Ditson ReTop

[Joe Sustaire]

All right, looks like we can add this one into the win column.
Got a new finish from top to bottom, strung up today, and playing and sounding very nice.
I did a seal coat with shellac and then used an oil/varnish finish called Permalyn. It's a gun stock finish that mandomaniac uses on his mandolins. I have used it a couple of times and like the easy rub on application and durability. Before I had rubbed it on with my fingers but this time I used Colin's method using a few drops on a quilted paper towel piece and that worked out great. So here it is...











Sure beats having one hanging around that never gets played because you don't like the sound.

Thanks for watching,
Joe

[Lefty]

She is a real beauty Joe.

Well done.

Lefty

[Matthew Jenkins]

Great stuff Joe

I think we'd all be happy to play that one!!

Nice finish too

Mat

[WaddyT]

Looks like outstanding work to me Joe! Nice job!

[gilmoreguitars]

I love your work man!!!
david

[Michael Boyle]

Looks good Joe. I love the colored spruce.
Michael

[Arnt]

Man, what a beauty! Good job, Joe.

[Joe Sustaire]

Thanks for checking her out guys!

I'm really liking the sound on this one, nice, even, and big for such a small box. It appears to me that for such a simple bracing system you need to leave the top plate a little thicker than we're used to doing with x bracing, for structural reasons but more surprisingly for tone quality. The thinness of the first top really had a harsh, unmusical quality to it, this one sounds sweet and rich. I haven't worked out the details yet on hosting sound clips yet, but hopefully some day I can get there.

Michael I know you have changed several old ladder braced guitars into x braced guitars and have always found the sound much better. Check out John How Guitars website and listen to some of the sound clips recorded by different people on his ladder braced "road trip" guitar and you can hear how sweet ladder bracing can sound.

Thanks again for commenting everyone,
Joe