Adi/Koa Imperial Archtop Build by Erich Solomon New Progress
 

Made a bit more progress today. Glued, cut and bent binding with green veneer. The two strips ready for the bending machine are sprayed with water. Did some rough passes on the binding ledge. Body is sealed with shellac for protection. I find that there is much less tear out when taking the binding tape off if the body is sealed.


http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa21.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa22.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa23.jpg

That looks fantastic...thank you, I will look forward to this build!!

I had never seen koa on an archtop. Looks killer.

Thanks! I really like working with Koa. Here are some pics of a Koa back and sides I recently completed.


http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u.../ahole/jd3.jpg

Ready to bind!
 

Today's Progress! (Slow going!)
 

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa25.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa26.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa27.jpg

Note to self: No more clicking on Erich's build threads until the car is paid off.:D

Gorgeous work. How would you describe Koa's sound in an archtop build?

Binding done, flushed trip, preparing body for sealing!
 

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...adikoa25-1.jpg

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...adikoa29-1.jpg

Soundport Progress: Drilled, cut and shaped!
 

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa30.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa31.jpg

Erich,
Just lovely, as always.

Here's another method you might want to try on doing a sound port.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnJT-20YbV0

Jimmy

PS Sorry, I can't see a sound port without posting this.

Jimmy,

Awesome, quick and efficient! That is how I usually do them but for posting here I took time to be a bit more careful! Sort of putting on the dog!

Erich

Erich,
As you well know, people get so cranky when someone takes a hammer to their guitar. I think it's nice that you did the "drill little holes to make a side port thing" and then came clean and admitted using the hammer/fret file method.

In all seriousness, your guitars are breathtaking, I wish I had the dough to order one (with a side port, of couse).

Jimmy

Here are more pics of the soundhole progress.

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...hole/adi32.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...hole/adi33.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...hole/adi34.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...hole/adi35.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...hole/adi36.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...hole/adi37.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...hole/adi38.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...hole/adi39.jpg

Routing the Dovetail!
 

Routing the dovetail.

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa40.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa41.jpg
http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u...e/adikoa42.jpg

Fascinating build, can't wait to see the neck being attached!