Official Luthiers Forum!

Well, I told myself I wouldn't start a thread until the guitar was in the finishing stages, but tonight I got to the point of
having the top ready to glue to the sides, and if I'm figuring right, the neck lines up and it seems to be on schedule,
so-to-speak. So, I thought I'd go ahead and that way lots of you pros can throw in your tips, here and there.

Anyway, the quick back story is I bought my first real power tool 2 years ago. Well, that's not 100% true in that I did
own a skill saw, an electric drill and a mitre saw. Oh, and I had a 28oz framing hammer as well! Not what you'd call
"woodworking tools" I guess. Anyway, after getting bit by this addictive bug, because I spent way too much time over at
the MLP forum's "Luthier's Corner", here I am today, 2 bandsaws, 4 routers, a planer, jointer, drill press, table saw and more
hand tools than I can keep up with, later. Let's just say I have a touch of OCD and leave it at that. So, after building a few
solid body electrics, I finally got the bravery to attempt an acoustic, and it was through a great relationship over there,
that's brought me here and got me started. You see, for some strange reason I bid on and won on Ebay a set
of "mis-matched" pre-bent sides. Someone had failed to look at the grain and bent one side "backwards", asthetically anyway,
then a forumite here in this great forum than I knew from MLP up and offered almost everything else I needed;
Sapele, Spruce, an ebony fretboard and even a trussrod!! Can you believe that? So I had no choice but to go
ahead and dive right in. I won't name names until he says it's ok, but what a great person and he should be lauded for it.
Hopefully he'll see this thread and give me to "go ahead" to reveal the benefactor.

That brings us today, but enough of my jabbering, let's get to the pictures...
Following the Cumpiano/Natelson book, I quickly made myself a work board;

As you can see, I didn't have any cork laying around, and I'm big on "using what you got", so I happened upon this
drawer lining, you know the kind that makes your tools stay in place, and measured it to be 1/8" thick. Whattya know.
It's not pretty, but it actually does the job quite well. I also made myself a go-bar deck, but you don't need to see
a picture of that I'm sure.
For some reason, I don't have a picture of the back being joined, but here's the top at least;

Laying on top of that is one of the brace templates I cut, taking measurements from the aforementioned book.
Next on my to-do list was cutting the braces for the back and the center seam graft ( don't ask my why I started here);


Being a Les Paul fan, there's always tons of scrap mahogany laying around. I "pre-profiled" the braces on the top side as well
before gluing them down,using the template with the non-cork underneath.

Head and tailblock roughed out and laying in place.
Then it was cut out the rough profile of the soundboard and delve into this unknown world to me called "bracing";

If you wanna know the truth, I was feeling rather overwhelmed at this point, put I trudge on.
I decided to stray from the book a smidge and went and picked up some mdf to build a form to hold the sides in place;

This I picked up right here in the forum, btw. Just 2 half inch pieces stacked atop each other. I have since used
my pattern bit in the router and cleaned up the interior to make it all even. To be continued.....

Because I never intended to actually do a build thread, there's quite a few gaps in the pictures, so please excuse that.
For example, magically the neck black he sent me, practically overnight, got a scarf joint, rough profiled, a heel started and
a truss route done! Woohoo;

You can obviously also see the plates in their rough profiles as well.

Since I'm also a tad scatter-brained on top of the OCD, I tend to wander quite a bit. For instance, it was at this point
that I attempted my first bridge blank out of a piece of Wenge that I had for some reason in exactly a 6" x 2" blank.
(I save everything wood related);

You can also see that I've cut the X brace and the bridge support thingy (hey, I'm still learned the terminology).
I also jumped in and made a headstock overlay;

Sadly, however, my little malti-poo has chewed the end up so don't get too attached to that particular piece.
At least she didn't eat the logo. That's my middle name, btw.
Next on my least was to start gluing the bracing. Again, just like for the back, I "pre-profiled" the braces before I
glued them. That way I could use the belt sander to remove a bulk of the material and make for much easier
work later on;

Glued and getting shaved down a little at a time;

Tapping as I go, of course, although I must admit, I have no idea what I'm listening for. We don't "tap" the tops
on solid bodies, lol. But i will say this, there is a quite a change in the "note" when you take a little off here and little there.
More to come.....

