tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32932962.post-91833975520461501062007-12-14T18:35:00.000+01:002007-12-14T18:40:41.885+01:00<div align="center">Commissioning a guitar part 6 </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143883990728245442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yscf-gEajYA/R2K_PHEtAMI/AAAAAAAAAQw/_Fbkf2WbcME/s320/Label.jpg" border="0" /><br />Richard’s guitar is now completed and you can see it in its full glory on my website <a class="nav" href="http://www.navaguitars.co.uk/New_steel1.html" target="_blank">(click here for details) </a><br />One of the last details was to print out the label with Richard’s name on it. This is a little touch that the client always appreciates. I delivered the guitar to him earlier this week and to say he was thrilled is an understatement! Although I felt that the guitar was as good as it gets, there’s always some apprehension: are you going to make someone’s dreams come true or not? I’ve not seen anyone so happy for a long time and his reaction was well worth all the effort. He played it like a man inspired! I think that Richard did get his dream guitar!<br />Below is a sample that I sent off to Ian for his Baritone guitar. He wants me to use red in the rosette and purflings.<br /><br /><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143884123872231634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_yscf-gEajYA/R2K_W3EtANI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/VzqGFqyfJc0/s320/sample.jpg" border="0" />There are three different shades of veneer here to choose from, one is Paduk which is a naturally reddish wood and the others are two different shades of sycamore that have been dyed red. Photos never show the true shades, so making up a sample like this is the safest way to ensure that the client gets what he wants. We both liked the bright red so this will be used.<br /></div><div align="center"><br />Mandolin</div><div align="left"><br />The two point mandolin that I have been working on is now completed and below you can see my son test driving it.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5143884325735694562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yscf-gEajYA/R2K_inEtAOI/AAAAAAAAARA/NGQGD51mO_g/s400/luke.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p>I’m very pleased with it; it is such a beautiful little instrument. This is the first time that I have used this shape and the twin points allow real access to the high frets and visually it looks stunning! The French polish enhances the grain; the shellac must diffract or reflect the light in a certain way and although it is not as robust a finish as lacquer it is far more attractive. It also feels so silky!<br />This mandolin will be up for sale on my website in the next day or so, I’m just waiting for some decent weather so that I can take some photographs outside! </p>Gary Nava, Luthierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08346629145204871126noreply@blogger.com