Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica

ag123
Strummer

Posts: 22

Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 17, 2021 10:29:34 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan, Phil Taylor, and 7 more like this

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Post by ag123 on Mar 17, 2021 10:29:34 GMT

I was in the market for a travel guitar and was hoping to order a Go-Grande Guitar from Sam Radding. Unfortunately, it looks like Sam retired a few years ago.

I then stumbled across a luthier with an interest in travel guitars. Several emails later, I decided to take a chance and commissioned a replica of the Go-Grande.

Specs:

Indian rosewood back and sides (AAA)
Sitka spruce top (AAA)
Honduran mahogany neck (AAA)
Indian rosewood bridge and fretboard
Indian rosewood headstock
Paua (abalone) fretmarkers
Ebony and abalone endpins
K&K Pure Mini pickup

Last Edit: Mar 26, 2021 13:49:30 GMT by ag123

mandovark C.O.G. Posts: 3,100 Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Birds_eye_maple.jpg","color":""} Mini-Profile Name Color: ff003a Mini-Profile Text Color: 05b724	Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 17, 2021 11:48:14 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by mandovark on Mar 17, 2021 11:48:14 GMT Looks good so far, ag123. Not sure I've seen that body shape before. What scale length will it have?
	"Never criticise a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Then, when you criticise him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes."

ag123 Strummer Posts: 22	Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 17, 2021 12:32:27 GMT via Tapatalk mandovark likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ag123 on Mar 17, 2021 12:32:27 GMT Thanks Mandovark. The scale length will be 24.5".

ag123 Strummer Posts: 22	Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 17, 2021 18:22:14 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan, leoroberts, and 2 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ag123 on Mar 17, 2021 18:22:14 GMT Binding (in Indian rosewood) and purfling to match the rosette.

lindsayguitar Strummer Posts: 16	Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 18, 2021 7:44:19 GMT via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by lindsayguitar on Mar 18, 2021 7:44:19 GMT 🙏🙂 L🎸
	lindsay-guitar.com

ag123 Strummer Posts: 22	Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 20, 2021 14:38:29 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan, brianr2, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ag123 on Mar 20, 2021 14:38:29 GMT Headstock and neck taking shape. Mine is at the bottom (number 3). I've gone for Honduran mahogany (AAA grade) for the neck with Indian rosewood (veneer) for the headstock.

ag123 Strummer Posts: 22	Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 23, 2021 14:26:33 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan, leoroberts, and 1 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ag123 on Mar 23, 2021 14:26:33 GMT Neck being attached to the body. You can now get a sense of what the finished guitar will look like.

ag123
Strummer

Posts: 22

Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 25, 2021 18:06:03 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan, leoroberts, and 2 more like this

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Post by ag123 on Mar 25, 2021 18:06:03 GMT

Side dots (in mother of pearl) and fretboard markers (in paua to complement the rosette) on the rosewood fretboard.

I asked for a radius after the 17th fret to complement the bottom of the guitar.

ag123 Strummer Posts: 22	Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 26, 2021 19:05:20 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan, leoroberts, and 2 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ag123 on Mar 26, 2021 19:05:20 GMT Fretboard glued to the neck. It's just been oiled so it looks a bit dark. The paua markers look lovely and complement the rosette nicely.

ag123
Strummer

Posts: 22

Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 27, 2021 17:35:29 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan, leoroberts, and 4 more like this

Quote

Post by ag123 on Mar 27, 2021 17:35:29 GMT

Time to install the frets. The photos show the stainless steel fretwire being radiused, the tangs being nipped, the ends being filled, and the frets being installed.

The paua fretmarkers look stunning against the dark rosewood and they really complement the rosette nicely. The reflectance of the paua fretmarkers is known as chatoyancy. That's a new word for my vocabulary.

Still quite a bit to do.

mandovark C.O.G. Posts: 3,100 Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Birds_eye_maple.jpg","color":""} Mini-Profile Name Color: ff003a Mini-Profile Text Color: 05b724	Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 28, 2021 16:01:38 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by mandovark on Mar 28, 2021 16:01:38 GMT Some lovely colours in those fretboard markers!
	"Never criticise a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes. Then, when you criticise him, you're a mile away and you have his shoes."

ag123 Strummer Posts: 22	Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 28, 2021 18:12:18 GMT via Tapatalk mandovark likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ag123 on Mar 28, 2021 18:12:18 GMT Thank you. I'm really pleased with the paua fretmarkers. They will tie in really nicely with the ebony and abalone endpins.

ag123
Strummer

Posts: 22

Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 29, 2021 17:21:22 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan likes this

Quote

Post by ag123 on Mar 29, 2021 17:21:22 GMT

Into the final bend as the headstock veneer and bridge (in Indian rosewood to match the back and sides) are glued.

I was a bit undecided about the wood for the truss rod cover and was trying to choose between Indian rosewood and Honduran mahogany (to match the neck). I've asked for both so that I can decide at home.

ag123
Strummer

Posts: 22

Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Mar 30, 2021 18:13:12 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan and leoroberts like this

Quote

Post by ag123 on Mar 30, 2021 18:13:12 GMT

Neck being shaped. I asked for the neck to flare out the neck at the body for easy access beyond the 12th fret.

Also a small amount of fret levelling and re-crowning.

The paua fretmarkers look really beautiful on the rosewood fretboard.

ag123
Strummer

Posts: 22

Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica Apr 1, 2021 18:57:57 GMT via Tapatalk ocarolan, leoroberts, and 1 more like this

Quote

Post by ag123 on Apr 1, 2021 18:57:57 GMT

The neck is finished after some final shaping (by sight and feel).

We're into the home straight now as the guitar enters the spray booth for a few base coats (in readiness for lacquer next week).

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Build: Sam Radding Go-Guitar replica

Post by ag123 on Mar 17, 2021 10:29:34 GMT

Post by mandovark on Mar 17, 2021 11:48:14 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 17, 2021 12:32:27 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 17, 2021 18:22:14 GMT

Post by lindsayguitar on Mar 18, 2021 7:44:19 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 20, 2021 14:38:29 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 23, 2021 14:26:33 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 25, 2021 18:06:03 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 26, 2021 19:05:20 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 27, 2021 17:35:29 GMT

Post by mandovark on Mar 28, 2021 16:01:38 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 28, 2021 18:12:18 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 29, 2021 17:21:22 GMT

Post by ag123 on Mar 30, 2021 18:13:12 GMT

Post by ag123 on Apr 1, 2021 18:57:57 GMT

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