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  #1  
Old 01-01-2010, 05:42 PM
Brackett Instruments Brackett Instruments is offline
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Default Watch a build, with videos

Since there's a custom shop section now I've decided to do a build thread of how I make a guitar. It will take more than 24 days LOL ( I loved the "24 day" thread)
The guitar will be an all Koa "Mini Dread". Here's a picture of the top.

I don't usually use figured tops but this piece is really stiff.
Here's the back.

Here's the back, being glued together in my high tech plate joining jig. If you're a builder feel free to copy my jig.

Here's a side, with my template. I build a small taper into my bodies, with the bass side 1/4" thinner. The makes the guitar really "comfortable" but it doesn't look funny, or affect the tone. The bass and treble sides are different. Using a good template saves alot of time rim sanding.

Here's the profiled, and bookmatched sides. I bet some people didn't know that most builders bookmatch sides.

These are the cutoffs from the sides. I'll make binding out of them for a future build...........maybe for one of you.


Continued in next post.
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Old 01-01-2010, 05:44 PM
Brackett Instruments Brackett Instruments is offline
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It takes alot of heat to bend a side. This is my 25th build. I bent the sides for my first 4 on a hot pipe. I prefer the bender I built, but either way works.

Here's one side bent.


I promised a VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's a video I made (with help from my wife) of the side bending process. The video is in real time, including the part where I asked her if she was still filming, and the 1 minute or so I was just standing there waiting on the side to heat up.

Brackett Instruments side bending video on youtube

In case anyone doesn't already know. I don't have an accent..........the rest of the world does

Enjoy, I'll post updates every few days.
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Old 01-01-2010, 05:55 PM
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Cornerstone Guitars Cornerstone Guitars is offline
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Cool Woody!
Next I will also post a build thread..."build a guitar in 24 months!"
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Old 01-01-2010, 06:35 PM
Coke_zero Coke_zero is offline
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I'm going to enjoy this thread.
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Old 01-01-2010, 06:53 PM
tpp tpp is offline
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I like watching these, I am glad you're doing it!
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Old 01-01-2010, 06:58 PM
sehnsucht77 sehnsucht77 is offline
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Woody,
I really enjoyed the video, good job!
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Old 01-01-2010, 07:13 PM
eportman eportman is offline
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Woody - Definitely a great idea to share this. I enjoyed the first video and look forward to seeing it progress!
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Old 01-02-2010, 02:43 AM
hnuuhiwa hnuuhiwa is offline
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Thanks Woody! I'm looking to try my hand at a first build so I love seeing these types of videos.
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Old 01-02-2010, 09:33 AM
woodsworth woodsworth is offline
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Tanks woody. I like these threads as well. Just bought a back and side set for mine. Will take some time to make it to the UK though...

Once i got it in my grubby hands I'm going to start on it. Perhaps i'll make a thread as well. Not sure about video's though. Some how i think mine will take longer then twenty four days though.
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Old 01-02-2010, 11:21 AM
stringjunky stringjunky is offline
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Nice one Woody...hope to see more.
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Old 01-03-2010, 06:45 PM
Brackett Instruments Brackett Instruments is offline
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Here's a few more pictures. To cut the sides to the correct length I put a piece of tape in the mold. I mark the waist the put the tape on the side and cut the side to length.


I thought I took pictures of the neck and tail blocks after I made them but I didn't. The neck block is Mahogany, and the tail block is birch plywood. The plywood end block won't affect the tone, it's light, and it won't split due to a big endpin preamp and cable hanging in the hole. I use cloth side reinforcements. I used to use wood, but the cloth is lighter and does the same job. I believe it can help prevent side cracks. If a side cracks they'll stop the crack from spreading. Like everything else, they're glue in with hot hide glue. The glue lines will be invisable when I'm finished.

Here's the top, back, neck blank, Bloodwood binding and headstock overlay. The purfling will be red and black, as well as the rosette. BTW, it's going to be a 12 fret slothead short (24 5/8") scale.


Edit/Added, what video would all of you like for me to make next? I won't make dangerous powertool videos (like slotting the fingerboard on my table saw) but I'll get my wife to film pretty much anything else.
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Old 01-04-2010, 07:32 AM
Luca Canteri Luca Canteri is offline
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amazing woody! I'm gonna copy your "tape method" for the sides!
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Old 01-04-2010, 07:38 AM
Brackett Instruments Brackett Instruments is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by asp View Post
amazing woody! I'm gonna copy your "tape method" for the sides!
You can do better than copying me on that. Scroll down John How's building blog and look at the colorful side reinforcements he used. I was going to do that, but I've got a bunch of black cloth.
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Old 01-04-2010, 08:10 AM
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Nice thread, Woody - thanks! I'll enjoy watching this progress.

rr/Phil
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Old 01-04-2010, 08:25 AM
woodsworth woodsworth is offline
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you can do fret boards on the table saw? I didn't even know you could get blades that thin. Well i'll be checking around for that. thanks. hmmm what video's do we want. What do you do that would be uniquely you? what part of the work do you find most satisfying or most enjoyable? These are the things that would make most successful videos in my opinion. Either that or more detail then the videos that are already out there.

I've spent a lot of time watching video's but some how most of them miss the mark by either talking to much and not showing enough. Or showing a lot without enough dialog. I think the desire to share is admirable, but most video's don't come across as that.

So to answer your question on what to do, do what your passionate about. It's better to have something you feel worthwhile sharing then for us to watch someone just doing something.
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