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Comment by Brian Thompson on December 29, 2018 at 5:54am

Hi Michael,

Thanks for your kind comment, took a while to get it looking that way!

Exactly so, it's a conversion based on a pretty shoddy Chinese 'Lark' short scale (19 1/4") 1/2 size plywood acoustic my partner Wendy picked up in a local second hand shop for £6.00, or less than $8.00! It was quite a mess with what looked like original rock hard black enamel paint mixed with liberal amounts of workshop debris encrusted all over the fret board (and the frets...) a wooden nut that the strings had all but cut through and six very light gauge steel strings that you wouldn't want to touch wearing gloves.....probably original too. It even came with it's original cardboard box, so I guess it had been bought for a child who quickly lost interest before it was stored away in an attic somewhere and forgotten for many years.

A bit of online digging revealed they were made from the mid 60's to mid 70's and were very much 'budget' guitars hence the, ahem, 'quality. But still........I kept looking at it and saw some potential, and gradually the ideas started coming. We'd originally thought it might do for our grandson, but it was pretty well unplayable as it was, so I decided to strip all the paint off the fret board to check out the fretting first before going any further. They had almost zero wear and looked a lot better than I'd expected, so I decided to go for it and this is what came out of it.

I'll have to post some more pics showing what I started with and a few of the build 'highlights'.....hopefully it might inspire others to give it a try too.

Brian Thompson.

Comment by Michael Fred Johnson on December 29, 2018 at 4:53am

Immaculate dog bowl resonator Brian.Did you build the guitar or is it a conversion?

Comment by Brian Thompson on December 29, 2018 at 12:56am

Hi Uncle John, so nice to hear from you again!

Thank you for your kind and supportive words, and to say it's great to be back is an understatement.....these things have a way of focusing your attention (!) and I was extremely lucky, and I owe huge appreciation and gratitude to the amazing staff of our wonderful NHS, above all to the biggest angel of all, my Wendy, who's prompt actions saved my life.

I'm delighted you like my little Dogbro and only wish I could place it in your hands so you could take it for a spin. I remember your sage advice to me to keep the first build simple, but as usual I got, err, 'involved' like I always seem to do....!! Still, have to say I'm very pleased with how it turned out. It gave me a chance to try a few new building techniques out and 'get my eye in' before attempting my first CBG build, which I'll post pics of in due course. Number 2, a fret-less, is already underway.....!

Nice to say hi again Uncle John, and hope all is well with you and yours. 

Brian Thompson.

Comment by Uncle John on December 28, 2018 at 1:55pm

Brian, I am sorry to hear you had troubles, but glad that you are on the mend.  That is a great looking reso.  I would like to take a test ride!

Comment by Brian Thompson on December 28, 2018 at 9:03am

Thanks guys, really appreciate the positive comments.

Hey Dave.....I should point out that that the body is actually painted, not metal! (I wish!!!)

I filled, primed and top coated with gloss aluminium silver acrylic from a rattle can, sprayed outdoors in the back garden on a sunny day. I did spend an age on getting the surface prep spot on though, to give the right effect. The neck was finished with acrylic sanding sealer then satin acrylic lacquer and a mild buff with fine cut 3M polishing compound.

I did mirror polish the tail piece, sink drainer and dog bowl on mops, once I'd managed to drill all the mounting holes....stainless is HARD, even when it's thin!! 

Brian Thompson.

Comment by Dave Lynas on December 28, 2018 at 6:39am

Great metal work! Pure beauty!

Comment by Brian Thompson on December 28, 2018 at 5:57am

Seasons Greetings to The Nation!

It's been a fair while since I last posted but it's great to be back and have something to share with everyone at last, in the form of my little Dogbro Resonator 3 string. Hope everyone enjoys seeing it. The main reason I've been AWOL is due to having suffered a heart attack....eeek! I'm very happy and relieved to say that I'm well on the mend now and making good progress, and I've been checking in regularly to check out all the latest builds and news. The amazing creativity and skill of members never ceases to amaze and inspire and it has got me through a tough time to say the least.

I would like to humbly dedicate this build to all the members who were so especially welcoming when I first joined The Nation and for everyone else who has provided so much inspiration and all the incredibly useful and helpful information. Specifically, I'd like to give a big shout out to, in no particular order......Dave Lynas, Davo Shultz, Gary W (aka Rev. Bluejeans), AGP#, The Anonymous Pick, Maddog, Jerry Jordan, Wes Carl, Paul Craig, Chickenbone John, Ben Gitty and the Gang, Shane Speal (who's fantastic new book came at just the right time and did me a power of good....) and last but by no means least, to Uncle John. 

I've just completed my first fretted CBG as well and will post pics shortly. It's one of what will be a pair and the second one is already underway......then it's the spade guitar, a 4 string CBG and a chromatic canjo.......best get a move on then!!

Thanks so much for helping me through a tough time everyone, sincerely.

Brian Thompson.