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.

Russell Portland Hollow Body Electric

Portland Custom F-Hole

 

Gluing the fretboard to the neck
James glues the Ebony fretboard to the neck of the Waimea slack key guitar. The neck is Honduran Mahogany and the headstock is slotted. The Madagascar Rosewood headplate is already glued on the headstock, the slots are cut, and the tuner holes are drilled. In the photo below the asymmetrical curve at the end of the fretboard can be seen.

Gluing Fretboard to the Neck
In the photo below we see James getting going in the neck carving for this slack key guitar. He has already started working on the volute which ends up smaller when complete. Also the heel curve is not complete yet; more will be coming off. Then the sanding begins, progressively moving through levels of sandpaper to 220 grit. At that level there is still some tooth on the wood for the finish to adhere to.

Carving the Neck for the Slack Key Guitar

 

Four Honduran Mahogany guitar necks in progress

Four guitar necks are in progress. Actually, there are two more that did not make it into the photo.  All the necks are made of Honduran Mahogany.  The first one on the left is the neck for the guitar I am making (with James’ mentoring), a “000.”  Second from the left is the neck for the “Deep Lake” model being made for a customer in Alaska.  The third neck is for Jeff’s slack key guitar.  The truss rod slot on this one goes up into the headstock for access because with his two soundhole design, the truss rod will not be accessible from inside the body.  The neck on the far right is for our Russell parlour model.  Like the slack key guitar, the parlour has a slotted headstock.  The first three necks from the left have graphite reinforcement, and the sized graphite can be seen in lying their slots.  The graphite is not glued in yet, nor are any of the truss rods.  There will be a Mahogany cap strip glued on top of each of the truss rods.  All that will be done later.  The next step is cutting the neck and body joints.

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