We're grateful for the participation in our fall Thank You Giveaway.  We added 134 followers to our Brooks Acoustic and Guitar Restoration family through shares and Facebook likes.

The winners of our hat, shirt and coffee cup drawings were:

• Thomas Ryan Gan of Waynesville, MO
• Jason Freyer of Mexico, MO
• Zoe Fisher of Jefferson City, MO

Special congratulations to grand prize winner John Bayer of Treloar, MO

John won this 3/4–size sleeper conversion guitar and hard case, valued at $800.  He'll be coming into the shop soon to pick up his gift.  We're looking forward to sharing the moment.

Thank you again.  Please keep in touch for news on other happenings in our store, including future drawings.​

Not sure you can see real well in this picture but my face is pretty red. I wasn't really paying attention to my skin as I was working, but when I came inside after a heavy session of sanding, my face looked beet red. Like I had been in the sun all day.

The wife said something about it the first time it happened but we didn't really think anything of it. It wasn't until I started sanding the next day that I noticed it was turning red and burning again. It seems like I am allergic to koa wood. :-/

So, if you've been hoping for regular updates this last week, they've been pretty sparse on account of the fact that I can only sand for a little bit before my skin is burning and I have to stop and wash. BUT I think I've got it ready for the paint booth! ​​

Well, everyone, the time has come for another giveaway!

The new website is up and we need your help to get it out there. We will be giving away some big ticket items this time. The top/big prize will be a 3/4–size sleeper conversion guitar and hard case! These are valued at $800.00! In addition, we will be giving away a number of mystery boxes, too (boxes that contain things like hats, shirts, stickers, picks, coffee cups – chosen at random).

Stay tuned to the Facebook page (@BrooksAcoustic) because we will share a giveaway post there on Monday, August 13th. To enter to win, you will have to:

1. Like our FB page (if you haven't already)
2. Like the giveaway post
3. Comment on the giveaway post
4. Share the giveaway post
5. Tag a friend for an extra entry

The giveaway will close on Monday, August 27, 7 pm CST. The winner will be announced Monday night!

​Thanks for supporting Brooks Acoustic and Guitar Restoration. Remember to tell your friends about us.  Lots of them. We are looking forward to sending out goodies! 

I could easily buy a guitar neck online, but there's something special about carving a neck from a block of wood. And besides, can you really call it a custom guitar if it has a manufactured neck? Hmmmm...

​Check out the beginning stages of the process in the video below. 

As I was working on the custom guitar last week, I realized that I had to order truss rods. Not a big deal. A quick call and they were on the way. 

I waited around all day yesterday since they were supposedly on the FedEx truck and on their way, but something must have happened and they didn't make it here. 

This morning, however, was a nightmare. My wife asked me if I wanted coffee this morning, and even though I didn't really, I said "sure." As I sipped it, I realized that it didn't have enough creamer in it for me so I went and got the giant creamer container out of the fridge. Then proceeded to drop it on the hardwood floor, at which point it exploded and about $5 of creamer splashed everywhere: on the floor (obviously), on the walls, on the kitchen table and chairs, on the underside of the table and chairs, on the carpet in the hallway, and the wall and door across the hall. Oh, and Dottie dog was in the blast zone as well. SOOOO... after cleaning up the mess (and mopping the floor twice and still having it sticky) and washing the dog, I had hoped the day would get better.

Did some errands, came home, and got my truss rods from the delivery driver only to find out when I went into the shop, I already had some stashed away. Great! Clearly, I should not be working today with the way my luck is running.

However, I did decide to go ahead and get started on the neck this evening. Check out the video to see me cutting the neck down to size (and to see the slot for the truss rod for this one).

Follow each day's progress the The Full Custom photo gallery on Facebook and on Instagram @RobertBrooks1911. Stay tuned!

#customguitar #neck #acoustic #guitar #acousticguitar #kalamazoo #luthier #brooksacoustic #musician #musicislife #music #overcoming #challenge

So, last week for the Kalamazoo custom was a good one. I got a lot done and things are coming along smoothly.

​I started by bending the sides then cutting them so they fit into the mold.