Quilted Sapele/Italian Parlour

[Neil Gardiner]

Here's a new one I just got started on.It will be my Parlour size with Quilted Sapele back and sides and a really nice Italian Spruce top. Will have Ebony fretboard and bridge and Ebony binding.

This is for a guy who posts here on the forum. This will be his second of my guitars. He's local, so he was able to come over and go through the stacks of wood. I had him tapping and listening. He really like the low rumbly tone of the Sapele.

Here's some pictures:



Here's the Sapele wetted down with some mineral spirits. It's quite dark.



And here's the Italian and the Sapele. This Italian set rings like a gong.



The sides bent and trimmed to fit the mold. I have a few clamps on it because sometimes Sapele will spring back straight after being bent.



And here is the headplate made by joining off cuts from the back. Again, wetted down with mineral spirits.

[ZekeM]

Neil,

That is some fine looking sapele! Very dark and beautiful. Can't wait to see how this comes along.

[Neil Gardiner]

Thought I'd show the rosette taking place. It was made from pieces of the Sapele back off cuts.



Eight pieces are cut and glued up and then the circle is cut using a flywheel cutter on my drill press.



The channel is cut out of the joined top



Messy glue picture. The glue actually swells the rosette parts for a nice tight fit.



All cleaned up.



And wetted down with mineral spirits. Lots of cool interestingness going on with the quilting of the wood that doesn't really show on the photo.

[oldgeezer]

Swet! Love me some parlors!

[jfhatcher]

I'll second that! Just got my first parlor and I'm in love. I feel I'm at the beginning of something beautiful.

This build will be one to watch for sure.

[Neil Gardiner]

Yup, parlours are cool.

Here's a couple more pictures. Not too interesting - just the binding being bent. Here I did 2 sets at once. Usually I work on only one guitar at a time but just a bit of overlap here.

So I taped together 4 strips of Bloodwood and 4 strips of the Ebony for this build. And then bent them together on the bender. I was a bit nervous because both these woods can be a little tricky to bend - no problem though.

[jimmy bookout]

Hey Neil,
Is this for Gary (doubleG)?

Jimmy

[Dru Edwards]

Neil - it must be a great feeling to have repeat business. Keep the build pics coming!

[cigarfan]

Beautiful Sapele! Under finish that is going to be spectacular.

I'll be following closely.

[Neil Gardiner]

Hey Jimmy - yes, this is for Gary (doubleg).

I too think the Sapele is pretty great looking. It does have some spots that are technically flaws, but we have decide to find them charming

Here's a few more progress pictures:





I have installed the heel block and the end black as well as the kerfing (reversed kerfing) and the indide side reinforcement strips. I try to make the strips out of whatever wood matches best. In this case Acacia seemed to do the trick.

Next I'll be on the the top and back bracing. Here's some shots with the bracing cut out ready to be glued up.

[oldgeezer]

Love watching 'em come together!

[UKPhil]

Originally Posted by Neil Gardiner

Here's a new one I just got started on.It will be my Parlour size with Quilted Sapele back and sides and a really nice Italian Spruce top. Will have Ebony fretboard and bridge and Ebony binding.

This is for a guy who posts here on the forum. This will be his second of my guitars. He's local, so he was able to come over and go through the stacks of wood. I had him tapping and listening. He really like the low rumbly tone of the Sapele.

Here's some pictures:



Here's the Sapele wetted down with some mineral spirits. It's quite dark.



And here's the Italian and the Sapele. This Italian set rings like a gong.



The sides bent and trimmed to fit the mold. I have a few clamps on it because sometimes Sapele will spring back straight after being bent.



And here is the headplate made by joining off cuts from the back. Again, wetted down with mineral spirits.

In these days where the trend seems to be with wild exotic looking woods I find the use of quilted sapele you have chosen to be very tasteful - excellent choice

[Luca Canteri]

Very nice work! Love that back.

[Neil Gardiner]

A couple more pictures. I have the top and back braced and carved and the box put together.

I included a shot of the sides wetted down. Some nice great quilting going on there.

Neil

[Steve Kinnaird]

That's going to be lovely, Neil. Beautiful set of Sapele!

Steve