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Bob's Guitar.... Getting Close!

Just as way of intro, Bob had so hoped to have a beautiful green finish on the guitar, but as luck would have it the paint was not available locally, and to order it would have delayed having the instrument completed in time, given all the layers of finish, drying time and polishing.    Well, there's always a silver lining!   I think the wood grain is gorgeous as it is!    Here's what Bob has to say!

Well, fellow grads, here is the latest on the guitar.  Obviously, it's not green.  I had some technical difficulties, and didn't have time to sort them out in order for the paint to be dry enough to polish out by the reunion.  So it's a "what-you-see-is-what-you-get!" finish.  I wired it up and it seems to play just fine (as far as I can tell), but after I do a little more set-up work, I will hand it over to a couple of  local musicians to test it out.  In two-three weeks, I will take it back down and polish it.  Won't be much to show till it gets polished and reassembled.

 To the left is a pretty accurate rendition of the color as it appears on the guitar.  I still have the cover plates to do, but that should be no problem.

 

The truss rod nut cover that is missing here will be put on last.

The photo below should give you some idea of the color of the front of the guitar.  Bear in mind it still has to be level sanded with various grits of sandpaper, the last being somewhere around 1500 or 200 grit, then it gets polishing compound.  Needless to say, it will come apart for that, then get cleaned up and put back together for the last time.

It's been a blast, folks.  I hope to get a sound clip of someone playing it, but can't promise.  I would like to have it played at the reunion, if there are any volunteers that can help.   Let me know if anyone is available.  If not, I'll try to finagle someone into showing up and playing a couple of licks on it.

Hope it meets everyones fancy. 

Updates x 2

As to our Big Bash on Saturday, the time slot for the LSU-Florida game has yet to be announced.   There is an open slot for a 2:30 SEC game....   so maybe that will be it.    Will let you know as absolutely soon as possible!    If we don't see a schedule in the next couple of weeks, we'll just set a time.

I just returned from two weeks in South Carolina and found a load of new registrations in the mail...  Hoorah!   Here's the list as it stands today: 

Coming!   

Fran Aertker Barbato

Tommy Ashley  

John Barnidge  

Betty Jo Bellino Campo

Michael Blalock  

Michael Blank  

Mark Boo-Boo Hromadka

Ginger Bruyninckx Welch

Eileen Burden Arsenault

Ronnie Caesar  

Bob Campo  

Goeff Cazes  

Norman Chenevert  

Ginger Cicero Ridder

Mike Conolly  

Randy Courtney  

Marian Damico Deville

Johnny Damico  

Mary David Baker

Pat DeVanie  

Bob Deville  

Josephine Distefano Cazes

Paul Dupuis  

Mary Ann Eskew Lacy

Pat Fett  

Bob Foltz  

Victor Gengo  

Gordon Gremillion  

Marty Gremillion Johnson

Barry Gremillion  

Joe Hebert  

Ronnie Hernandez  

Dave Hussey  

Linda Jarred  

Deborah Jones McBride

Julie Lalande Abendroth

Charlotte Leggio Dornhoefer

Phillip Lemoine  

Rick Mansour  

Marilyn McStay  

L'Anne Methvin Sciba

Sheila Moore  

Caroline Noone Mott

Kathleen O'Halloran Holdash

Gregg Overman  

Mary Anne Percy Meeks

Janie Pias  

Ted Powell  

Vickie Praet Wilson

Cynthia Price Parker

Rose Mary Randall Williams

Anita Saybe Ehlers

Kathy Scalfano Yates

Debbey Scheuermann Brown

Rosalyn Scroggs Beall

Walter Swift  

Ginger Thiels  

Ray Tracy  

George Tullier  

Vicki Vanderlick Methvin

Frances Ward Johanson

Herbie Way  

Donnie Welch  

Jackie Williams Koncinsky 

Can't Make It

Pat Corey

John Dunn  

Frank Fazio  

Bob Gabour

Jo Fomby Gavin

Susan Guidroz  

Rose Ann Guidry Schwartz

David Kaufman  

Kathy Marian Hardin

Tom McQuilling

Tricia Mertens

Jimmy "Doc" Stilley

Event Schedule!

Friday, October 5, 2012

Homecoming Parade - 1 p.m.

The Class of '69 will have a float in Menard's Homecoming Parade!  Contact Paul Dupuis (318.563.8469) if you want to help build and decorate it.  Otherwise, come to the parade!  More later on the route.

Alumni Reception - 5 p.m. - Kickoff at 7 p.m.

Menard holds a pre-game party at the Alumni Center (former Priest's residence) for all graduates.  We'll gather there to visit and have heavy hors d' oeuvres.

                              Homecoming Football Game - 7 p.m.

For those who might want to attend, tickets are sold at the gate.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Spend the morning visiting relatives, touring Alexandria, playing golf or whatever strikes your fancy!  Once you're registered for the reunion we'll send the out-of-town classmates information

About things to do in the area.

The BIG Bash! - Time to be Determined

We'll gather at the Bistro on the Bayou, 1321 Chappie James Avenue in Alexandria

When the LSU - Florida Football game starts, most likely at 2 p.m., but possibly at 11 a.m.

If an evening game is played, we'll get together earlier, probably at 4 or 5 p.m. 

We'll let you know a definite time as soon as we can!

There'll be music from the late 60's, and plenty of good food, as well as soft drinks.   

A cash bar will be available for "adult beverages,"  

And of course, lots of story-telling, old and new!

Bring your checkbooks for an opportunity to bid on a beautiful guitar built by Bob Campo, to purchase some great items in a Silent Auction, or otherwise donate to the retired Sisters of Divine Providence.  

Our own Sister Ann Petrus is planning to join us for the festivities!

