I have five grandchildren and want to build a guitar for each of them as they become old enough to play. I have built two already and am now starting on the third for Gracie. We have chosen the SMG model (small parlor guitar). This guitar is small enough for young hands but puts out a full bodied guitar sound. It is the same shape as the" Voo'Doo Guitar" and the parlor I built for Dave M.
Gracie is helping with wood selection and will be picking her own inlays. She has chosen a nice set of 'Monkey Pod' for back & sides.

Laying out the sides before bending

First bent side

Both sides in the building form

Gluing the heel block to sides

Bearclaw Sitka Spruce sound board

Pau blue Abalone rosette

Joining the back with back strip

Back bracing glued and shaped

Back mated with sides

Top bracing installed and shaped.

Sound board glued to sides   

Binding channels cut and black/white/black purfling super glued to channels

Fitting Aspen binding

Using fish glue and shock cord to attach bindings

Cutting mortise for neck

Initial neck fit

Fossil ammonite from the Cretaceous - will be inlaid into the peg head

Pore filling body with epoxy

Rough shaping neck

Inlaying the fossil ammonite and getting ready to cut the pocket for palm & G

Frets installed and square MOP inlayed

Neck attached to body

Bridge installed. In this picture you can see the nice bear claw figure in the Sitka top

Pick guard from Monkey Pod cut offs from the back. Gracie inlay from Aspen that was used for the bindings.

Finished pictures by Jeanne Giltzow