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Acoustic guitar - Build #2
I've talked about this several times and I'm finally back to building #2! When I built my first guitar I didn't have the CNC, actually built the CNC while I was finishing that guitar so the only job I did on the CNC for that guitar was a little bit of the bridge. I began build #2 while I was building #1 but got so busy with high-end custom woodworking for other folks that I set #2 aside; I didn't realize it was going to be for 5+ years.
Now that I have the CNC I would like to use it for a few more tasks in the building of #2 so the first thing I did was to take photos of the body rim and draw that as closely as possible in my CAD program. The short video below is using a Sharpie to draw that outline so I could see how close my digital drawing came to the hand shaped rims - pretty close as it turns out.
The body is Honduras Mahogany, the lining is Maple with a little Curly Maple thrown in for aesthetics, the top will be Sitka Spruce, and the neck will be glued up African/Honduras Mahogany with a Maple stripe (that could change). The body shape is my design but is very close to my Takamine Grand Auditorium (probably close to Martin's GA or OM, as well).
I'll post updates to the build here in this thread so follow along and ask questions, offer comments, and I'll do my best to get this guitar finished soon so I can get started on more guitars.
Attachment 496736
Attachment 496738
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HH2qC3aKf4
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
difalkner
I've talked about this several times and I'm finally back to building #2! When I built my first guitar I didn't have the CNC, actually built the CNC while I was finishing that guitar so the only job I did on the CNC for that guitar was a little bit of the bridge. I began build #2 while I was building #1 but got so busy with high-end custom woodworking for other folks that I set #2 aside; I didn't realize it was going to be for 5+ years.
Now that I have the CNC I would like to use it for a few more tasks in the building of #2 so the first thing I did was to take photos of the body rim and draw that as closely as possible in my CAD program. The short video below is using a Sharpie to draw that outline so I could see how close my digital drawing came to the hand shaped rims - pretty close as it turns out.
The body is Honduras Mahogany, the lining is Maple with a little Curly Maple thrown in for aesthetics, the top will be Sitka Spruce, and the neck will be glued up African/Honduras Mahogany with a Maple stripe (that could change). The body shape is my design but is very close to my Takamine Grand Auditorium (probably close to Martin's GA or OM, as well).
I'll post updates to the build here in this thread so follow along and ask questions, offer comments, and I'll do my best to get this guitar finished soon so I can get started on more guitars.
Attachment 496736
Attachment 496738
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HH2qC3aKf4
Very nice job
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Thank you!
Rosette inlay test on Honduras Mahogany. This is sort of a twisted vine that I drew and decided to use on the guitar but I wanted to test it first. The Mahogany was already cut and the proper thickness for a guitar top (sort of, it is 0.080" thick). The inlay pieces are Maple and Redheart. There's a short video below showing the steps I used to make the inlay.
Attachment 496758
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLveJW_V1bs
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Got started on the top today and decided on Curly Maple and Imbuya Burl for the rosette.
Attachment 497084
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Rosette inlay completed but not yet glued or sanded flush -
Attachment 497106
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
The rosette is completed and the top rough cut to shape (actual shape plus 3/16" all the way around). No finish yet but a little Naphtha on the rosette close-up. Not perfect but I'll take it.
Attachment 497130
Attachment 497132
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Finished the video for the rosette and cutting the top out. Next will be cutting and fitting braces to the underside of the top.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etrb1I6h7rs
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Made a little progress on the guitar build and got the X-brace glued, ready to sand the 28' radius on the bottom of the braces.
Attachment 498238
Attachment 498240
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r9U6El9vsU
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Finished the next step and began another, so here's an update -
Glued these 80 grit pieces to the 28' radius dish -
Attachment 498438
Cut the Bubinga bridge plate and an MDF caul to hold it down for gluing -
Attachment 498440
And a video to go along with all of this -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOLqFrwe2Oc
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Wow amazing job!! This is very creative...
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
How about a CNC'g Bridge?
Attachment 498690
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ashley-techprolaser
Wow amazing job!! This is very creative...
Thanks for checking it out!
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bostosh
On my first guitar I had just built my CNC and cut the bridge. I'll use the CNC to cut the bridge on this one, as well.
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Did some carving on the braces, got a new chisel, and on to the next step!
Attachment 498882
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4bXqx_z-lU
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
I took the opportunity to use the CNC for a small piece on the guitar, cutting the neck block extension to support the fingerboard and also cutting the neck block itself after it was already glued to the rim (guitar sides). There was a bit of risk in doing this because I only had one shot at getting the neck block right or I would've had to do some serious recovery to fix any mistakes.
Attachment 499072
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLitectoRQA
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
harryn
Very nice.
Thank you!
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Today was a busy day on the guitar even though it doesn't appear much has changed. Lots of cutting on the sides for braces and a ton of sanding to get the sides to fit the radius of the top.
Attachment 499104
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVg5FymgYcM
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
One more for today, and this one is a video I had not planned to make but it became necessary when I turned the lights out (glare angle) and saw how badly the top was dented. If you've ever steamed dents out then this is old news to you but if you've never seen this then maybe it will help you. Unfortunately, I've had to do this many, many times!