 

Sunday, October 7, 2012

A Celebration of Life - 10 a.m.

A private Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at the Bistro on the Bayou in remembrance of our deceased classmates and teachers. 

Following Mass, brunch will be available (on your own) at the Bistro.

More from Bob Campo!

So, hello, gang.  I made a little progress on our guitar here of late, so I thought I'd post a couple of pictures.  In our little guitar building world, we feel we technically have an instrument when the clamps come off of the glue-up joining the neck to the body.   I suppose this is your first real view of the guitar.

 

Please bear in mind that there is only one coat of clear lacquer on it to 'lock' things together.  There is some 'orange peel' or minute dimpling in the finish which will be sanded out once the final 10 or 12 coats of clear are sprayed and dried.  Here she is with that one coat of clear on it with the trim loosley placed for mock up efforts to get an idea of how things should look when she's done.

 

 

The green will be added in a week or so.  It will go on the neck and back.  First, I have a little art work to do on the top, then it all gets another 'lock down' coat.  Then the back gets green, a little art work, and then kablooie!!!---10 or 12 coats of clear.  This has a dull lustre to it now because it has been scuff sanded.  The next pic will show the color coat and lock down coat before sanding.  It will give an idea of how deep and glossy it should be when finished.

 

 

Well, that's it for now.  I got to get back in the shop and do a little work on it.  I hope you enjoy

 

Hot Dog! More Registrations

The average attendance for a high school reunion, regardless of whether it's 10 years, 20 years or more, is 20 to 30 percent. Attendance by more than 30 percent of the graduating class typically is considered a great success.

We're busting the records, y'all,...   Getting close to the 50% mark for registration!   Awesome!  I'm so excited about seeing everyone...  my only worry is not getting to visit with every single person long enough to catch up.   

Hey, if you see that someone is missing and would like to contact them to provide a little  encouragement, let me know and I'll send on their phone number/address!

 

Latest list:

 

Anita Saybe Ehlers  Linda Jarred  Betty Jo Bellino Campo  Marian Damico Deville  Bob Campo  Marilyn McStay  Bob Deville  Marty Gremillion Johnson  Bob Foltz  Mary Ann Eskew Lacy  Caroline Noone Mott  Mary Ann Percy Meeks  Charlotte Leggio Dornhoefer  Mary David Baker  Cynthia Price Parker  Michael Blalock  Dave Hussey  Michael Blank  Debbey Scheuermann Brown  Mike Conolly  Deborah Jones McBride  Norman Chenevert  Donnie Welch  Pat DeVanie  Eileen Burden Arsenault  Pat Fett  Fran Aertker Barbato   Paul Dupuis  Frances Ward Johanson  Phillip Lemoine  George Tullier  Randy Courtney  Ginger Cicero Ridder  Ray Tracy  Ginger Thiels  Rick Mansour  Goeff Cazes  Ronnie Hernandez  Gordon Gremillion  Rosalyn Scroggs Beall  Herbie Way  Rose Mary Randall Williams  Janie Pias  Sheila Moore  John Barnidge  Ted Powell  Josephine Distefano Cazes  Vicki Vanderlick Methvin  Kathleen O'Halloran Holdash  Vickie Praet Wilson  Kathy Scalfano Yates  Victor Gengo  L'Anne Methvin Sciba  Walter Swift
There are a few folks who for good reason can't join us...  I'm grateful they let us know and thank those of them that made contributions to the cause...  You know who you are!
David Kaufman  Frank Fazio   Jo Fomby Gavin  John Dunn  Kathy Marian Hardin  Pat Corey   Rose Ann Guidry Schwartz   Susan Guidroz Perault  Tom McQuilling  Tricia Mertens

 

 

Bob's Guitar Gets Better!

Hey troops.  I've been plodding along with the guitar and have made quite a bit of progress since the last photos.  While it may not look like it's advancing much, we are at the stage of tedious detail, where two or three hours of work may only show something like a 1/4" piece of plastic around the headstock area, but those are some of the things that come with the territory.

This is the back of the guitar body.  The large dark area on the bottom left is a cover that goes over the tone and volume knobs allowing access to the wiring.  The smaller one in the top right covers the switch that selects the pickup combination the player chooses.  I laminated these from 3 thin layers of wood, the top layer being figured walnut.  I plan on dying them almost completely black and clearing them.  The wife and I kicked things about and thought instead of the top cover being round like this model generally uses, we thought it would be neat if we used the logo from our yearbook.  I will figure out how the eagle/shield design will go, but right now I'm thinking white mother of pearl.  Here the back has been rounded over and ready for final sanding and grain filling, prior to the neck being glued in place.

  

Here is a shot of the neck dry fitted for one of the last times.  It shows the volute underneath the headstock. Instead of a smooth transition, I chose to put this contour because it adds strength to the weakest area of the neck, plus I just think a volute looks much classier than not having one.  Only the best for my "homies."  The white binding around the headstock and the top of the body can also be seen.  It is made of white acetone/plastic.  This ought to really 'pop' once the green is added to the back and the neck.  Also note that mother nature gave us a beauty mark hidden in the neck that was revealed once the shaping of the neck was done.

...and finally, a pretty raunchy [NOT] picture of the front view.  The cavities have been mortised for the pickups.  The next step is to final sand the two main components and put one or two thin layers of epoxy as a grain filler.  This will sand smooth, filling in all the grain and leaving a slick (at least that's the plan, anyway) top coat of color and approximately 10 coats of gloss lacquer.

 

 

That's about it for now.  This coming up week I hope to have the grain filling done and have the neck glued in place.  That is generally regarded in my little world as the day we technically have a guitar, so if you hear a distant shout in the night, it may well be me when I remove the clamps and the neck stays put!