John Lennon replica guitar

Finished (today) a replica of John Lennon's Rickenbacker 325v59 which is a short scale instrument (20 3/4" scale).   Plays good.   Body and neck hard maple.  Rosewood fingerboard.  My name laser cut on truss rod cover.  (Lennon's said Rickenbacker, which I couldn't do 'cause they didn't make this one).   This is one for my personal use 'cause I couldn't afford an original.

Balaliaka

Another instrument from May that I forgot to post.  A balaliaka s/n 079   This was a new challenge on this one.  For the body I created a mold then applied a thin overlapping veneer of avordire and olive wood.   This was covered with a medium fiberglass cloth and resin and sanded.  Then another more precise layer of veneers were glued on.  The veneers were about as thick as a fine index card (i.e. very thin).   The top is mahogany with leopard wood pick guard, corner guards.  It is decorated with a hand painted scene of medieval knights in combat.  The neck is maple with a bubinga  (African cherry) fingerboard.   TIt has a standard 17 inch scale length.  I used Russian tuning machines.  These have shorter tuning posts necessitating routing a pocket to recess the gears enough for the post to protrude to accept strings.   (I came up with this solution on my own, then after research found this is what the Russins do for their balaliakas)

Restored Sewing Machine

Refinished mon's 1950 Singer sewing machine (also had seat re-upholstered)

Converted 2 pump organs to desks

Acquired 2 old 1880's vintage Mason Hamlin pump organs.   Couldn't get them to play, so converted them to desks.
1st organ - before and after

Second organ before and after

Solid Cherry Electric Guitar

Forgot to post this August creation.    Had a great piece of cherry over 2 inches thick so made another electric guitar.   Normally they are a back with channels routed out then a laminate hardwood top.  Since this wasn't a laminate but a solid block, the challenge was carving the insides.   The neck is hard maple with a kingwood fingerboard (rosewood family)   Inlays are turquoise and brass