[Wade Hampton]

Okay, another progress report from Howard Klepper:

Hi Wade:

Things move quickly at this stage, but don't worry; inevitably at some point they will move slowly. This keeps the universe from spinning out of control, I think.



Most of my guitars get a decorative backstrip which leaves the back weakened at the center joint, so I'm in the habit of putting in the crossgrain reinforcement on the inside right away. This guitar doesn't really need the reinforcement, but it's traditional. This one is made from mahogany.



Gluing in the back braces here after arcing them to the curve of the back.



Back braces are in.



Not a very exciting photo. It's of the X joint being glued. Some people do this on the top, one leg of the X at a time. I find I can get a tighter joint by joining first, and this is a critical joint. I'm also revealing one of my secret weapons here, which I call "Der Kerfmeister." It comes from Bridge City tools and helps me to get perfect half-lap joints.



And in goes the X bracing. Builder vary in their brace gluing sequence. Next up for me is the bridge plate.

Howard