Over the weekend I was finalizing the forms for the guitar and was finally able to get a close look at the indian rosewood sides and curly maple binding that I ordered from LMI.  I spent a few extra dollars and had them do the critical bending in their shop.  When you order a kit, you get 40% off shop services, so this turns out to be a pretty good deal.  It saves me the costs of building a bending jig, building or buying the heated pipe contraption used for doing the bending, and the more-than-likely cost of having to redo my work after breaking a piece.

The sides and binding come all wrapped up in cardboard and plastic to protect them and to keep their shape before you get them into the forms.  As such, I hadn’t done a detailed inspection.  There were a couple of funny looking spots, but I couldn’t be sure.  Well, long story short, one side had a crack, along with the binding for that side. 

A quick email with photos to LMI with photos and a new set of sides and binding are on their way!  That’s service!  Now it looks like I have some bent rosewood that I might have to do something with.  Hmmm.  Ukulele?