Since I already have a thread around here somewhere about my first Rosette, I figured I'd save you the retelling of that
story. However, here's a pic, at least, with the bridge photo-bombing the thing;

One thing I do know is that it's imperative to get the neck centerlined and all, so I'm constantly checking that with almost
each step of the process;

Braces are glued on the back now;


And now we jump ahead, or is it back, to the neck. Or is it, 'turn our focus'? Whatever it is, I need holes so
I could do a bolt-on;

I faced the sides of the tenon, as you can see, with cocobolo (another scrap laying around);


As you can see, it so thin I had a little tear out on one side, but we'll keep that between just you and I.
And then, it was time for the first "uh-oh" moment when I did this;

I'm sure you're thinking, "Well, Eric, what's wrong with that?". You see, I'm not so big on "measuring" things and
definitely not the whole "measure twice, cut once". I'm more of a, "Awwww...it looks close enough...nail it!" type guy.
And that's where it bit me in the ....ummm..... well, you know where it bit me. I didn't allow for the soundboard and
drill these holes where the top of the neck was flush with the top of the neck block. As you've probably already figured
out, that would've meant a hump under the fretboard. So, I've since had to make a new head block. Hey, if I get away
with that being the only screw-up this will be a HUGE win for me!!
You can see the new block, much darker, in this pic;

By the way, that's a glue-up shot, just like this one where I set the tail block, of course using a square to insure it
was perpendicular (sp?) to the soundboard;

Now, I don't have any pictures of this next part, but I made my own kerfing. Quite frankly, I had no idea what
kerfing was, although I must admit I've always like the word. Sounds really smartsy when you use it in a sentence,
especially if you somehow add the word, perfling. Like this, "So...yeah, I decided to trim my kerfing because I really
like it better when it accents the perfling." People look at you and say, "Wow, he really knows his guitar building".
If nothing else, that right there should definitely earn me the title, "Luthier", right?
Anyway, I glued the stuff to the sides after making about 200 feet of it, only about 4 feet actually usable, of course;

Thank goodness it wasn't laundry day...sheesh. Matter of fact, when I bought these laundry clips, they came in two
different quantities; 50 or 100. I thought to myself, 50 is a LOT of laundry clips, man. Better buy 100. Good thing I did
because this is what was left out of that 100 pack;

I used small spring clips in a couple of places where it was "tight", like the waist, etc.

One more update, then I'm done.....

So I made this joke over at MLP, but I don't think they got it. Maybe you guys will.....

It's time to celebrate "boxing day" in the Emoney household!!! Woohoo!!!;

Get it? I'm ready to "close the box"? Buwahahahaha......hey, I don't make my living at comedy you know.

But that's where I'm at. I really should've glued the top to the sides but it's all gone so smoothly that I'm getting a tad paranoid.
So, I did what any smart, dedicated builder would do; I walked away from it and gave up for the night. I want to make sure I'm
not missing anything.

After it's glued I plan to add "feet" above the X braces. As you can see, I've already signed the top (that's so cool to say, lol).
But I'm thinking it's ready to have the sides profiled and then the back glued on. Which, btw, brings me to a question;
Do I notch the sides for the back braces or just the kerfing and butt the braces up to the sides like I did for the soundboard?

Thanks for visiting my thread, btw. While I know this is a LONG way from most of the builds I've watched and read around these
parts, it's still pretty cool for me, a middle-aged man, to actually "build something that someone else might appreciate". I still marvel,
sometimes, at the electrics I've built in that they actually sound like they're supposed to and have yet to explode on me right in
the middle of a gig or something. Who'd a thunk it, right?

Links to pictures don't seem to work, for me anyway. ll I get is URL not found...wait a minute...
Ooops - pics suddenly came up after some time.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

great thread....your way ahead of where i was on my first! lookmforward to seeing the finish.

