Current Build

The Current Project

Here are construction pictures of a guitar with a sinker redwood top, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, cocobolo bindings, and a mahogony neck.

Month 1

The first thing I do is joint the top halves using the method Stradivarius used over 400 years ago.

The rosette is glued. The weights help press the rosette into the channel while the glue dries.

I cut the neck at 15 degrees, flatten it true then turn it over and glue it to the remaining neck to make the headstock at the proper 15 degree angle. Stops at each end have been used to prevent sliding during gluing.

After the top joint dries over night I then position and route the channel for the rosette.

After the glue has completely dried I scrape off the excess glue from the rosette area.

The back is first jointed together using the Stradivarius method. Note the center strip must be glued in between the two halves.

Month 2

Then I brought the back to the proper thickness using the thicknessing sander. Here I'm scraping the back smooth of all scratches left by the thicknessing sander. This is extremely hard on my hands so it took me several days to completely smooth the surface of this very hard Brazilian Rosewood.

Then I cut the back to within 1/2 to 1/4" of the ending shape. Then I glue the center reinforcement strip with additional strips near the bottom to lock it in place and prevent any more splitting of the sap wood from the mature wood.

Month 3

Next I glue the veneer sheets to the headstock.

After everything dries I transfer the headstock design to the headstock.

And I glue the heel block to the neck.

I then cut the veneer perpendicular to the neck so the nut is seated properly.

Month 4

I then rough cut the shape of the headstock using the bandsaw.

Then I smooth the crown using a file.

Then I route out the tuner slots using a template.

Month 5

The Bent Sides completed. They are held in the final shape of the guitar to prevent sspring back before being glued.

The bent binding completed.

Then I make the braces to the template. As soon as the humidity stabalizes and I can maintain a constant humidity of between 35% and 38% in the workroom, I 'll then glue the braces onto the back and top plates.

Then I bend the binding. This takes about 1 to 2 hours for each one.

The bracing layout template.

Month 6

The humidity finally stabilized, so I was able to glue the top and back braces.

Here the back braces have been completed as well. Next comes the glueing of the linings around the sides.