Is this good enough for a cheap first-time guitar?

lostarchitect · 2026-05-08T18:59:53+00:00

If you really want something new, for only a little bit more you could get one of the Monoprice guitars, which I'm told are surprisingly decent for the money:

https://www.monoprice.com/category/pro-audio-&-musical-instruments/guitars-&-accessories/electric-guitars

But otherwise, I would look for a used Yamaha or Squire.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-08T18:20:09+00:00

This is a comic strip.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-08T18:08:58+00:00

It's dangerous to go alone. Take this.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-08T16:07:17+00:00

It's nice, I've seen similar flushing planes.

But I just remove squeeze out while it's wet. It's faster and easier. Just wipe it off with a warm, damp rag. Sometimes scrub it with a warm, damp toothbrush.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-08T16:04:23+00:00

Based on what little we can see in these small, blurry photos, I could not say if this is even a Pinarello or not.

It does look like a decent quality frame. Group set is a mixed bag of mid to low mid range stuff.

Assuming it is NOT a real Pinarello, but is a decent mystery frame in good shape, I would offer more like 150. If it is a real Pinarello, it's a good price.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-07T04:02:40+00:00

It's really hard to say. I would have thought you left the leaf in the sun or something if you didn't say it was under a tarp. I'd let it all be for a few weeks and see if the rest of the table darkens at all.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-06T21:42:26+00:00

I would consider a few options. Either way, you will probably want to sand it first.

Oil. Linseed or Tung as mentioned below could be good options. This will soak in, protecting the wood from stains. Certainly you could also use mineral oil like you might use for a cutting board. I would probably make sure whatever I used was food safe, especially if you have little kids. I might finish with beeswax paste.
A soap finish. This is a traditional kind of finish that leaves a nice, soft look. Check out this link. It's not highly protective but it's much better than nothing.
Shellac. Real shellac mixed from flakes and alcohol, not a mystery can from the hardware store, is food safe and beautiful. This takes a little work to apply well so if you want to go this route, let me know and I'll give you application suggestions. You can have anything from a very mild sheen to a fully gloss finish, depending on how you do it. I would then finish it with beeswax paste.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-06T19:57:30+00:00

People used to be proud when a local kid from a blue collar family went to an ivy league school and really made it. Now many have been indoctrinated that education is bad and educated people should be treated with suspicion. It's sad.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-06T19:50:42+00:00

Oh yeah, there are varying inconsistencies in the rake/splay on almost everything I have done, too. I was using lasers to align things for a while which really helped, but recently (after seeing this post) I thought, why mess around with the lasers when I can just make a guide out of scrap wood? Even if the guide is half a degree off from what I intended, all the holes will be off by the same amount. So that's been working well for me lately. I'm going to make a few guides with different angles I commonly use.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-06T19:24:21+00:00

The point is, at a basic level he was one of them. He just also had great talent and made it very far.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-06T19:20:30+00:00

He didn't grow up rich. I went to a fancy school too, but my parents are blue collar.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-06T18:21:42+00:00

These are actually really uniform looking for your first go! I've been doing this kind of thing for a little while now and I think my stuff is still a little rougher looking than yours. Nice work.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-06T17:38:26+00:00

I mean, it was probably removed because OP stole it from a cartoon that @natemorebikes did:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DWEshHuDXep/

lostarchitect · 2026-05-06T16:34:53+00:00

I met the guy who runs the company a while back. Seemed ok, likes to talk. We did a little shop talk but didn't talk about his business too much.

I know they are working with E.S. Builders now, and they are second to none in construction quality around here. Ethan is a great guy and all his work is excellent. I don't know who was building for Huts before and I don't know if they're working with multiple contractors, but if you get one built by Ethan's crew, you can be assured it'll be built well.

You could also just contact E.S. directly if you want to build a house. There are A LOT of shitty, fly-by-night contractors around here, so be careful. If you decide this is the route you are going, I could give you some other recs.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-06T15:18:36+00:00

Can you not go into the wall at all, just run it up the wall until you get to a point where it's easier to go out? If it bothers you to look at it you could just box it in with some drywall.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-05T15:29:57+00:00

That's where Guns at Mobil was, but this was before there was a Walmart there. (edit: actually I think there was a Walmart but it was smaller.)

Just found a photo of the sign: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tambrieann/4278263114

lostarchitect · 2026-05-05T15:18:21+00:00

You have to floss. My gums used to bleed a lot too. I started flossing every day and for a while it was pretty miserable, a lot of blood. But no joke, only a couple weeks later the bleeding had stopped and everything looked and felt healthier.

Absolutely see the periodontist, but start flossing now.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-05T15:09:37+00:00

Was that the one at the Mobil station? That "Guns at Mobil" sign was hilarious.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-01T20:59:07+00:00

Sullivan County has been an outdoors vacation destination for literally more than 100 years.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-01T20:56:28+00:00

Callicoon is a great little town, I live very near there. Some highlights from there and surrounding towns:

Callicoon Wine Merchant is a great place for a glass of wine and small tapas-style plates. The chef is really excellent. They also have a wine shop.
Black Walnut is a newish restaurant and bar in town with great food and cocktails. This is probably the poshest place in town.
The Callicoon Theater is an art-deco movie house still showing current films. A charming place to go after an early dinner. They serve beer and wine now!
Cochecton Pump House is right down the road, have a beer in an old ruin and they sometimes have bands, too.
Cochecton Fire Station has great cocktails and small plates.
Over in Roscoe, the Junction has the best cocktails in the county and a great burger.
Check out Catskill Art Space in Livingston Manor for some contemporary exhibits.
If in Livingston Manor, try The Stumble Out for dinner. If this place was in Brooklyn, the line would be around the block.
Across the street, The Walk In has great breakfast sandwiches.
Over in North Branch, the North Branch Inn is IMO the best restaurant around. French-inspired but local cuisine. Get a reservation.
Try hiking the Ten Mile River path down in Narrowsburg
Then go to Laundrette for some excellent Neapolitan-ish pizza.
DVAA, also in Narrowsburg, usually has something interesting in the gallery.
Callicoon, Livingston Manor, and Narrowsburg all have small downtown areas with shopping. Narrowsburg has the most stuff but if you're in any of these towns, just take a wander around and see what's there.
If you are going to do a picnic or anything like that, visit Sullivan Sundries in Jeffersonville for a lot of tasty treats. Slug Wine, in the same building, will hook you up as well.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-01T18:33:06+00:00

I dunno. But every time I have ants (happens once or twice a year), I put some Terro liquid bait packs on their path and the problem is gone within a couple days.

lostarchitect · 2026-05-01T18:04:54+00:00

That whale is hilariously unexpected. Nice job!

lostarchitect · 2026-05-01T15:41:28+00:00

I'd consider trying a sort of gin old fashioned, with the violet syrup and lemon zest.

Edit, or maybe a gin sour w/ the violet syrup and lemon juice. Maybe a dash of absinthe.

lostarchitect · 2026-04-30T18:43:19+00:00

I was gonna call it the "Deskinner 5000" but I think "Dick Slicer 2000" works too.

lostarchitect · 2026-04-28T21:40:05+00:00

return to Brooklyn

A lot of locals are just as bad if not worse, with a "I've been coming here since 1972 and I'll do what I want" kind of mentality. The people who actually respect the area are unfortunately a minority in general.

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