I tried to send this early but might be a repeat (technically challenged)

Thanks - I would love to see something that would help me understand the hill county stuff better, so far I'm only good at listening to it....  Life's busy and seems to get in the way of my playing/building/learning so no rush.

As a side note, one of our local PDX bands, Hillstomp, plays a lot of great, gritty music.  Henry is half of the band and I got to see him do a Fred McDowell tune at McMenamins Edgefield a few months ago.  Thought you might enjoy https://youtu.be/lggFIHw-9B4

Thanks Jason, I'm all eyeball...

Wow Jason, an instructional vid of the wireup would be great. Many of us could benefit from it. Thanks a bunch.

I hand sand with coarse grit (80) until I can't stand it. A lot of the wood I get is pretty well taken down already. I've been getting about 3/16ths Spruce, Maple. Walnut, and Cedar. That I just start with 220 and go down to 400 with this thinned wood. I use these for soundboards except the Maple. It makes a nice back. Often I'll use a thicker wood for the back. I have a lot that is 1/4 inch or a little more for backs. The thick backs work good for electrics. For acoustic I'll stick with thin wood. I'll often start varnishing at 220 grit and keep sanding in between coats with finer and finer sandpaper. This seems to make a nice finish. I don't go for the high gloss or too perfect look. It would just frustrate me. None of my stuff is "perfect". Crude is closer to me.

Hi Jason, I usually use Black Walnut. Rosewood is getting hard to get and Walnut seems to work great. I've been getting guitar backs in Walnut that is too thick to use for a soundboard. It's usually about 3/8" thick and one half a back will make 4 fret boards. I've been using these for diddleys and lap steels. Fretted boards I get from Mike Orr through ebay. He uses Walnut and makes 1 1/2 inch wide fretboards. His work is excellent and cost about 20$ per board. 

Jason, I don't know what the brass thickness was, it was cut from a plate I bought at thrift shop. Maybe 2mm?

Will this help?   I just put the wire between the tail and the box, you could wrap it around a screw too....

Here is a string through ground. the strings go through the copper strap.....

Hello Jason.  Not sure what yur askin but..... i do shield and ground my mag pickups and have also grounded the bridge, so yes. I have found it better to ground the strings though.

Hey Jason, thanks for the friendship. It will be fun to watch your progress. Only the Quija knows... Dave

Very cool Jason,what a great idea.

Happy to be your new friends...

I've to take time to look at your very nice work here Jason...°<[:-) [---]==={...