SIDE VIEW AFTER 8 COATS OF SEALER

REAR VIEW

VINTAGE MODEL VD---1 SILLS MODEL

SHOWN BETTER IN THIS SHOT THE TONER , IS APPLIED TO AN AGED LOOK

JOHN SILLS---VINTAGE MODEL

I NOT SURE WHY TWO PHOTO'S LOADED , HERE IS A PROGRESS REPORT 8 COATS OF CLEAR SEALER, AND VINTAGE TONER

THIS VIOLIN CAME TO ME FOR REPAIR

VIOLINS OF THIS TYPE ARE HAND CONSTRUCTED AND HAVE A HISTORY WITH FAMILY MEMBERS..THEY ARE NOT WORTH MUCH ON THE OPEN MARKET, BUT TO A FAMILY WHO REMEMBERS GRAND PAW PLAYING IT ...IT IS PRICELESS...I RESTORED THIS VIOLIN TO A PLAYABLE GOOD SOUNDING INSTRUMENT....BY THE WAY...IT HAD A STICKER IN IT THAT SAID STRADIVARIUS......THERE WERE SEVERAL HUNDRED MADE BY THE STRADIVARIUS ABOUT 700...690'S VIOLINS AND 3000 OF THEM ARE HERE IN CHEATHAM COUNTY. HMMM

TO THE LEFT IS A DULCIMER, I MADE FOR SHERRY CRENSHAW..THE TOP IS WESTERN CEDAR, BACK AND SIDES CHERRY... REAL MELLOW SOUND

BINDING CHANNEL FINISHED

IN THIS PHOTO'S THE BINDING CHANNEL IS READY TO INSTALL THE BINDING 3/16 WIDE, IVORY, BLACK , IVORY HAND TOOLS ARE STILL USED A LOT. IN THE PHOTO ARE A LEFT AND RIGHT HONED KNIVE, AND A SMALL TOOL FOR CLEANING OUT THE CHANNEL..IN THE BACKGROUND THE HEADSTOCK ON THE NECK HAS HAD THE CHANNEL CUT AND IS READY FOR THE BINDING...

JOHN SILLS DOBRO---ITS NOT GLUED Yet JOHN, THAT STEP IS COMMING NEXT.

LOOKING AT THE BACK BRACING --FOR JOHN SILLS 

BACK, FIGURED MAPLE 

CHARLES BURGER, MAKING A G RUN!
click on the photo to enlarge

FREDDY MILER, ON THE HOUND DOG, DOBRO, AND MIKE LATTIMORE, PLAYING THE CAROLINA FIVE STRING, JAM AT SIMPKINS CHAPEL, UMC.ASHLAND CITY,TN. click on photo... This is just before Freddy Falls backwards, out of the shelter,,,I did not Miss a note!

C. ALEXANDER BURGER, AND HIS MARTIN.  

CHARLES ALEXANDER BURGER, MASTER GUITAR PLAYER, PICKING A VINTAGE D-28 MARTIN GUITAR,OTHER FOLKS IN THE PHOTO ARE , FRED MILER, DOBRO, MICKEY FARMER, SETTING
click to enlarge

Selecting of Wood

SELECTION OF WOOD IS THE FIRST STEP.
MAPLE IS STABLE, SOUNDS GOOD, LOOKS GOOD. IT IS BEGINNING TO COST A LOT TO FIND THE SPECIAL FIGURED TYPES NEEDED..FIGURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SOUND THOUGH .

THE NECK BOLTS ON AT THE BLOCK

ANOTHER LOOK AT THAT CURLY MAPEL  

GLUING KERFING ON 

curle maple sides, old johns dobro, JOHN SILLS IS SO FAST THEY CALL HIM "GREASE" ! 

old garth is framed, john sills dobro