Binding Going on the Waimea Slack Key Guitar
March 24th, 2009 . by Layne
The Russell Waimea slack key guitar is getting its binding glued onto the body. The binding on this first Waimea is Madagascar Rosewood and the body is flamed curly Koa. Here James is pushing the binding and pulling the cut inner tube he uses as a giant rubber band to hold the binding in place as it gets glued and as it dries.
There is an interesting story about this inner tube band. Many years ago when James worked in Michael Dolan’s guitar shop in Santa Rosa, CA, a very young Julian Lage used to come to the shop on Saturdays and help out doing little chores. Mostly he was absorbing the good vibes and just digging being around cool guitars being made. He was already quite amazing as a young guitarist of six years old. When James cut this truck tire inner tube into a long rubber band to use for guitar making, Julian was James’ helper. Some good mojo there.
In the photo above, James checks the fit of the binding strip that goes near the neck joint on the inside of the cutaway. He will be hand mitering both the black/white purfling and the Madagascar Rosewood binding.
Above: James applies glue with a pipette to glue the binding and purfling to the Waimea body.
The binding and purfling on the back side of the slack key guitar body is glued and will sit a while to dry. Soon we will have photos of the body with binding on both back and top edges of the body, and we will have an endgraft shot showing the binding and miters. It’s moving fast!
March 25th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Wow! I love these photos. I just heard the NPR interview with Julian Lage this weekend. An amazing musician and composer. I’m thrilled for the mojo! Thanks for keeping me on the edge of my seat. I can hardly wait to visit.
March 25th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Hey, Jeff. Yes, Julian is an amazing player and a very sweet guy! You should have heard him at age six!
I wish I had heard the NPR interview; I’ll bet I can find it via Julan’s site or on the web somewhere. So glad you’re enjoying the photos. We hope to see you very soon!
March 25th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
The interview with Julian was quite something. He is so nice and unassuming. Doing some really beautiful music. There is a link to the interview on his site.
The photos are unbelievable. I just can’t wait! I have been trying to be very patient, but I check for new photos constantly. The closer it gets, the tougher it is. I keep having to think about baseball (heh, heh).
We have to deliver our tax stuff in Redding next Monday. Will you guys be around and in the shop? I’d love to see it in person!
March 31st, 2009 at 7:51 am
JEFF!!
Hope you are well my friend. Your guitar is absolutely stunning. Stopped by the Russell’s Sunday and saw it. I think the soundhole design is one of the most beautiful I have seen. Definitely the most elegant double soundhole design I have seen. James is amazing at pulling little details together in his designs. Like the very thin koa purfling that accentuates the sides of the guitar. Gonna be a killer!
Jason
March 31st, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Thanks Jason. Great to hear from you and hear your impressions. I just made my first visit to see the guitar in person yesterday. OMG!!! Unbelievably beautiful. I have to agree with all of your comments. The soundhole design tooks us all a long time to finally think we had it. And then when I saw the mock-up James did, I was sure. Now, seeing it it person… I wouldn’t change it at all.
James is phenomenal. BTW, I need to thank you Jason for putting us in touch. THANK YOU! I seem to remember some prophetic words to the effect that I would need to be careful, because I would end up needing one of James’ guitars.
What a great experience this has been! I can’t wait to here it sing.