Leach Custom Dread Road Show

[harvl]

OK so here's the scoop... I finally decided to up-grade some jigs and fixtures that I have been using for years... I have a habit of using something even when I know it could be improved... One of the reasons I avoid this is because then you have to take the time to "test" them to make sure everything works in concert. Since you can't test these things on customers guitars you have to make a prototype... Soooo.... I have decided to make a prototype and then send it off on a special "Road Trip" here are the details of the build:

Body style - Franconia (dreadnought... since I refocusing my attention on dreads these days...)

Top - Adirondack

Back and sides - a mystery wood!!! I have a set of wood that I bought from Allied Luthiery, it was in sort of a "bargain bin" I prepared it for a build about 2 years ago ...and now I honestly have no idea what it is... it's a rosewood of some sort but I can't say for sure what it is... maybe after some sanding or some lacquer it will reveal itself. 1 11/16" or 1 3/4" nut - input?

Ivoriod binding

Herringbone trim/soundhole

I'll post a few pictures of the build here but it's a pretty basic guitar so maybe not that interesting to "watch"

If you would like to get on "the List" drop me a PM, same basic rules, you are responsible to ship to the next person on the list.

Here is a picture of the back


Harv

[Cornerstone Guitars]

Harvey,
I bought some Amazon Rosewood from Allied a while back that looked just like that....

[harvl]

That was my first guess as well... does Amazon smell a bit like Cocobolo but without the oily wood???... even more interesting is the sides smell a lot like Brazilian.

Harv

[shortymack]

Sounds great Harv, my vote is for a 1 3/4" nut and for posting some pics of the endeavor as well. Oh yea and one more thing, 'shorty mack' inlaid on the fretboard , heheheh

[Cornerstone Guitars]

Originally Posted by harvl

That was my first guess as well... does Amazon smell a bit like Cocobolo but without the oily wood???... even more interesting is the sides smell a lot like Brazilian.

Harv

Don't quite remember Harv.... definitely not oily like cocobolo.

[harvl]

Well, with a little help from Woody B I think I have discovered what the back and side woods are... Dalbergia mysterium!!!

Harv

[harvl]

My hope is to have this guitar ready in time for NAMM nex tmonth, after that I will begin the "Trip" so this one will move pretty quickly.... it's actually further down the line but I'm a bit behind on these pictures...


The first step for me is to bend the sides and then cut then to lenght. This fixture holds the sides in the correct shape so that the ends can be trimmed.


The 2 sides are now in the body mold and the neck and tail blocks are glued in place. I use a unique neck block which has supports (corbels in the cabinetmaking world) to keep the top area under the fretboard from flexing. It's very strong but light weight.

[harvl]

A few more progress photos.

Here is a jig I used to create 2 locating holes for a template that will lay out the braces in the correct places.


Next I cut out the soundhole.


The top is then placed onto a plate with pins which will hold the top from shifting.


Here the template is set onto the pins. The template is notched for both the top and back braces.

[harvl]

Bracing the top:

Here the X-brace is glued in place. the ends of the braces fit into the notches of the template.


Next the diagonal braces along the soundhole are glued in


Then the diagonal side braces and the bridge plate


Finally the tone bars are added.

[longdrive55]

Thanks for sharing your build pics/process with us. Can I ask what kind of glue you use?

Also, I vote for the 1-3/4" nut.

Finally, what kind of neck profile are you thinking about?

Thanks Again!

[harvl]

I mostly use the special instrument white glue from LMI.

The nut width is 1 11/16", just sort of ended up that way... had about even input one way or the other. The final decision came when I found I had a 1 11/16 board ready to go...
The neck profile is going to be rounded more like a Taylor I guess.

It's actually headed for the spray booth so I need to get caught up on posting pics....

Harv

[harvl]

The back braces are glued using the same template as the top.


Here is a rim sitting in a holder so that I can cut the notches for the top and back. This is obviously a different guitar. This is a Mahogany dread being built for Rusty Anderson (with McCartney)


The template is used to mark the locations of the braces


The notches are routed out

[dkoloff]

I am glad it ended up with the 1 11/16....I know I am in the minority on that one.

[eflatminor]

I like 1 23/32" neck for dreads and 1 3/4" for fingerstyle-specific guitars. I played a Ditson style dread the other day with a 1 7/8" neck...it was just too darn wide. Never played a 1 13/16".

[longdrive55]

Any new build pix? How's she coming?