Buck (Sabre) Guitars

Bidley

So a good friend of mine, Bertie Buck, has been building tasty acoustics for a little while now, and I always wanted him to build me something. Well at the end of last year I got a loyalty bonus from work, and what better way to spend it, than to spunk it on a tasty guitar! I've got electrics coming out of my ears that I'm pretty happy with, but I wanted a nice acoustic, a real keeper.

So it was around this time that Bertie had joined up with Chris of Sabre Guitars to produce a line of acoustics under the Sabre name, branded Buck Guitars. Having played one of Bertie's builds there was only one geezer who was getting my money! So I've paid a lump up front, and Bertie and Chris have started the build.

I thought it'd be cool to start a thread so I can splooge my excitement somewhere, hopefully you guys will find it interesting too. So enough rambling, here are the specs (subject to change!).

Soundboard: Bearclaw Spruce
Bracing: Spruce/Carbon fibre laminate
Back: Wenge w/ mahogany strip, bloodwood trim
Sides: Wenge
Fretboard: Ebony
Neck: Under a bit of deliberation. Could be wenge/rosewood/maple 5-piece.
Binding: Bloodwood/maple
Bridge: Rosewood/Carbon fibre
Scale length: 25.5 - 26" fan
Nut: 43.5mm, Ketron peek HPV

As you can probably see, Bertie and Chris are keen to try a few new things with this build, while keeping a lot of traditional sensibilities. The body will be a folk size, with a cutaway and a slight bowl back.

Oh yeah, pics!

Starting the rosette, Bertie's design.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150107-WA0002_zpsy3d0wjfc.jpg

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150107-WA0003_zpsm5jnmbhv.jpg

How it looks now, it's ebony with mother of pearl accents. I fucking love it.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150107-WA0005_zpsvnqjbrnc.jpg

No build thread is complete without a photo with shitloads of vices in it. This is the laminate bracing being made.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150113-WA0000_zpsrdkn09dp.jpg

Cheeky CAD impression of the body design and the bracing pattern.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150114-WA0002_zpsuw8oqntl.jpg

Mock up of the bracing pattern, with the bracing laminated and cut to size.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150114-WA0004_zpshibrhfos.jpg

And making the mould for the soundboard.

http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd489/Bydytron/IMG-20150115-WA0003_zps7drboxee.jpg

Bertie and Chris are aware of this thread, so I'm hoping they'll create an account and fill in any blanks!

Gawd I'm excited!

Bidley

Some more pics, it's really coming together...

http://i.imgur.com/Jl0OaG4.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/m33kb6I.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/5FQjfCX.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Zv4Iu5R.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/oONzJyt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0INiCSt.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/628oSyv.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/qmYiQLV.jpg

ThorpyFX

Very nice indeed, looking forward to seeing this finished.mi really like the red accents On the back

raphaelsamad

This is looking really good. I am really looking forward to seeing the end results but the step by step nature of what you are able to show is brilliant. Very interesting and you can see the real craft of making a guitar.

Bidley

Yeah, Bertie's been really good with sending loads of photos to satisfy my excitement! They're a talented couple of fellas, that's for sure.

Parker

Looking like it's going to be a classy broad when it's finished! I like the red stripe seperating the woods. Kind of like the understated detailing you get on expensive suits.

Bidley

Yes, the bloodwood really sets it off IMO. The plan is the binding (wenge/bloodwood) on the body will match it.

Bidley

Prepping for binding...

http://i.imgur.com/oAhM5kH.jpg

Channels cut.

http://i.imgur.com/nt41cOU.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/EqTE4cp.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/DBw9X7D.jpg

Bound!

http://i.imgur.com/ui8X21k.jpg

Notice the sexy curve at the neck joint

http://i.imgur.com/sOcjzNw.jpg

Neck's on!

http://i.imgur.com/X3GpF0y.jpg

Bit of bloodwood accenting

http://i.imgur.com/1CkgLDs.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/8seiZGz.jpg

I've held it in it's current form, and it's such a nice size and shape. It's almost parlour size, but with a nice jumbo-esque shape. I can't wait!

Evilmags

Nice

rsvmark

This looks like it is shaping up to be a lovely instrument

Bidley

Bertie's really pulling out all the stops...

http://i.imgur.com/blswjcr.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hpCy2vw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/tplh6xK.jpg

Mkjackary

Interesting fan on the fretboard. Never seen such a subtle fan before (0.5").
It's cool because to me that doesn't look wierd, whereas on more obvious fans it sometimes looks like it is being out there for the sake of it.

Love the fact he cut that sound hole decoration out of a square piece of wood leaving a massive amount of waste. Ie sparing no expense haha.
How much roughly would one of these set someone back?

Bidley

Yeah, the fan is more for function than anything. I like to play a lot of drop tunings on acoustic, and this should give a touch more tension on the lower strings.

Price-wise I couldn't say for certain, this is a kind of prototype, as Sabre currently only make electrics. But there is scope for an acoustic line.

Have a look on their website or drop Chris an email. He can give you more info than me

guitargeek62

I hate to be "that guy", especially as the rest looks phenomenal, but are these two mitre joints as misaligned as they appear here - particularly the bass-side one. 

I only point it out as it seems like the one area of detail that's out of place on an otherwise inspired & well-executed build.

Bidley

To be honest I hadn't noticed that, but it's interesting that you've picked up on it. I suppose it is slightly misaligned, at least in the photo, I don't know how much the angle is exaggerating it though. Fair shout though.

Bidley

And if you're worried about the slight misalignment of the fretboard, it's just a test fit, it's not attached

axisus

Looks fabulous! great build pix as well.

Bidley

It's got frets and everything now!

http://i.imgur.com/GPhg4Q8.jpg

guitargeek62

Looks great!

Bidley

The end is in sight! It's had numerous coats of Danish Oil, now it's got that satin shine. Oh, and the bridge (wenge) is on! Just the saddles and a set of strings and it's pretty much ready to rumble!

http://i.imgur.com/leYyJsb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hWC6x1H.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/CiDill4.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MW1F6eb.jpg

mattsta

Exquisite

Love that neck joint.

It'll be very interesting to hear what it sounds like