Nouveau Nylon Completed!

Layne — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:15:06 +0000

Another Russell Nouveau Nylon hybrid nylon string guitar is finished and will be sent to its new home in Prescott, Arizona. This Nouveau Nylon has Indian Rosewood back and sides and a master grade Cedar soundboard. The headplate is Ebony and the bridge is Indian Rosewood. The binding is also Indian Rosewood as per the customer’s wishes. He wanted a subtle palette with just a little bling on the abalone rosette and the solid version of the mother of pearl logo.

This guitar has a Torres seven fans bracing pattern with open harmonic bars. What a warm, lovely voice, right out of the gate! The basses are very cello like and the trebles are very clear. It has, as is customary with the Nouveau Nylon model, a K&K dual source pickup system.

These shots are quickie shots done tonight; it was just strung up today. A photo shoot is planned for tomorrow in daylight and more photos will be on the main site soon.

In this last photo you can see at the top of the soundhole the K&K mic that is part of the dual source pickup system. Also visible is the beautiful grain of this fabulous Cedar soundboard.

Lacquer Curing on a Nouveau Nylon

Layne — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:30:06 +0000

This Indian Rosewood Nouveau Nylon has been sprayed with lacquer and is now in the curing process. Soon it will be rubbed out and buffed, and then it’s set-up time. This guitar is for a customer in Arizona. The headplate is Ebony, chosen for its unusual and beautiful grain. The fretboard still has paper tape on it to protect the surface during the spraying process.

Introducing the Portland…

admin — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 19:50:30 +0000

The first Russell Portland is complete! This new semi-hollow body guitar has been added to the Models page on our main site, and it has its own page of many photos. Visit the Portland HERE. This model will be available in variations of woods and finishes.

The Portland gets its finish

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 07:30:57 +0000

The Russell Portland is in the finishing process. It won’t be long now. Several more sprays and wet sanding, then begins the ten to fourteen day wait till buffing and final setup. Very exciting to see the Portland at this stage. The flame is popping.

Russell Portland Semi-Hollow Body Electric

admin — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:02:00 +0000

The new model semi-hollow body electric, called the Portland, is well on its way now. In design stages for a couple years, the Portland is now entering the physical realm! This first Portland has a Honduran Mahogany chambered body and a flamed Redwood top. The flame will pop with finish. The neck is also in process, and photos of the neck and fretboard will be posted soon.

Galiano Shaped Acoustic for Schoenberg Guitars

Layne — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 08:25:35 +0000

The 1920′s Galiano shaped and inspired guitar is in process. It is being custom made for Eric Schoenberg of Schoenberg Guitars in Tiburon, California. The shape of this Madagascar Rosewood guitar is traced from a 1920′s Galiano that was in Eric’s shop for some time. Eric asked James to make him a Schoenberg Galiano inspired by this guitar. The shape is of course modified by the cutaway; Galianos did not have cutaways. The book-matched back is now glued and the back strip is in, and the back bracing is done.

Russell Telemark, Our T-Style electric, in the Spraying Stage

Layne — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 02:46:21 +0000

The Russell Telemark, a custom T-style guitar, is in the spraying stage. Only about four coats of spray have been applied so far. The body is made of lightweight Swamp Ash and the neck is made of thirty-five year old Honduran Mahogany. This is the new, updated prototype for this model. There are many wood, color, and hardware options for this guitar.

The Telemark body has a forearm contour which is slightly visible in the top photo, and this model also has a rib contour.

The custom designed pickguard was made by James from celluloid sheet stock. The Callaham bridge plate is a left-hand bridge chosen so that the pickup slant would be reversed from the slant on a standard Tele. The brass saddles are right-hand compensated. Both pickguard and bridge plate were simply laid in place for the photos.

Deep Lake Guitar – Curing Stage – Ready to Rub Out!

Layne — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:54:10 +0000

The Deep Lake guitar is at the end of the curing stage after all finish has been sprayed. In fact, at this point, after a couple weeks of hanging and curing, it’s time to start rubbing out the finish. This weekend!

These photos are mock-ups taken on the kitchen table; the neck is sitting in place. Once it is rubbed out and buffed, the guitar will have its beautiful high sheen.

The curved-end fretboard is made of Madagascar Rosewood, the soundboard is Carpathian Spruce, and the body is Madagascar. All binding is flamed Koa with Maple Herringbone purfling and detailing.

New Guitar Model: Sweetbriar

Layne — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:08:25 +0000

The Sweetbriar parlor guitar is a new Russell guitar model. It has a 13 1/2″ lower bout and a long vintage-style body similar to some of the original parlor guitars. This Sweetbriar has Madagascar Rosewood back and sides and a cutaway. The cutaway is optional on the Sweetbriar model, and the headstock can be slotted or standard. This particular Sweetbriar will have a slotted headstock.

The Sweetbriar “boat” is sitting in its mold in the vice. The next step is to start working on the soundboard.

Wet Sanding the Deep Lake Guitar

Layne — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:11:54 +0000

James does the wet-sanding process on the Deep Lake guitar. It is wet sanded after receiving several coats of finish each day. The guitar hangs overnight, then the process is repeated. It’s almost ready for curing. The neck is already done.

Here you can see this Deep Lake’s flamed Koa end graft and binding. The Madagascar back and sides are a beautiful red-brown with nice grain lines. The back strip is Herringbone as is the purfling around the soundboard and around the elliptical sound hole.

This guitar is being custom made for Anchorage singer-songwriter Gene Anderson.