A Guitar From The Pit

[@DavidFlood-bm6lu]

I was told a long time ago that the measure of a craftsman is how well you hide your mistakes. Your videos are inspiring Monty, particularly for an aging instrument maker like myself. I sure hope you can continue despite your health challenges.

[@MontyMcKinnon]

I’m glad they help. I’m going to try to keep going as long as I can.

[@richardg7758]

Thanks Monty you’re an inspiration to more people than you know!

[@MontyMcKinnon]

You are kind!

[@BearCreekWoodworking]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us Monty! I’m glad you didn’t scrap this guitar. Once completed you will get a large feeling of accomplishment, and enjoy playing it that much more. 😃👏

[@MontyMcKinnon]

That's the plan!

[@tomalexiou9573]

Thank you for making this video Monty and sharing your experiences.From Scarborough Ontario.

[@MontyMcKinnon]

My pleasure! I have sent a lot of time in your neck of the woods. lol

[@tomalexiou9573]

Wow,I wish I knew you back then.I could have been your apprentice.I went to Cedarbrae CI , Churchill and R.H. King.1978-1982.

[@jonpardue]

Well done persevering Monty! The lesson can be applied to any of us trying something new. What a grand experience to return and discover you kept working endlessly to move the build ahead. You inspire us.

[@MontyMcKinnon]

Oh my, thank you so much for your support.

[@andrewdarnley4608]

I always thought that I was the only builder that had too correct the snafu's I encounter with almost every guitar I build.

[@MontyMcKinnon]

I've made every mistake building guitars at least three times. lol

[@red58impala]

Glad to see you persevered. If you hadn't told us about the problems, we probably wouldn't have noticed. I'm looking forward to your upcoming tool videos as I'm always looking for better ways to sharpen my tools.

[@MontyMcKinnon]

Sharp tools work better.

[@kwaktak]

I admire your fortitude and you're wife's support, Monty. My situation is similar yet dissimilar. - I don't like sanding or using power tools if I can help it; I'm much too accident prone for that. My recent heartbreak ruining a top when trying to patch repair a broken purfling with a router taught me a lesson. Less is more and sometimes a card scraper is the better tool for leveling. It's less messy. I also learned that violin makers use this thing called a gramil for inlaying. I found one and used it to redo my binding and purfling. - I also cut my own shellac but in that case I do rely on a power tool to speed up the mixing process. Specifically, I use a coffee bean grinder to turn the flake into finer flakes and a powder. My last batch of 8:1 took just a couple of hours to fully dissolve. I'll throw up a short on my channel (a la the old "video reply" days on KZbin.) - I also French polish my guitars, so when I cut shellac I do two jars; one 8:1 for sealing the wood so that the CA glue doesn't soak into the wood and one is 4:1 for pore filling (I use a shaker filled with pumice) and French polishing building sessions.

[@MontyMcKinnon]

That is some siolid advice. I use pumice, sparingly but I never thought of a 4:1 as a grain filler. I think I'll give it a try. Thanks for the tip.

[@kwaktak]

@@MontyMcKinnon the shellac is more to help soften the wood so that the pumice’s abrasive qualities can work any fibers into the pores. If you use too much pumice it will fill the pore instead of the wood fibers. I also tend to use pumice during the early building sessions afterward to address any sinkage into the pores.

[@johnsee7269]

Condolences for the last hurrah guitar Monty. I'd vote for no sound port but I'm a bit of a traditionalist and kinda resistant to change... Beautiful back and sides wood!

[@MontyMcKinnon]

Yes, the body wood is gorgeous. Wait until you see it with a french polish.

[@vperalta]

I like the idea of a sound port. I am sorry about the setbacks. About your hand shacking, my left hand shakes when I hold something. I mentioned it to my neurologist and he said many surgeons are forced to retire when they develop the kind of shake I have. I am trying not to be discouraged by it.

[@MontyMcKinnon]

I've had this problem since I was a teenager.

[@ryanhatten7751]

I love the sound ports on your guitars! So that is my vote 👍 I have a long-term goal of eventually building guitars, and I want to model them after your builds. Keep up the amazing work. Love your videos they are so inspiring.🙏

[@MontyMcKinnon]

The sound ports are great. I'm leaning that way.

[@RickEagan]

Mistakes happen to all of us no matter how experienced we are as luthiers. We know we learn from our mistakes. The challenge is how are we going to correct the problem. As luthiers we are problem solvers; which is what you did on this guitar.

[@MontyMcKinnon]

Rick, thank you for your encouragement. I needed that. This was a tough one so, thank you.