It's looking good Eric, although I am sorry to hear that you have OCD when it comes to tools. Far be it from me to encourage such a sad condition but I bought a brace of Bosch 10,8 li ion drill / hammer/ drivers, lovely small drills that suit my arthritic hands wonderfully and really have some welly when in use. Very powerful and only a 1 hour charge. I am also glad that with your OCD you haven't yet discovered Japanese carving files, Japanese chisels, Waterstones for sharpening and the Dremel Abrasive disk mini cutter. You really don't need the mini inspection endoscope with tiny tv and HD output to big screen for looking inside other people's guitars without taking them to bits. At the moment I am assessing a purchase from the European Union ( I live in England) of a 560mm (22") variable powered feed drum sander. It might come in handy for thinning tops and so on but you don't need one. I'll see if I can remember to add any other tools you shouldn't think about, like carbide finishing blocks for composites and radius blocks in a variety of sizes including that special one if you should make a hurdy gurdy.
I am quite sure that your guitar will be a source of great pride and joy, until, like me, you realise that you can do a much better job on the next one. And the one after that. You might need to get some new tools by then and before you start number 9.
Stew Mac got one thing absolutely correct. You can't just stop at one.

Great...thanks a lot, Dave. Now I need to find they wife's credit card, since the numbers on mine are worn out. Oh...and I may need to take over
part of her bedroom too since the shop is getting a tad "full", shall we say. Sigh.....

In the meantime, however, I did do a little something on this build this holiday (which also happens to be my birthday, for the record);

Used every straight piece of wood, and/or sanding blocks that I had and glued the top to the sides.
After letting the glue dry for about an hour, I removed the clamps and voila;

Wow....it actually stayed together and there were no explosions. Woohoo!!! Notice I glued my little "feet" above the braces? Hey, I'm learning.

I've since started shaving down the sides, but there's no pic of that yet. Oops;

I love my first bridge so I had to include it in this pic. You can see the back peaking out underneath if you squint a little.
And, since I picked up two nice sized pieces of cow bone yesterday from the butcher (can you believe they charged me $3.50, sheesh),
I decided what I'm going to do for the end graft (hope that's the correct term);

Just a simple piece of bone inlayed into some flamed Maple I had laying around (out of the scrap pile, of course).
It's not dimensioned correctly yet, however, it has been thicknessed appropriately in this picture. I'll wait and decide
the final shape once the back is glued on. I got lucky and found that I had saved and old 27" road bike inner tube which
I've cut in half all the way around to net two rather long rubber "clamps" for the back. Just need to get the bracing
trimmed and then this box will be closed! Oh yeah, baby...making progress!

While there's currently no photographic evidence (which will be rectified this evening), I did get the sides profiled, back braces trimmed,
and the kerfing glued and clamped. I'll level it tonight, trim back for the braces and hopefully get the back glued on before bedtime this evening.

While not wanting to jinx myself, I must say that I'm surprised that I might actually pull this off. At least the "box closing". We'll see by
the weekend if the neck is still where I intended it to be and there are no major "boo-boos".

Oh....oh no..... now you remind me I had a wife. I wonder where she is? ........................................................That's ok, she's in a tent down the bottom of the garden cooking on the barbeque. All that fresh healthy air and snow will do her good.

Happy birthday, by the way, and if you want a really cheap present for yourself my local supermarket does a silicon baking paper which is the bees knees for using under glue. .

The "Go to saw" thread reminded me I have a radial arm saw collecting dust in the corner. Sheesh.

Checking the neck fitment;

Centerline's ok. And, I think I've got the angle right;


My bridge is a "frog's hair" thicker than 3/8" but I think I'm going to leave it that way until the back is on and I'm ready for
the final, final neck set. Things can change quick in my shop, and always towards the worse, of course.

Made this last night;

Used this to make it fit correctly;

And put it here;

What isn't shown is the "sand - fit.....sand - fit....repeat" process.
Almost looking like a guitar now;


Still lots and lots to do, however.

Might I suggest you consider leaving the neck at that angle if you can, if it's a bolt on, until it's been strung for a while. It might just move a teeny bit under the pressure of the strings.

