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  #61  
Old 04-13-2016, 11:16 AM
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Default Top!

Time to brace the top on this little guy. We deflect test all our brace stock and choose the stiffest pieces for the main X. Looser braces become tone bars, and the floppier stuff gets used for finger braces and soundhole reinforcement.
Although, we have found a good supplier of Sitka brace wood whose material from Prince of Wales island is wonderfully consistent, the stiffest pieces being the best we've found. Anyway, here's a shot or two:






As you can see, we're going with a double X. It works well--quite well actually--for small guitars like this. It tends to heighten the fundamental which a small box needs. Does it behave differently from a single X with 2 tone bars? It does for us. Some of the upper end glitter is sacrificed, but as said before, the diminutive size of this body (size 1) kicks in plenty of upper end. It needs shoring up in the bass, and the double X aids this in our experience.

Many thanks for looking,

Steve
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  #62  
Old 04-13-2016, 03:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nacluth View Post
Translation: "As long as Ryan's here to do it, there's no urgent need to build one."
Haha, yeah that's what I was assuming, hows that rotator cuff feeling?
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  #63  
Old 04-13-2016, 06:09 PM
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Originally Posted by TomB'sox View Post
Haha, yeah that's what I was assuming, hows that rotator cuff feeling?
Thankfully I've been playing disc golf for 20 years, so I'm pretty good at twisting around. Also, I'm good at the Watusi.
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  #64  
Old 04-13-2016, 10:37 PM
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We (I) didn't get a pic of the finished top bracing. Ach! I could kick myself. Well, that won't work--too close to get enough force in the swing. I'll have to get Ryan to do the job. (He wears a lot of hats around here. And this is one of his favorite tasks.)

So, top is ready, sides are prepped, brace pockets cut--just need to sign and apply the label:





And then, close the box:





I love this step! Some flat pieces of wood have been transformed into a curvilinear charmer. It's starting to look like a guitar.

Thanks for watching,

Steve
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  #65  
Old 04-14-2016, 06:31 PM
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I love that oak Steve, nearly bear claw. Very cool.

T
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  #66  
Old 04-14-2016, 08:17 PM
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Tim! Nice to hear from you. Hope all is well.
Glad your studied eye approves the oak.
Thanks,
Steve
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  #67  
Old 04-14-2016, 11:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nacluth View Post
Oh brother. I will give anyone $50 off their guitar if they'll come and do that one step though. It's a workout. One day we'll join the high tech luthiers - like John - that have motorized this process.
I'm on the next flight!
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  #68  
Old 04-19-2016, 05:48 AM
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Now the box is closed, we can address further embellishments.
In this first shot Ryan is routing the tail for its wedge inlay:





And yes, we have a jig for this, but Ryan prefers the freehand approach. No nets for him when he walks a tight rope! So when that trough is plowed, the wedge is carefully fitted and glued, being secured with band clamps and a block to apply pressure:





And the finished inlay with some shellac rubbed on:





That wedge ^ is a piece of English Brown Oak burl. A friend of ours has amassed quite a collection of exotic veneers, sharing with us from time to time from his bounty. I've been hoarding a few precious scraps of this beautiful wood he so kindly gave, waiting for the right project. This is it. The piece yielded this wedge, and a rear overlay for the peghead.

Thanks for looking,

Steve
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  #69  
Old 04-20-2016, 11:14 AM
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Default Bridge building

While we work to finish the box, you might enjoy seeing the bridge for this little guy. Digging through our Ebony pile, we found a very attractive blank with some brown marbling running right down the center. Construction commenced with laying out the blank, routing saddle slot and drilling string holes. Here it sits awaiting scooping the wings:




Wings scooped:




Pyramids begun:




Facets completed:



Sanded and polished:



Should look handsome on this wee parlor.
Thanks for watching,

Steve
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  #70  
Old 04-20-2016, 11:34 AM
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Great looking bridge, guys! This is really shaping up to be a sweet little guitar...
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  #71  
Old 04-20-2016, 04:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nemoman View Post
Great looking bridge, guys! This is really shaping up to be a sweet little guitar...
Thank you for the kind words, Nemoman.
We appreciate you dropping by...and signing our guest book!

Steve
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  #72  
Old 04-20-2016, 05:27 PM
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Love the look of that Oak.And the bridge with light grain colour through it !

In the UK its amazing how much old Mahogany + Oak
(( Chest of drawers..Wardrobes etc )) is taken to the tip.
Almost all the Antique/Junk shops that used to be,have shut down around here.

If havent seen - Some white Oak L&H https://youtu.be/aZutfzLNvvQ?t=9m30s
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  #73  
Old 04-20-2016, 08:14 PM
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Thanks for the interesting link, mahoriver. My grandfather's guitar was quite similar to the L&H that was restored in that video. (I wouldn't have done quite the invasive work he did, but it was a masterful job. And that little guitar was loud!)
Also thanks for the kind word. Always nice to meet another enthusiast for the old stuff.

Steve
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  #74  
Old 04-20-2016, 08:31 PM
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And speaking of old stuff--there was a merchant at the Arlington guitar show last October with some fascinating pieces:



That one caught my eye. The merch said this was a "Ciani", an unfamiliar name. As he told the story, there was a school of Italian craftsmen working in this style, producing guitars for several of the larger firms. Heavy into the use of marquetry, fancy inlays, etc. It was the bridge that really interested me:





A pyramid bridge of sorts, but the inside face is formed by the scoop sweeping from the body. Our bridge is patterned after such, and I prefer it a bit more. Now I wish I had bought that guitar... *sigh*

Steve
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  #75  
Old 04-26-2016, 04:33 PM
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We've gotten some rewarding work accomplished on this little guy.
Routing the purfling/binding ledges:



Which step eventuates in this:



And this:



We got the bindings scraped flush today. Like the oak parlor before it, this guitar gets American Holly bindings. Pics of that in a bit.
Thanks,

Steve
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