E. Stone

Been out of action for a while so here's another one from the archives. Traditionally, on a fan fret guitar the braces are carved to fit over the bridge patch. This shot shows that step in process. The bridge and the braces underneath are the centre of the sound of any guitar so it's key to make sure everything here fits perfectly. #lutherie #whatsonyourbench #itsreallystillonmybench #spruce #spanishguitar #classicalguitar #madeinireland #irishlutherie #handtoolsonly #finewoodworking (at Ennistimon, Clare, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-MKUImHwy0/?igshid=14w0aq7m3u75u

Here's a timelapse of me gluing the upper harmonic bars to a classical top. The braces and top are both beautiful old spruce tonewood from my teacher's stockpile. I'm using a drinking straw to clean up extra glue. A tip I picked up from someone here on Instagram, I forget who it was but thank you! It works great. #classicalguitar #guitarmaker #woodworking #spanishguitar #whatsonyourbench #lutherie #irishluthier https://www.instagram.com/p/B97kf64HGmB/?igshid=1fany70sgerp2

One from the archives. This is the first guitar I ever built under the watchful eye of Geza Burghardt. It's a Hermann Hauser inspires classical with old European spruce top and rosewood sides. To prove to him I'd been paying attention I built this miniature ukulele version for him as a gift. It means a lot to me that it still hangs in his shop in Vancouver. #ukulele #spanishguitar #classicalguitar #lutherie #irishluthier #guitar #whatsonyourbench #guitarsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B94sG_lHtMP/?igshid=1opwe9dlvzoc

I've been enjoying the uninterrupted stream of normal guitar and lutherie stuff in my Instagram feed, so I'm going to contribute. Let's not mention the other thing. Here's a photo from a few days ago when I was gluing the fan braces. I like how abstract this looks. #lutherie #dontmentionthewar #classicalguitar #acousticguitar #spanishguitar #woodworking #spruce #gobar #luthier #irishluthier #madeinireland https://www.instagram.com/p/B92gMljnAS-/?igshid=1hnvfhq1t1201

This circle cutter is such a joy to use. It's a cliche but there's nothing quite like having the right tool for the job. #whatsonyourbench #circle #rosette #hauser #spanishguitar #classicalguitar #lutherie #irishluthier #handmade #handtoolsonly https://www.instagram.com/p/B9zl6fGnw-I/?igshid=kwhdw5ddma9x

Finally a bit of sunshine. Makes such a difference to get out and about. Here is the ancient stone cottage I call my workshop. And the fields opposite. I'm hoping this means spring has sprung 🙂 #spring #stonecottage #guitarmaker #madeinireland #irishluthier #whereisyourworkbench (at Ennistimon, Clare, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9wKjB2HT0G/?igshid=1qv31mff5ak7p

It feels like my workshop is the only place unaffected by the craziness of the world right now. Tipping away on this guitar destined for great things in Switzerland. #classicalguitar #lutherie #whatsonyourbench #hauser #guitarmaker #irishluthier #luthier #woodworking #begrand https://www.instagram.com/p/B9t3cdcnDEk/?igshid=m8zlqs6p0h65

Really enjoyed working on this 1970s Les Paul. I believe the brass nut is not original but it is so well done I decided to salvage it by soldering a brass shim to the bottom. Pics two and three show the before and after installation of new frets. The old frets were not original either but at less than half millimetre it was definitely time for them to go. This is a well loved workhorse of an instrument. Something really special about the sound and how it plays. I could barely put it down. I look forward to seeing it live with @the_bones_below some day. #irishluthier #repair #refret #gibson #lespaul #vintageguitar #lutherie #guitar https://www.instagram.com/p/B9hg0Kln7vg/?igshid=1crmygdhi5pq8

I had great fun the other day fixing my friend Éamonn @hewnspoons a hand in his workshop. Such a different kind of woodworking to be hefting around hunks of Ash with the bark still attached. I learnt a lot, especially about how satisfying it is to make something from a raw bit of a tree. I'd like to do more of that in future. #greenwoodworking #spooncarving #ash #irishdesign (at Ennistimon, Clare, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9aYmW-ncda/?igshid=3hpsgb8k0yfb