Good thinking, Dave. I'd planned to pretty much leave it alone, including the height of the bridge, until after I'm in a position to be
able to add strings. Especially with this being my first attempt. I'm figuring I'll need to have a full face shield and possibly one of
those bomb shields riot police use the first time I strum a chord, just in case the whole things explodes on me, lol.

I had a rather successful day today I think;

After leveling the kerfing, and imparting the correct radius I got the back in the straps;

I didn't have enough bicycle innertubes so clamps had to fill in the blank spots.
And, after about two hours and with every joint crossed that it didn't explode when I released it;

There's not a backstrap thingy because the seam on these 2 pieces of wood came together rarther nicely.
Still undecided about a heel cap;

Also, I had to make a new headstock veneer since my little dog chewed up the other one;

Glued in place and the correct angle cut so the nut is square on both sides;

For those keen observers, you've noticed binding on the fretboard there. I had some more Flamed Maple laying
around so I decided to cut it into small strips and flush one side;

I will take down the outsides of each piece while attached as I didn't want to lose my fingerprints trying to sand both sides
square on the belt sander. You can see remnants of my custom clamping system for fingerboard binding; rubber bands.
I used CA glue because I'm not sure how well Ebony takes yellow glue and it always catches a few of the bands.
As it sits, it's really starting to look like a guitar;

Believe me, I'm as surprised as you are! Until next time!

Good work Eric! Tempted by the radius dish and go bar deck next time? I was after roping the back on.

I have the go bar, but the jury's still out on the dishes. Mainly because I don't have a "feel" yet for what I like or don't like.
Don't get me wrong, I see the benefit, I just don't like the idea of the expense of about 8 of them, lol.

I am afraid I have some very bad news for you. I am psychic, and I can see you succumbing to a terrible affliction called "Oh Flips!" You must be prepared to fight this with all your might. I didn't. The 'Oh Flips' happen when you just can't wait to see what your first (or second, or third) guitar sounds like so you string it up before you should. Be stern and push the 'Oh Flips' out of the door. Do not rush that finishing.
Anyway, I reckon it will sound great.

Guilty as charged, Dave! One of those things every rookie fails at though, surely. It's like a kid unwrapping his Christmas present! Or maybe more like taking the chicken out of the oven early!

Eric, build is coming along nicely. Can't wait to see it complete! Good work so far!

_________________
Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Thanks all, and good advice Dave. Luckily, I have two LPs and a Strat builds that sit around in my shop to remind me of
getting in a hurry and what happens next, lol. Sadly, they were all very nice chunks of wood to being life. As you can
see, since I'm hard-headed it takes me 3 major screw ups to learn. But, once it's in there, it stays.

Oddly enough, the wife isn't happy about me sanding in either the living room or the dining room. She's quirky that way her.
So, I briefly popped down to the cold dark shop and did this;

And this;

Binding channel is cut, but I'm low on acetone so the binding itself is just taped in place. Still some cleaning up to do
in the channel;

And the jury hasn't returned the verdict on purfling just yet. It is my very first build, you know.
As it is, it's starting to look like an acoustic guitar, believe it or not;


Also, I got the bridge slot and pin placement layout done, but no pictures of that because it's just pencil marks
on wood and who wants to see that. Still, it's progress!

Just a tiny update today, got the blinding channel cleaned up and the binding glued on;

I use acetone as "glue" to melt the binding in the channel and melt scrap pieces in more of it
in case there are any gaps that need filled when I remove the tape.
Standard fiber-reinforced packing tape to hold it on. The spring clamp at the top of the guitar is
holding together a butt joint where the binding meets. I've melted that joint with more acetone in
hopes of creating a continious circle around the back, even though that part will recess into the
heel. Mainly because I want to see if it works for future reference.

More later when I get home this evening after I've cleaned up my mess.

I get "sorry, this person moved or deleted this image" instead of a picture, but in either case I'm glad you're still plugging away at this. I will be starting an acoustic build sometime this year, so I like fueling the fire by watching others build. Thanks, and keep hittin' it!

_________________
Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Oops! Sorry about that. I moved it to a different folder on photobucket and forgot to update the link.