Attachment 499110
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WaE5XG3WDM
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
difalkner
One more for today, and this one is a video I had not planned to make but it became necessary when I turned the lights out (glare angle) and saw how badly the top was dented. If you've ever steamed dents out then this is old news to you but if you've never seen this then maybe it will help you. Unfortunately, I've had to do this many, many times!
Attachment 499110
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WaE5XG3WDM
Cannot emphasize this enough. Treat that top like it's a newborn baby or maybe a mirror for the JWST. Keep dust off it and be VERY careful what you sit it on while working on the back side.
I use "router mats" (and make sure they're totally clean!) underneath it, even when setting it on the hollow form. Never had an issue with dents.
https://www.rockler.com/non-slip-router-mat
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kosh
Cannot emphasize this enough. Treat that top like it's a newborn baby or maybe a mirror for the JWST. Keep dust off it and be VERY careful what you sit it on while working on the back side.
I use "router mats" (and make sure they're totally clean!) underneath it, even when setting it on the hollow form. Never had an issue with dents.
https://www.rockler.com/non-slip-router-mat
Good points, for sure! I actually thought I was keeping it clean but clearly I did not. I have some of the router mat material so I might begin using that. Thanks!
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Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
I'm finally back out in the shop after a two-month absence due to prostate surgery. Light duty work only but I'll take it!
Cut, fitted, and glued the Bubinga soundhole bracing -
Attachment 503700
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbDDStxAkV4
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
difalkner
I took the opportunity to use the CNC for a small piece on the guitar, cutting the neck block extension to support the fingerboard and also cutting the neck block itself after it was already glued to the rim (guitar sides). There was a bit of risk in doing this because I only had one shot at getting the neck block right or I would've had to do some serious recovery to fix any mistakes.
Attachment 499072
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLitectoRQA
Curious to see more details on what you're doing with the headblock there? Does it make the neck adjustable? I've been making mine with a cantilevered fretboard so they can mount on an (adjustable) tripod.
You can see some of it here IIRC:
https://ahsbandguitar.blogspot.com
The Modern Luthier - YouTube
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kosh
Great looking guitar! Looks like you fashioned yours after McPherson. How's it sound?
The neck on mine is fully bolt-on as is the fingerboard extension. Yes, the neck is adjustable via truss rod. I want to try a cantilevered fretboard at some point. Did you copy McPherson or design your own?
You can see a little bit of the support in this video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLitectoRQA
Edit - Noticed your raffle is for AHS; the school I went to is AHS only it's Airline HS :)
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
difalkner
Great looking guitar! Looks like you fashioned yours after McPherson. How's it sound?
The neck on mine is fully bolt-on as is the fingerboard extension. Yes, the neck is adjustable via truss rod. I want to try a cantilevered fretboard at some point. Did you copy McPherson or design your own?
You can see a little bit of the support in this video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLitectoRQA
Edit - Noticed your raffle is for AHS; the school I went to is AHS only it's Airline HS :)
No, my inspiration came from several luthiers with articulated necks as documented in a GAL article. And then a lot of borrowing from Todd Rose on this guitar
https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGui...PQovYr9EmQKcwl
He also has an entire thread on it in acousticguitarforum.com, but I can't seem remember my login there and the site isn't very recovery friendly, so I don't have time to mess with it right now.
The big difference I made is that I'm now using an off the shelf (fixed) carbon fiber truss rod from Gemini Instruments that's a lot easier to get in place (well with a CNC) than Todds original CF wrapped dowel (which was also made by Gemini).
https://www.geminimusical.com/carbon...-neck-beam.asp
There are a couple videos on installation on my "personal" channel (I need to move those over to the Luthier channel):
https://youtu.be/kU6kbGhqSE0
https://youtu.be/LPfOehFETeA
Lastly, don't know if you've seen but I have a thread somewhere in this forum that details an entire build process.
https://www.cnczone.com/forums/music...-software.html
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Finally had an opportunity to watch these two videos - good stuff! I have yet to draw a neck profile in Fusion but plan to soon. How much heavier is the D tube than a regular truss rod?
Oh, a good tip for you is to switch from wax paper to parchment paper. Wax paper will stick to glues so I switched to parchment paper about 10 years ago and I'm still using some of the pieces I started with way back then. Yellow glue, if allowed to dry, will just flex right off leaving a clean piece of the parchment paper. If you try to wipe it off while the glue is wet then it's likely that piece of parchment paper will end up in the trash.
I'll check out your full build thread soon - thanks!
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
difalkner
Finally had an opportunity to watch these two videos - good stuff! I have yet to draw a neck profile in Fusion but plan to soon. How much heavier is the D tube than a regular truss rod?
It is super lightweight compared to a truss road. and since it's hollow and takes up a large volume, the neck ends up being much lighter as well. Side effect is a cool "musical" characteristic you can hear if you run you hand along the length of the neck. Of course, it's not adjustable, it just keeps the neck dead straight, so no adjustment needed.
Re: Acoustic guitar - Build #2
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Kosh
It is super lightweight compared to a truss road. and since it's hollow and takes up a large volume, the neck ends up being much lighter as well. Side effect is a cool "musical" characteristic you can hear if you run you hand along the length of the neck. Of course, it's not adjustable, it just keeps the neck dead straight, so no adjustment needed.
I watched more videos about the D-tube and read more of your build in the thread referenced above. I may just have to give the D-tube a shot in my next build - thanks to your build and testimony!
