1975 Guild F-212 Makeover

[Christopher Cozad]

The pins are holding that skinny little strip of Walnut binding against the gentle curve cut into the side. Without the pins keeping the binding held tight against the curve, the wood wants to travel in a straight line.

I realize that the angle I held the camera at kind of hides the curve. It will make more sense when I photograph the completed arm bevel.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

The “bevel” exists between the binding that I curved down around the side and the purfling that I routed into the top. I use a rasp to carefully form the angle. I apply a heat-lock adhesive to both the bevel on the guitar body and a strip of Walnut veneer, and let it dry thoroughly.



I apply the veneer, secure it with tape, and leave it to set overnight. I carefully sand back the excess veneer to reveal the transitional arm bevel.



A wider shot shows the addition of the player comfort features: the arm bevel and the side port.

 

[GGJaguar]

The “bevel”

Is that the same as a Manzer wedge?

 

[schoolie]

I'm saving up for a Cozad guitar. Amazing work!

 

[Christopher Cozad]

Is that the same as a Manzer wedge?

No. You know how your typical acoustic body is around 4-ish inches deep near the neck, and 5-ish inches deep near the tailblock? You could think of that as “wedge #1."

Canadian luthier Linda Manzer started building guitar bodies where, in addition to wedge #1, she reduced the depth of the body where your arm lays over it. That would make it wedge #2.

The arm bevel leaves wedge #1 as is, and does NOT create wedge #2. Instead, it just “rounds” off the sharp corner that leaves that indentation in your forearm.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

schoolie, if this F-212 turns out how I hope, I may offer it back to this community. Only if it is worthy to hold its own, though. I still have a ways to go. Starting on the neck, now...

 

[Christopher Cozad]

Here is a “sneak peek” at the finish on the F-212...

 

[zulu]

Gasp

 

[chazmo]

Yummy, Chris.

 

[Christopher Cozad]

How things have changed. Back in the '70s, they painted over this wood. To be fair, everything was made of Mahogany for a couple of decades prior, and I suppose people wanted something different. But I find it to be gorgeous to look at.

 

[WaltW]

That's beautiful Christopher! The shot of the depressed area in the arm rest location is thought provoking. That might be a solution for shorter armed people , like me, being able to play large guitars....like jumbos. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm?
I cannot wait to see this in it finished state.

 

[davismanLV]

HOLY CRAP that's beautiful!! I love everything about it!!

 

[davismanLV]

How things have changed. Back in the '70s, they painted over this wood. To be fair, everything was made of Mahogany for a couple of decades prior, and I suppose people wanted something different. But I find it to be gorgeous to look at.

Back then, mahogany grew on trees. Now, not so much.....

 

[twocorgis]

How things have changed. Back in the '70s, they painted over this wood. To be fair, everything was made of Mahogany for a couple of decades prior, and I suppose people wanted something different. But I find it to be gorgeous to look at.

Mahogany looks so much better when it's not stained or painted over. That's just beautiful Christopher!

 

[GGJaguar]

The sneak peek looks great!

 

[wileypickett]

Here is a “sneak peek” at the finish on the F-212...

What did you use on it?

 

[Christopher Cozad]

What did you use on it?

This is a CA finish. It is a variety of cyanoacrylate formulated just for this task. I have been working on perfecting the technique for years. It produces just spectacular results.

As the finish is applied by hand, it is more comparable to a French Polished Shellac than to a sprayed-on NitroCellulose Lacquer. But that is where the similarity ends. Unlike Shellac, the finish builds quickly. Unlike Lacquer, if you want to hurry things along, a guitar can be completely finished in two or three days.

The body is at a “satin-esque” sheen right now (a bit shinier than satin, but not quite “semi-gloss”). This is where I stop for the necks, it is as shiny as I will go, and they feel marvelous. But for the rest of this guitar, I can’t decide whether I want to take it all the way to high gloss, or not. It is gorgeous, either way.

 

[HeyMikey]

How things have changed. Back in the '70s, they painted over this wood. To be fair, everything was made of Mahogany for a couple of decades prior, and I suppose people wanted something different. But I find it to be gorgeous to look at.

Bravo Chris! Good mahogany is such a beautiful wood with a nice iridescence. It SHOULD be seen, not covered up.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Christopher, do you build acoustics from scratch? Like your own designs etc?
The fact you used thumbtacks in your process was amazing to see.

 

[chazmo]

Bravo Chris! Good mahogany is such a beautiful wood with a nice iridescence. It SHOULD be seen, not covered up.

I don't know why the esthetic of the the 60s and 70s for dark stained mahogany furniture carried over for so long even into the current day. I totally agree with all of you that a more natural stain looks spectacular with mahogany.

As a wild guess, it may well be that oak furniture which is often left blond looked unclassy to folks back then and they wanted their mahogany stuff to ooze of weight and heft and be dark. I guess that carried over to guitar manufacture. Sheesh, I have a cherry-paneled den that is darker than a dungeon. I wish I could strip it all down and do a light stain on it. Most folks usually just paint over it, but I just can't bring myself. I'm too lazy anyway.