 Jan 2012 1:54 pm

Fini....

more and better pic's later.

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 18 Jan 2012 2:19 pm

That is a awesome looking guitar Brad, you should be very proud.

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