40th Anniversary Build

[dekutree64]

You mean even after 40 years of building, you're still not perfect yet? Well, I'm certainly happy with your choice of alternative, since I was one of the ones suggesting giant sequoia from the beginning And the winewood ought to be a nice design challenge for later, to come up with an extra large rosette to use on it (or sell it to me).

The rosette looks great, as well as the top wood itself. Can't wait until this baby goes on the road

[harvl]

Originally Posted by dekutree64

You mean even after 40 years of building, you're still not perfect yet? Well, I'm certainly happy with your choice of alternative, since I was one of the ones suggesting giant sequoia from the beginning And the winewood ought to be a nice design challenge for later, to come up with an extra large rosette to use on it (or sell it to me).

The rosette looks great, as well as the top wood itself. Can't wait until this baby goes on the road

The top is of course still quite usable, I think the rosette now would end up being about 7/8" instead of 11/16" if I'd wanted to have an abalone border it would have been good to go. I really took it as a sign that I was supposed to go with the Millennium... of course everything (well... almost ) is for sale, if you really want it shoot me an email or PM.

Harv

[harvl]

Now the fun begins... bending the sides A little spritz of water and these babies will bend like rubber



First side in the bender... fingers crossed... the interesting thing about Tree-hog is that you really don't know for sure if it cracked until you pull it out...


This contraption is used to bend venetian cutaways, Took this picture because I'm soooooo thankful I'm bending a set of walnut... NOT Tree-hog!!!

[sjoiner]

Originally Posted by harvl

.... Hey sometimes the worst mistakes can turn out pretty good.

Here is the new top choice


Final rosette sanded and sealed. I like it!

and serendipity shall be her name...

that looks wonderful harv. really, really wonderful. it's going to be a stunner.

simon.

[harvl]

I know the tension was killing everybody so I thought it best I get the results of the bending up here as soon as possible... SUCCESS!!!!
One of the things that happens when you bend wood with this much figure is that it tends to bend more between the quilt than it does in the middle of the quilt so the result is that tight bends creates a sort of irregular curve (like the difference between a circle and an octagon) This is easily sanded smooth but the sides end up a bit thinner in the upper bout than I would like, so I reinforce them.


Here the side is placed in a jig which will cut them to the exact length as well as cut the end joints at the correct angle. You will also notice that the upper bout has been reinforced with an inner piece of mahogany.


A router with a flush trim bit makes the cut.


The 2 sides are ready to assemble.

[BBWW]

Oh my Harv, that top and your rosette are a beautiful match for The Tree. Keep me away from your shop. So you have a modified double side, Cool.

[harvl]

More progress!!!

Neck and tail blocks are glued in place


Body rim is sanded on the dished sander, 32’ rad. for the top, 28’ for the back


Sanding is checked on a dished form


Kerfing is glued in place.

[harvl]

I like to glue the front cross brace to the neck block to make sure they act as one.



Braces are glue to the back in a dished form, brace ends are located with a template


Once the brace has dried I resand the radiuses on the top and back so the kerfing and brace are a uniform curve.


The same template is flipped upside down to mark the brace locations.


Next a router is used to cut the notches


The back is glued to the sides.

[Cazon]

Wow this is a fabulous thread and beautiful tone woods.

I'm so glad I arrived at this forum to see the masters at work.

I'm a fan Harvey.

Zohn - South Africa

[harvl]

Originally Posted by Cazon

Wow this is a fabulous thread and beautiful tone woods.

I'm so glad I arrived at this forum to see the masters at work.

I'm a fan Harvey.

Zohn - South Africa

Thanks! Good to hear from the other side of the pond!

Harv

[BBWW]

Harv,

With that new top will you have to use a bridge truss system or is it stiff enough for a conventional bracing? Just curious.

[harvl]

Originally Posted by BBWW

Harv,

With that new top will you have to use a bridge truss system or is it stiff enough for a conventional bracing? Just curious.

I've always used the bridge truss (a modified "Bridge Doctor" ala Breedlove for those who don't know) with these tops. Beyond the obvious structural reasons these tops are so lively it seems to help them be a bit more focused. Even with all that they still really like lowered tunings. I also keep the tops quite a bit thicker than spruce or typical redwood. I shoot for about .135 compared to about .100 for spruce and .110 for redwood. Even at that thickness the top is lighter weight than the spruce...

Harv

[harvl]

More proof that I'm still alive and well and working on something other than Keith's guitar

Sound hole is cut out.


Top braces are glued in place, again using the template to locate them. The top braces are 32 ft radius so a radiused form is used to shape the top.


Top rim is notched using the gluing template as a guide.


Top is glued in place using the radiused form as a clamping caul. Mostly to protect the top from the "go-bar" sticks but it also provides enough weight to give a good initial pressure to the glue.

[dekutree64]

Wait a second, this isn't a lefty is it? Those tone bars look backward from the normal way...

Either way, it's looking great. The rosette matches very nicely with the color.

[BBWW]

Oh man this thing's looking good.