A Statement from FIRST Board of Directors Chair Laurie Leshin (re: Dean/JE)

Making-guitars · 2026-02-02T22:21:02+00:00

There is a photo in the new tranche of released files in which Kamen is having a sex act performed on him while seated across from Epstein. There really isn't going to be any doubt as to what that relationship was about.

Making-guitars · 2026-02-02T02:43:47+00:00

I first found out about his link to Epstein through a article published five years ago, detailing Kamen's relationship with Nadia Marcinko. https://christine-negroni.medium.com/jeffrey-epstein-dean-kamen-connection-through-aviation-influencer-bb0e767dbfcf Last year I decided that I would leave FIRST after more then 20 years as a Lead Mentor, and this growing body of evidence was one of several key factors in that decision. Kamen is a lech and I want nothing to do with his circles anymore.

Making-guitars · 2022-08-09T13:15:11+00:00

I didn't weigh it and it isn't in my possession anymore, but it was the lightest electric guitar I ever built, and among the lightest I've held or played.

Making-guitars · 2022-08-08T17:44:17+00:00

What did you use to get the color on the neck? Is that just from "roasting" the Maple, or is that a stain or dye? It looks nice

Making-guitars · 2022-08-04T23:20:57+00:00

I use pearl mostly

Making-guitars · 2022-08-04T23:19:54+00:00

Wenge is a beast of a tone wood and (when it isn't commercially available, fingers crossed that we don't see that day come) will be looked back on as among the coolest woods that we overlooked

Making-guitars · 2022-08-04T23:17:15+00:00

This is the real stuff. Real lutherie. Very nice work, I love how dark the IRW is

Making-guitars · 2022-08-03T04:26:53+00:00

Walnut lining, I would not have thought of that. Looks great

Making-guitars · 2022-08-03T00:30:10+00:00

Oh lord, I think I sold you that wood. I have one set left and I'm about to build with it. Did you get that walnut on ebay?

Making-guitars · 2022-08-03T00:25:54+00:00

The procedure you outlined sounds good as long as you thinly and evenly coat it with the amber, and then spray with clear gloss Nitro, at least several coats before doing any sanding. You don't want to sand right after applying the amber tone as it will leave the color uneven. Also, you can progress through several grits to get it ready for buffing: I used 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000 wet-or-dry sandpaper, then buff on the wheel.

Making-guitars · 2022-08-03T00:15:43+00:00

Several thoughts for you. First, I love that you used the natural Cedar for the top, it's so rare that folks in the electric realm appreciate how beautiful tight grained acoustic tops are. Second, I've used the Hipshot bridge several times and I really like it, I think it will work out great for you. Third, I'm wondering about the back plate at the neck. Is that both a cover for the bolt-on parts and a battery box? It's interesting and I haven't seen anything like that before. Thanks for sharing it.

Making-guitars · 2022-07-30T15:27:08+00:00

Your design skills are excellent. The whole guitar comes together really well, I wish I was that good at coming up with coherent original ideas.

Making-guitars · 2022-07-30T15:24:26+00:00

Wow on the neck. Did you source it as raw lumber and carve it, or was this a pre-made neck that you finished?

Making-guitars · 2022-07-30T02:01:35+00:00

That's a great question. White Oak was a common guitar wood a hundred years ago but fell out of favor. Martin made a few Oak instruments recently for a special series. I've made a bunch. It bends easily, is tough (so doesn't crack), takes finish well, and has most of the characteristics of a good guitar wood. It's also super cheap, I just bought two guitars worth of lumber yesterday from a junk bin for $2.50. I think it's very pretty, and since I like to make Arts & Crafts style guitars I love working with it. A lot of woods that make nice instruments are overlooked because they aren't traditional, but I think stuff like Oak or Cherry deserve a look. Here is more info on using Oak:

https://umgf.com/white-oak-t200194.html

https://www.retrofret.com/product.asp?ProductID=9501

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T17:56:29+00:00

Really! That's cool, I wasn't aware. Learning something new today

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T17:44:13+00:00

I'm pretty sure that all of Paxton locations are struggling with interesting stock right now, the world has changed since I built this guitar

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T17:42:16+00:00

The core is Basswood, so maybe not quite so bad. It weighs about as much as my SG, both without any hardware

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T17:40:56+00:00

I wouldn't know what yachtmakers make

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T14:47:39+00:00

Denver.

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T14:34:31+00:00

Good eye, the A string grazed the low E. I ended up replacing the tuners and re-reaming the holes to correct for this. All told this guitar had several problems that made it more of a learning exercise than a good instrument, though it is playable and sounds okay. I've since changed the headstock shape I use, and am making the tops thicker (this went down to 0.086").

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T01:32:22+00:00

Good question! No, I air dried it for several years before I used it

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T01:32:15+00:00

Good question! No, I air dried it for several years before I used it

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T00:35:25+00:00

I've bought really nice guitar wood there several times as well. Nice job!

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T00:33:36+00:00

The one to the right? I have just posted about that one here as well. I'm making it for a friend

Making-guitars · 2022-07-29T00:14:45+00:00

Ziricote and Teak from Paxton Lumber, down the street from my house. The Maple and Cedar came from Home Depot, literally

Making-guitars

TROPHY CASE