Shaping the bridge patch on this classical spruce top. It needs to be a nice even and regular shape as the braces will be notched to fit over it exactly. I love using this homemade finger plane for jobs like this. It's much more delicate and easy to manage for close work. #guitar #lutherie #irishluthier #finewoodworking #handtools #plane #spruce #classicalguitar #spanishguitar https://www.instagram.com/p/B9MkSkdHRO1/?igshid=1dq6yd04d7k0t

Visiting a friend's house and got to see how this side/coffee table/bench I built with my wife a good few years ago is holding up. I'd completely forgotten about it tbh. I love the giant dovetails and the maple veneer separating the mahogany. Still looks really sharp. Makes me wanna build more furniture 😃 #irishdesign #woodworking #handtoolsonly #mahogany #dovetail (at Dublin, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9KWRNznfka/?igshid=k5a2tb4swlrl

Last year a friend of mine saw an article about @wearevillagers in an airline magazine and saved a copy for me. This photo so perfectly captures something about Conor, and the guitar I made him that I asked the wonderful photographer @mrkdggn if I could use it on my website. He as generously agreed and whenever I get organised I can't wait to put it there. In the meantime you can enjoy it here. Thanks again to Mark, to Diarm for the original tipoff and Conor being so photogenic and such a great ambassador for what I do. Thanks sound people❤️ #luthier #irishluthier #lutherie #irishmusic #acousticguitar #ohgodhowdoitagthis #soundpeople https://www.instagram.com/p/B9AChTbH7Up/?igshid=1qvq87n30bt6b

Gluing the bridge always feels like the birthday of the guitar. It's so difficult for me as an impatient person that one of the last things I get to do with the guitar is hear it for the first time. So this part always carries a huge weight of expectation. Especially for a new design like this one, I'm never entirely sure how it's going to sound until the strings go on (spoiler: sounds great!). I don't have many pictures of the bridge gluing step as it's honestly a little stressful. Here's a shot of all my "better safe than sorry" glue squeeze out. #whatsonyourbench #acousticguitar #woodworking #lutherie #irishluthier #irishdesign https://www.instagram.com/p/B8tlSkXHTZd/?igshid=1qh5laqh0o1gt

Cutting out the top always feels like the point of no return for some reason. This Hauser model classical is well underway. Also check out my rad (this autocorrected to "dad" and let's be honest that's probably more accurate) bandsaw skills. 😃 #whatsonyourbench #classicalguitar #spanishguitar #luthier #makersgonnamake #lutherie #irishdesign #rosette #bandsaw https://www.instagram.com/p/B8o66z2H1yC/?igshid=1od0j6lwab9zy

I really want there to be something useful I can do with this curly shavings. It seems criminal to throw them out! #whatsonyourbench #lutherie #classicalguitar #guitarmaker #irishluthier #woodworking https://www.instagram.com/p/B8jwg6nHdFT/?igshid=izfyht5sre3w

Preparing the bridge. Reaming the pin holes. Those are strange words. Jargon is weird. Ignore that. Look at the pretty ebony! #whatsonyourbench #lutherie #acousticguitar https://www.instagram.com/p/B8hjtnSn088/?igshid=1c475xratv7dg

Introducing Maeve to her new guitar is not something I'll forget soon. You can't fake a grin like that! This guitar was designed especially for her and hearing the words "it's the perfect size, the neck feels amazing - it's like we've been friends for years" after she played for a few minutes makes all the work I put in worthwhile. Thanks to my daughter for the unicorn toy photo bomb 😃 Get in touch if you think you'd like a handmade guitar from the West of Ireland #acousticguitar #boutiqueguitars #handmade #lutherie #irishluthier #whatsnolongeronyourbench #guitar #happy #newgear #newgearday #happy (at Ennistimon, Clare, Ireland) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8WVmZCnLbG/?igshid=1ly66xsnp2r42