The Luthier Community

Grant,

I totally agree with you - different strokes for different folks. i don't know how much difference the glitter stuff makes anyway. I only built my first guitar without it. Plenty of great sounding guitars have been built without it. For all I know it could be a waste of time!

Stringfest . . . now there's an idea.

At any rate, the dread is looking good! Gotta try that neck joint one of these days.

Pat

Ok, I picked this one back up today, starting just as it was in the photos above plus the fingerboard (thermally modified ebony) slotted and the phosphor bronze bar frets made. Glued in the end blocks and have the first side glued to the top. Going out to glue the other side in a few minutes.

The plan is to have this playable by Stringfest, but it will probably just have a wash coat finish. I will post some photos when there is something interesting.

G

Well, just to show you my "no frills" glue-up process



Just in case anybody has forgotten that I am a "seat of the pants" luthier
I will join and brace the back this weekend and close the box first part of the week.

G

A bit more progress.

One thing about thermally modified spruce is that the silk just jumps out. A shot of the inside of the top...just bare wood



Joining the back



Done, sanded and cut out


This is Beng. Thermally modified, it looks more like Ovangkol, but not as gray

Ready to brace the back



All glued up


I am keeping track of the time. So far 1 hour to lay out the pattern and shape the parts, 20 minutes to glue the first layer, 30 minutes for the second layer, 20 minutes for the third layer and 15 minutes for the fourth layer...2 hours and 25 minutes total for the glue-up.

G

Well, got the back linings in and the center back strip in.



Tomorrow I will put in the side braces and close the box.

G

As many times as I've seen it...

...that has to be one of the coolest looking top bracing systems, ever.

Thanks, Dennis.

Here is yesterday's progress.

I always like the looks of the inner tube rubber wrap that I use to clamp on the back


It looks so neat and orderly (in contrast to my shop)

Here it is after unwrapping





Today I routed off the top and back overhang. Then I installed the truss rod in the neck. Photos tomorrow.

Between those operations, I made a run to Home Depot in Brainerd to pick up floor tile for the speakeasy. I suppose one of these days I should post how THAT project is coming...or come on over and take a look

G

I do like the inner tube clamps. I've taken to using that to glue on my fretboards, after cracking the neck on a build right along the trussrod slot from overzealous clamp tightening......