Doug Otto

I guess we’re screwed.

Voicing the back. #guitar

I’m loving this flamey redwood top. #guitar

Got the machiche for the sides thinned for bending and the into the bender. I’d originally planned on flamed maple for rim and sides but had one side split so had to regroup. #guitar

Time to start up another #guitar Bridge is ebony and the fingerboard is crelicam ebony. Headplate, binding and end graft will also be ebony. Top is redwood and I’m still deciding back and sides but the neck will be maple or walnut.

Making kerfed lining for the next build. #guitar

Spray day. #guitar #luthier

#guitar update. Still need to carve the neck but otherwise it’s ready for finish. I plan to start spraying tomorrow. Pretty happy with how it’s turning out.

Box is all closed up and I’ve started filling the grain on the back and sides. I also managed to get the fingerboard glued to the roughed out neck. I think one more round of grain filler and sanding and it’s ready for finish. #guitar

Some more progress on the acoustic #guitar

Current situation. #guitar

Northern lights from New Mexico, just a few minutes ago. #nmwx Zero edits, iPhone camera.

Have totally neglected posting guitar progress photos, so here are some. This is a prototype build, and I already know a few things I’ll do differently when I lock in the design, but it should be a fun #guitar.

Been working on adding CNC into my process, which is a bit like learning to build guitars all over again. I’m getting there. #guitar #woodworking #cnc

Thanks for a great show today Albuquerque! Had a great time.

Latest build is in the books. Limba, canarywood and two varieties of maple. Pickups are my own design. Chatgpt called this one Tone inspired, Artisan Crafted or TIAC. That’s the story and I’m sticking to it. #luthier #woodworking #guitar

A little custom P90 action today. This will go in the latest build. #luthier

#guitar update. Just waiting on some knobs. Body is limba with a canary top and headplate. Neck is maple, veneers and limba. Nitro finish fretboard, matte crystalac on headplate and body. Neck is polished with beeswax, orange oil and a little paste wax; smooth like butter. #luthier #woodworking

Hitting the home stretch now. Just need to make pickups. #luthier #woodworking

A little peak into the shop this week. #woodworking #luthier

A little different #woodworking take. Neck is maple, limba and colored veneer. Fingerboard is ambrosia maple and my little dot jig is mostly ash with a thin maple cap. Shape the #guitar neck back entirely using an orbital sander and feel.

A little neck carving porn. #luthier

Finished up a little amp project this weekend. It’s inspired by the venerable Fender Champ circuit but with some tweaks and additions. The cabinet is made from cherry. It pushes 5-6watts of tube amp glory. I built it from the chassis and power transformer from an old Monoprice amp.

#luthier intro post. I have a day gig in tech but I make custom guitars, pickups and most recently, amps. I make all my own bobbins for pickups and often do custom work. Hanging out in the NM desert. Having a blast.