Quilted Maple Guitar Build, Part 1 | Replacing the maple top

[@bloodswarms]

Killer guitar build! People bash Harbor Freight, but I love their clamps. I bought... Probably 25 of them in various sizes years ago and they've never let me down.

[@homebuiltshop]

Harbor Freight isn't my first choice for certain things, but I have no problem with the small clamps and other small things. I do like their Icon brand hand tools. The quality seems really good for the money.

[@scottmorris4914]

It’s looking good. Grain on the mahoghany looks good toon

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks, it does have a nice grain to it.

[@knowyourjoe8826]

Nice video. It was sad to see how the orig top was removed. That being said you gotta do what you gotta do. Looking forward to the next part.

[@homebuiltshop]

I was sad too but I couldn't leave it that way.

[@paulwaldrop]

Nice job. Good Save

[@homebuiltshop]

I hated sanding the top off but I feel it had to be done. Lol.

[@dalgguitars]

Noooo. Just put a rout down the center and add a contrasting wood. It then becomes a "feature"! Great video, thanks.

[@homebuiltshop]

That's another option for sure. It's just not the look I wanted for this build. I will definitely keep that in mind for the future though. It did make me a little sad. Lol.

[@SkyscraperGuitars]

Good save! Looks like this one is going to be pretty darn nice looking.

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks, I'm planning to have this one at the show so you'll have to check it out.

[@robertr4193]

Looking good Jeff.

[@homebuiltshop]

Thanks Robert, I'm excited about this one.

[@davidspencer2333]

Great progress Jeff! Can I ask where you get your flamed maple blanks? I have a nice two-piece blank of swamp ash. I'm thinking about doing some weight reduction and adding maple on top for a Telecaster.

[@homebuiltshop]

I got this quilted maple from a family member so I've had it around for a while. I still have several pieces of it for future projects. If I was going to buy some new I'd probably start looking on Ebay. I've had good luck buying there before. It can be hit or miss, but if you look for sellers with good ratings it increases your chances of success. There are other online sellers too but I don't have any particular recommendations simply because I haven't used them.

[@andyfarmer759]

Hi Jeff, what is the grain filler that you use?

[@homebuiltshop]

This time I used Aqua Coat Gel filler. #notsponsored. I've used it a few times and it seems to work pretty well. Its important to remove as much excess as you can because any extra is more that you'll have to sand off. This is a water based filler too.

[@andyfarmer759]

@@homebuiltshopThanks. I don't think I have seen that one before and it looks easy to use.

[@markmatire]

How long did it take?