Finishing the OM

After finishing the bridge I didn't find the time to continue the OM until this week. But I wanted it to be finished to take it to my next exhibition which will be the "Bremen Guitar Art" from 19th to 21st of february.

http://www.bremenguitarart.de/

Here are some shots of the process. The last steps start when the lacquer has cured and is ready to be sanded and buffed to a high polish. In this case it is a semi  gloss DD lacquer which is super thin yet resistend and can as well be polished to a very high degree. The top is high gloss and back and sides left at a semi gloss.

I am ALWAYS nervous when it comes to fitting the bridge and getting the position right. This has to be absolutely correct as it is important for getting the intonation right. But after checking 3 times then having a coffee and checking again I feel confident enough to drill through the pin holes and fix the bridge position.

Then I have to carefully cut through the lacquer and remove it where the bridge is glued on the top.

After gluing the bridge I leave the guitar for at least two days and let the glue dry. Next this neck got some oil.
What I really enjoy is fitting the tuning machines and making the nut and saddle. Its the last steps before putting strings on and this is a really good moment. It is curiosity and excitement. I always have something in my mind how I expect the guitar to sound. Now after the strings are on and tuned to pitch the guitar does not sound good. It is more likeputting strings on a cartboard box. But you can hear it change dramatically after the instrument acclimates to the string tension.

Only a few hours later this guitar sounded pretty promissing!