Carl's guitar project.

[chilton747]

So what ideas did you pick up on that you can apply to yours?

[warpedbored]

Mostly technique. For instance if you are right handed it's best to put the binding and purfling on the right side of the guitar first. That way it's easier to tie the ends together; I also decided to add two carbon fiber strips along side the truss rod for a stronger neck.

[warpedbored]

Progress is being made albeit slowly. This week I started on the bending form and the assembly form. Basically male and female haves of the body of the guitar. Once I get the forms built I can bend the sides then start on the top. Before I can thickness the top I need to install the rosette on the sound board so I can sand it flat then thickness it to about .090 inches.

 

I've been waiting for this weekend because every year this time at Maryhurst University they have a handmade musical instrument show. Luthiers come from all over to show off their work, network together and check out the vendors. One guy in particular has an inlay business and sells beautiful pearl and abalone inlay. Since this is my first guitar I decided not to get too fancy so I opted for a white mother of pearl 1/4 inch ring. I'll probably put a thin red white and black ring inside and outside of it although I am as yet undecided. It should add a little bling to my black soundboard. I also picked up a sitka spruce sound board for my next guitar since I couldn't pass up the price.

 

 

http://oi52.tinypic.com/10fw2on.jpg

 

 

This is my good friend and mentor Robert Steinegger and one of his guitars. It has rosewood back and sides and a Sitka spruce top with spectacular bear claw figure. The albalone purfling and Ivoroid binding are gorgeous and complimented with a tortise shell pick guard. You can't read the price tag in this photo but it's $6100.00 Very nice guitar, I've played it.http://oi56.tinypic.com/2n9cpxy.jpg

 

I thought these guitar/harp combos were pretty cool so I took some photos.

http://oi56.tinypic.com/28sm2gw.jpg

 

 

This is a guy named Ted Megas. he makes beautiful arch top guitars.

http://oi51.tinypic.com/25jlhxc.jpg

 

 

I didn't get the makers name but I really liked this mandolin.

http://oi51.tinypic.com/j6sw3o.jpg

[warpedbored]

I posted the Osama Bin Laden thread right after I updated this one. I think it got overlooked in the excitement so I'm giving it a bump.

[chilton747]

I saw it before you posted the bin Laden thread. Of course I will see any thread about guitars. I think the guitar/harp combos are really cool!! Did you see any double neck guitars there?

[warpedbored]

Yes there were a few. Just about any kind of guitar you can imagine was there.

[Mick]

That really is a great looking Mandolin, Carl. My grandfather used to be quite the Bluegrass mandolin picker as well as with a banjo. Those guitar/harp combos were great - I had never seen that before. Thanks for posting.....

[warpedbored]

A little progress, I went over to a friends who has an 18" bandsaw and resawed the back and sides of some spectacular ribbon figured mahogany I've been saving for years. When dyed red the ribbon figure will really pop out at you. I nearly have my bending jig and assembly jig finished. Next I need to build a "go bar deck" for clamping the braces on the sound board and back.

 

The book matched back halves

http://oi55.tinypic.com/bdl11s.jpg

 

 

The sides

http://oi54.tinypic.com/wrxp42.jpg

 

 

 

A go bar deck. Because the back and top of an acoustic guitar are not flat it can be difficult to glue the bracing on at the correct curvature. I just ordered two radius dishes. A 28' for the top and a 15' for the back. I can use sand paper in them to shape my braces and glue them to the back and top as the drawing below illustrates.

http://www.stewmac.com/tradesecrets/newsletter/ts0044/ts0044gobars.gif

 

[yemmie]

This is so cool. I am so in awe of people who can do such things. I love guitar (and other instruments), play some myself, but have no clue how anyone can actually learn how to do this. Keep us posted on your progress. From what I have seen so far, along with your description of what your finished product will look like, it seems that you are building a beautiful instrument.

[chilton747]

Any progress lately?

[warpedbored]

A little. I did get my go deck built. Next I need to inlay the rosette into the sound board.

http://oi55.tinypic.com/2d8htt.jpg

 

[chilton747]

So what is a go deck used for?

[tsap seui]

Progress is being made albeit slowly. This week I started on the bending form and the assembly form. Basically male and female haves of the body of the guitar. Once I get the forms built I can bend the sides then start on the top. Before I can thickness the top I need to install the rosette on the sound board so I can sand it flat then thickness it to about .090 inches.

 

I've been waiting for this weekend because every year this time at Maryhurst University they have a handmade musical instrument show. Luthiers come from all over to show off their work, network together and check out the vendors. One guy in particular has an inlay business and sells beautiful pearl and abalone inlay. Since this is my first guitar I decided not to get too fancy so I opted for a white mother of pearl 1/4 inch ring. I'll probably put a thin red white and black ring inside and outside of it although I am as yet undecided. It should add a little bling to my black soundboard. I also picked up a sitka spruce sound board for my next guitar since I couldn't pass up the price.

 

 

http://oi52.tinypic.com/10fw2on.jpg

 

 

This is my good friend and mentor Robert Steinegger and one of his guitars. It has rosewood back and sides and a Sitka spruce top with spectacular bear claw figure. The albalone purfling and Ivoroid binding are gorgeous and complimented with a tortise shell pick guard. You can't read the price tag in this photo but it's $6100.00 Very nice guitar, I've played it.http://oi56.tinypic.com/2n9cpxy.jpg

 

I thought these guitar/harp combos were pretty cool so I took some photos.

http://oi56.tinypic.com/28sm2gw.jpg

 

 

This is a guy named Ted Megas. he makes beautiful arch top guitars.

http://oi51.tinypic.com/25jlhxc.jpg

 

 

I didn't get the makers name but I really liked this mandolin.

http://oi51.tinypic.com/j6sw3o.jpg

 

Great looking work by these guys Carl.

 

I also really liked your mentor's shirt. I've got quite a few of them.

 

Good luck with your project.

 

tsap seui

[warpedbored]

So what is a go deck used for?

 

A go deck is a clamping device. it has a top and a bottom and you spring thin rods to make downward pressure. It allows you to put a clamp anywhere on the top or back and helps form the radius of the top. An acoustic guitar top is not flat. It is actually a dome, most commonly a 25 foot radius. I have a radius dish that I will put the top on when I am ready to glue down the braces. The go bars will put downward pressure on the braces and top to form it into a perfect radius. I am going to use it first to glue down my rosette.

[slw268]

OK, this ain't fair.

Carl creates guitars. How in the hell did I miss this!

I'm packin' the car, that's it! Decision made.

I wish.

 

As soon as I wake up I'll make more sense.

 

Hey separated at birth brother Ronnie, I collect them fancy shirts too!

 

And Charles, I forgot your love of guitar.

 

G.M. Chrysler! This early onset shit is a bitch!