Nectar Guitars & Co. Inc

Nectar Guitars & Co. Inc. ______________________________________________________________________ "As Sweet As It Gets" Handcrfted, Fine Musical instruments By: RPO Sr."Acoustic Guitars, Gourd Instruments, (Banjos, Ukes) (Fretted & Fretless) Call to order (716) 392-8129

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Widerness update

Wilderness has been on hold for quite a while now.
 My plan is to get her going agian soon.
I have been busy taking care of business and growing.
My thoughts have not been on my instrument makin' as of late.

 Please comeback real soon as I vow to get movin'on this project agian in the comin' days.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Wilderness is Goin'

I got quite a bit done last night on the neck shapin'.
I, still have allot to do but, I'm letting it set with the new changes for awhile.
I will be posting pictures of the progress later today

Lovin' Life & Its's ALL Oak kay - RPO Sr.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

My Travel Tote

I set myself up with a "tote" of hand tools that I bring in and out of the house and the shop.
The contents of the tote change but some things are always packed in there.
The tote is an old plastic drawer from a file cabinet I had layin around.
You could use anything you want though.
The bottom is lined with an old piece of carpet to keep things from shiftin' and bangin' around.

I do this so I can work on small projects and hang out in the house.
My wife don't bust my chops about the small messes it makes to work in the house.
I can sit at the table and listen to the goin's on in the house. laugh and joke with the family or sit in my chair & watch the Sabres game or the Buffalo Bills ball games and still create instruments or parts.
The wife just cleans it up when I walk away no fuss.
Not a big deal. She's a great women.
I don't expect it but it's always missin' when I return.
 She likes to know I'm Lovin' Life & I try my best at all times to offer her the same.
The mess is just a small one usually. Wood shavings, chips a little saw dust here and there.

A shot of "The Tote":



Whats in the "Tote now":



Top row - Left to right:
- Two journal's - The green one is for this project the red for an N-57 in production now as well
- Pencils - I keep several
- Sand paper of various grades
- A pair of Household Shares
- A few wood files of differing shapes and sizes
- A screw driver I modified to have a scribe end & it is wrapped with 80 grit sand paper
(The black handle)
- 1 Hobby knife w/ changeable blade
-1 sharp utility Razor Knife.

On the bottom left to right:

- A Coping saw
- 1 Long handled Dry Paint brush
- A 12 ft. pocket size Tape Measure.
Typically I have metal rulers & a set of calipers in the tote
- A small changeable Screw Driver
- 3 inch Hand Plane
-1 Chisel. Typically I have more chisels in tote

There may be more tools in the tote at any given time, depending on my projects, but basically, these tools travel back and forth with me from shop to house all the time.

Lovin' Life - It's ALL Oak Kay - RPO Sr.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Wilderness takin' the shape of a "Nectar"

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Spent some time in the shop this morning cutting out the basic neck shape of "Wilderness"
Now she needs to sit and set up at least 24 hrs before I take out the files, planes & chisels.
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Take a look. !!!
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Here is a shot of "Wilderness" all rough cut to her basic shape.

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The Headstock basic shape -- Rough cut:
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The Heal & Playin' Scoop -- Rough cut

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A Shot of the Pot dowel - Rough Cut

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Lovin' Life & It's ALL Oak kay - RPO Sr.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

What a differance a month makes


The Headstock



As you can see it's not completely cut out yet but, it's comin' along nicely.
The grains line up nice and the color is just wild.

WILD! I got it! The name of this piece is:
 "Wilderness" Thats it thats the name.

I absolutly love the name
Couldn't have another
Very fitting.

" I see this instrument on kayak trips to campfires in the depths of nature "

" WILDERNESS "

& The Neck Length


Again, grains are lined up and all of the seams are tight.
Lookin' like a single piece of lumber.

I might just keep 'er when she's done.
This will be a hard one to let go.
Look at me talkin' myself right into ownin' the "Wilderness"

After all its 2011.

The year of BIG

Believe Intend Generate

Lovin' Life & It's ALL Oak Kay - RPO Sr.





Still Going ... Now & Zen.

In the shop today.

I started cutting out the neck's basic shape.
 As I go I spend allot of time invisioning and I let the wood show its own beauty.
Still, always amazed at the natural correctness in the grains. Its easy to see that a piece of lumber was destined to end up in my shop at this moment to become what it already knows is inside.
This uke is no exception.
I haven't been inspired to name it just yet but I'm really enjoying the process with this one.
 I'm putting allot into it & allot is coming out.
Beautiful!!!

