Archtop Guitar
Looks as if I can't make furniture like the rest of you folks… I'm forever stuck making instruments…
This guitar took me two years to make partly because I started from scratch. No molds or jigs so I had to make them.
I got the bug to try an archtop because
1. play guitar,
2. always wanted one,
3. it costs a lot less to just go out an buy one ready made.
Here's the process beginning to the end.
Layout
Transfer to wood blank
At this point I used a drill press to hog out the majority. Drilling to depth and gouging out what didn't look like a guitar plate.
Carve
inside carved
F holes
Parallel (vs 'X') Braces inside
Binding - channel is cut
Tough spot
First layer of mahogany. Used pins to hold it against the ledge. Ended up using rubber bands. Much faster and easier.
Used folio rubber bands to stretch and put pressure on the inside mahogany/maple/mahogany bindings respectively.
Trimming excess
Used heat to steam to bend 'F' hole binding and then this handy jig to keep it till it dried.
Close up 'f' hole binding
Looking like a guitar
Not quite finished
Neck = maple/walnut/maple
Jig for ebony tailpiece
Nearly finished
The Howling Wolf in a Blood Moon
Over and out!
Looks as if I can't make furniture like the rest of you folks… I'm forever stuck making instruments…
This guitar took me two years to make partly because I started from scratch. No molds or jigs so I had to make them.
I got the bug to try an archtop because
1. play guitar,
2. always wanted one,
3. it costs a lot less to just go out an buy one ready made.
Here's the process beginning to the end.
Layout
Transfer to wood blank
At this point I used a drill press to hog out the majority. Drilling to depth and gouging out what didn't look like a guitar plate.
Carve
inside carved
F holes
Parallel (vs 'X') Braces inside
Binding - channel is cut
Tough spot
First layer of mahogany. Used pins to hold it against the ledge. Ended up using rubber bands. Much faster and easier.
Used folio rubber bands to stretch and put pressure on the inside mahogany/maple/mahogany bindings respectively.
Trimming excess
Used heat to steam to bend 'F' hole binding and then this handy jig to keep it till it dried.
Close up 'f' hole binding
Looking like a guitar
Not quite finished
Neck = maple/walnut/maple
Jig for ebony tailpiece
Nearly finished
The Howling Wolf in a Blood Moon
Over and out!