John MacDonald Guitars

First gig since March!

Week 10 final update for Karen's guitar: Applied many coats of tung oil to the body and neck. Then made the pic guard using Curly Claro Walnut, and the truss rod cover is that as well with some maple and then filed the nut that holds the strings. Karen got to play her for the first time Thursday and then at our campfire! Just one more visit for a final set up, but she is good to go!

Week 8 Update on Karen's new guitar. It's staring to come together nicely. She's ready for some coats of Tung Oil.

Week 9 update on Karen's new guitar. The long process of adding many coats of Tung oil has begun, with waits in between. The back and sides are Black Limba, the top is Englemann Spruce, the neck is Mahogany, fingerboard and bridge are Olive Wood, Claro Walnut was used for the headstock and the pic guard will also be made of this. This beauty is starting to show her true colours.

Week 7 update on the new guitar. Last week was spent working on the shaping of the neck and the heel. It takes a lot of "elbow grease" (and love) to sand down the neck for the perfect fit. The tuners were installed to show how it will look and it's perfect. The next step was attaching the neck and adding the shaped bridge that will hold the strings. It's getting closer to the finish.

Week 8 Update on Karen's new guitar. It's staring to come together nicely. She's ready for some coats of Tung Oil.

Week 7 update on the new guitar. Last week was spent working on the shaping of the neck and the heel. It takes a lot of "elbow grease" (and love) to sand down the neck for the perfect fit. The tuners were installed to show how it will look and it's perfect. The next step was attaching the neck and adding the shaped bridge that will hold the strings. It's getting closer to the finish.

Week 6 Update on the guitar build. Due to some damage to the side, the back binding had to be bigger, so blackened epoxy was used. These pics give you an idea of what it will look like (the black will be really shiny). Next, a section was routed out where the neck fits into the base of the guitar, the neck was bolted on, then with glue and clamps, the heel was attached to the neck.

Week 5 progress report on my new guitar build. John made the kerfing (lining) to glue the top to the sides and had to clamp them on the inner edge of the sides. Then, he glued the sides to the top (with a go-bar clamping system). Once the back was glued on, he wrapped heavy-duty rubber bands around the entire guitar to glue the binding in place. He's working on the back binding and neck attachment soon.

Week 5 progress report on my new guitar build. John made the kerfing (lining) to glue the top to the sides and had to clamp them on the inner edge of the sides. Then, he glued the sides to the top (with a go-bar clamping system). Once the back was glued on, he wrapped heavy-duty rubber bands around the entire guitar to glue the binding in place. He's working on the back binding and neck attachment soon.

Week 3 and 4 combined on my new guitar. I did the frets and filed them down. You can see the back and top of the guitar where John is bracing them. The one pic shows the pieces before he glues them together. She sure is looking fine!

Week 2 progress report on my new guitar. I am helping a bit and actually can use the thickness sander. I also picked my colour for the rosette. The headstock and the neck are really taking shape.

Building Karen a guitar during this crazy journey of life right now. This is Week One showing pics of the progress of the neck.

Sorry, the beginning is sideways, but I got it fixed before he started.

John MacDonald adding some John Prine tunes into the mix. From our living room to yours. Hope you enjoy.

Did someone say John MacDonald guitars? Here’s the one I purchased and what a beauty!!

John has been working in his shop giving his own guitar some tender loving care. With a new coat of finish and the neck shaved down a bit, soon it will be ready to be put back together again. He’s doing what he adores which is so important during these hard times.