Build Thread: Dion Guitars, small bodied, cocobolo
 

Hey Folks, After a good show in Santa Barbara I'm back in the shop and starting a new project. Photos to follow. I hope you enjoy watching the build.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...61f5c26c34.jpg The shop pre build.


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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...fdac1f4162.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...203e3c3c1a.jpg I'm using a wonderful piece of Cocobolo for the back on this guitar. You'll notice that the back is laminated with four pieces of wood and a centre of nomex. This allows me to control the stiffness in all directions very evenly, creating a very active back contributing greatly to the volume and quality of tone I expect from my guitars. Thanks to My good friend and old shop-mate Jeremy Clark of 52 instruments for the idea.


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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...28761c872f.jpg I'm still up in the air as to which wood to use for the soundboard on this guitar. German spruce or western red cedar? Opinions? Both of these pieces are very light and very stiff.


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The cedar looks wonderful, but I'm pulling for the German spruce.

+1 for the german spruce, which looks great!

What are those ink spots on the cocobolo back?

Q.

Thanks for the input! I'm leaning towards the spruce myself.

The ink spots are glue from forming the structured back, they'll be gone after the binding goes in. I keep the sanding to a minimum as I don't want to lose any more wood than I have to from my very intentionally dimensioned backs and sounboards.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...58a22138bb.jpg

Sides bent. I'll laminate theses in the next few days.


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Build Thread: Dion Guitars, small bodied, cocobolo
 

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...54c0f47045.jpg

I'm getting ready to move shops at the end of the month. Buried in wood for the day.



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Build Thread: Dion Guitars, small bodied, cocobolo
 

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...afb32b7b84.jpghttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...8c1a43e9af.jpg

I use a three ply side with the centre piece being kerfed. This gives me extremely rigid sides and a built in glue surface for the back and top. No liners required.


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That's very cool.

Rooting for the cedar top, if the spruce hasn't won yet.

Thanks! I think the spruce has won at this point. I'm going to join it up tomorrow. I'll put that great cedar top to use soon though.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...373e86857a.jpg

I'm going with a spruce top by popular demand. This is the German spruce top being joined, I'm going to join an engleman top as well and decide between the two.


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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...5fc183788b.jpg

Things are moving along nicely. Hopefully I'll get this thing boxed up and ready for finish before the big shop move. Sides are laminated, tomorrow I'll join the rim.


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http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...55a4c46386.jpg

I'm using a beautiful piece of very well quartered mahogany for the neck on this guitar.


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