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I love this stuff.
When I work on instruments all else fades away.
Its a meditation session at its finest form, like no other I've experienced.
Gardeners, painters, sketchers, musicians all know the art of relaxing.
This art works well for me.
No work just pure relaxation.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Ready - Get Set ........... & - Go, Go, Go!!!!!!!

I've been working on the homestead as of late and the production in the shop has been low.
I will be posting new photos and working on the neck earily this week. 
The neck has been setting up for just short of a month and it is ready to be cut out.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Neck Blank Construction

In this shot you can view the three pieces of ceder stacked and glued with natural hide glue.
The portion in view is the eventual
 (Nectar Shape) Headstock.


In view is the "Heal" portion of the neck blank.
Notice the grain lines. An Attempt to line them up as a single board is made.
I have to "know the wood" and develop an idea of the finished cut out to do so.
This attempt is very critical to the asthetic quality in the end. 
So, Grains must be in sink as best as possible.
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Again this set up will need to set under clap preasure for 24hrs.
So, In the mean time I got time to puts around the shop and work on other projects.


Monday, May 16, 2011

Buffalo Horn Blank

 Nut, Bridge & Tailpiece
Will be hand carved from this blank of buffalo horn stock.


The Model number & Serial number

The Model #:  UGB-04sNS

This model is a 4 string Gourd Uke Banjo.
 It has a play scoop & the neck is attached to the pot rod at the heal.
 A very playable, strong & durable instrument is the result.

The Serial #:  RPOSRN1010
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Todays work:

The neck is setting up in the shop right now.
 It will be there for 24 hrs before the next set of lumber is glued.

As you can see glue was only applied were needed
.(to the left of the boards directly under the clamps)
The neck and headstock fit nicely on the (suitable) wood for the neck.
The rest is unglued which leaves the trimmings (not suitable for my instruments) for another project.

The neck is of fine quality, highly figured & tightly grained ceder.
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Absolutly beautiful !!
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Here is a shot of the templates made today as promised.
I use 1/4 graph paper & clear tape.
The templates get traced onto the wood & eventually once the project is done & the results are in. I decide if the design is a keeper or if it needs any changes.
Then I'll make a clear plastic (1/8") rendition for future projects.


Good Morning

Today I have BIG plans. I'm getting goin' on the templates for this project and I will post when complete.

Also, I have found some nice neck wood of highly flamed "Ceder". It will make a great looking instrument and boost the flavor of the sound greatly.

 -  The grain is nice and tight 
 -  The patern is wild.
  -  The stock is quite dried and straight as an arrow.

Take A LOOK !


& The same board second look


I have a Buffalo horn blank that is perfect for this project. I will be makin' the Nut, Bridge and Tailpiece from this stock. This set will worm the sound and give a bit of depth when coupled with a thin goatskin head and the nylon string set up.

I'm in search for the gourd pot. I'm gonna want a smaller sized pot with a good deal of depth and a hard thick shell.

the soundhole design is still in the air at this point but will most likly be large to through that nice woodsy smooth sound out as great tone.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Lovin' Life

Before I begin any instrument I take the time to visulize it's out come.

(1) I decide what I believe it should offer in sound and style.

(2) I develope an idea and an overall expandable goal. I spend weeks to months on this overall picture.
                 (2a) What do I want to build?
                 (2b) Why do I have this desire?
                 (2c) How will what I'm developing satisfy that craving to create?
                 (2d) Am I happy with the idea I created. Will it serve the project well

With this "picture" in mind I Then begin to do what I call "BIG" or simply Believe Intend Generate.

(3) I start a journal and begin to put ideas and issues and all things related to the project down in writting. Thoughts, Ideas, life situations during the time of the build. Everything  including, successes, mistakes & activities of the days surrounding the project & more.
.
(4) I set out to find the materials that are idealy perfectly suited to/for my vision.

Nectar instruments are built from and represent my minds eye. My heart and soul get poured right in. I want and expect perfection from day 1 of creation. Iquite literaly "fee"l my way through.

Hello

Nectar Guitars & Co. Inc.
Handcrafted by: RPO Sr.

I started building "Nectar" musical instruments and begun my luthierial journey in 2005.
I build custom gourd Banjos & Ukes.
 I also build fine quality acoustic instruments. (Guitars, Ukes, Bass Guitars)

 I build instruments for the pure enjoyment.
 I love to knowing that my journey as a builder has furthered the journey of a musician. I enjoy working with musicians to grasp thier ideas & pick up on the style, look, and sound they desire to produce from thier "Nectar" instrument.

 In this blog I am going to start by building:  
 4 string fretted uke banjo.