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The Lil’ Buckaroo was completed on Day 10, with the combined efforts of myself and Aaron Tacke, and by all accounts it was a success!  Here is the details:

Aaron called me from Minneapolis, suggesting we collaborate and build a quick guitar for a friend.  We would build a 1937-spec L-OO out of all local walnut and whatever spruce was on hand, build it in about a week, and have it ready to play for the Portland Old Time Music Gathering on January 17th, 2015.  We talked briefly about having it be top-bound, black painted, and put a few supplies on order.  I don’t think I seriously believed that we could do it (and have any finish on it), but when I returned from a days work at the bike shop to find the top and back joined and sides thicknessed, and brace stock milled, I was thrilled to dive into the build.  The only pieces I had prepared ahead of time was a rough walnut neck blank slotted for a two-way truss rod, and a Brazilian Rosewood bridge I had from a previous build.  The rest would be made from raw stock.

Here is the specs:

1937 Gibson L-OO 14 frets to body, 24 3/4″ scale length, 1 3/4″ ebony nut

Sitka Spruce top and bracewood with a very well-aged maple bridgeplate

Claro Walnut back, sides, neck

Palisander Rosewood fingerboard and Brazilian Rosewood bridge with a bone through-saddle

ivoroid celluloid binding and rosette

Finish is enamel and oil varnish.

And it’s for sale!