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  #31  
Old 01-07-2018, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Rodger View Post
Neck block weight comparison between McKnight and Martin...

McKnight neck block:



Martin neck block:


Us mere mortals usually do not think about these things....3 ounce difference is huge for one component. Details, details, details....thats what its all about.
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  #32  
Old 01-07-2018, 04:31 PM
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Introducing a build by Tim McKnight. It is for my grandson, Dominic. I plan to spend a few years breaking it in before giving it to him since he's only 12.
Great first name, Rodger.

As it happens I'm in need of a grandfather. We should talk.
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  #33  
Old 01-07-2018, 06:40 PM
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This is going to be fun to watch.....glad you are back in the saddle....
Thanks Todd. It’s good to be back. Here’s hoping 2018 is better and less challenging than 2017.
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  #34  
Old 01-07-2018, 06:54 PM
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Thanks Todd. It’s good to be back. Here’s hoping 2018 is better and less challenging than 2017.
I think we've both got only one direction to go buddy.....
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  #35  
Old 01-07-2018, 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by invguy921 View Post
Great looking stuff there! And yes, that neck block weight...wow!! Most of us mere non-builder folks never even think about that detail. Thanks for sharing!
There are lots of ways to build a guitar and we certainly can’t argue with Martins success. One can learn a lot by looking back in history of guitar making. Martin’s early guitars were very lightly built compared to today’s standards. Some of us, who’ve paid attention to learn from the past, still hold to the fact that light guitars can certainly be more responsive, louder, more powerful and more interesting to listen to. Factory engineers made changes in their process to address failures from heavier strings and unfortunately these changes weren’t made to make the guitars sound better. Over time guitars were beefed up to stave off warranty repairs.

I consider John Greven and Ervin to be my peers but more importantly my mentors. Both of them drilled it into my head to “build em light” and thankfully I listened. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of playing their guitars, they share similarities in that their guitars are lightly built, even though they are at the opposite ends of the design and tonal spectrum. John’s guitars are more vintage sounding while Ervin’s guitars lean more towards a more modern sound.

So what does all this rambling have to do with my neck block? A guitar is a sum of a lot of parts and I’m always looking for ways to trim weight, without sacrificing tone or compromising structural integrity. A few grams here and there, all add up to the end goal of “build em light”.
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  #36  
Old 01-07-2018, 08:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim McKnight View Post
There are lots of ways to build a guitar and we certainly can’t argue with Martins success. One can learn a lot by looking back in history of guitar making. Martin’s early guitars were very lightly built compared to today’s standards. Some of us, who’ve paid attention to learn from the past, still hold to the fact that light guitars can certainly be more responsive, louder, more powerful and more interesting to listen to. Factory engineers made changes in their process to address failures from heavier strings and unfortunately these changes weren’t made to make the guitars sound better. Over time guitars were beefed up to stave off warranty repairs.

I consider John Greven and Ervin to be my peers but more importantly my mentors. Both of them drilled it into my head to “build em light” and thankfully I listened. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of playing their guitars, they share similarities in that their guitars are lightly built, even though they are at the opposite ends of the design and tonal spectrum. John’s guitars are more vintage sounding while Ervin’s guitars lean more towards a more modern sound.

So what does all this rambling have to do with my neck block? A guitar is a sum of a lot of parts and I’m always looking for ways to trim weight, without sacrificing tone or compromising structural integrity. A few grams here and there, all add up to the end goal of “build em light”.
Thanks for sharing your views, I have always enjoyed learning from your threads and comments.
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  #37  
Old 01-07-2018, 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Godfather View Post
Us mere mortals usually do not think about these things....3 ounce difference is huge for one component. Details, details, details....thats what its all about.
Perhaps I think too much, ya think?

One thing I failed to mention is that my block is half the weight but the strength to weight ratio is where my design really shines. It’s virtually indestructible in the sense that it will NEVER crack or split as the one piece Martin block can. Mine is made from Spruce and Mahogany with each layer with the grain running at 90* angles.

My tail block is laminated in a similar way as the neck block and the neck block was developed after the success of the tail block. I had shipped an early guitar to a customer and made the mistake of shipping the guitar with the tapered end pin in place. The shipping gorillas dropped the box on its end and my (1 piece) tail block split, which in turn split the sides and popped the top top loose too. It was one of those life lessons learned the hard way but that mishap resulted in the invention of my (split proof) laminated tail block.
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  #38  
Old 01-08-2018, 02:20 PM
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Great first name, Rodger.

As it happens I'm in need of a grandfather. We should talk.
Thanks for a serious LOL!!
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  #39  
Old 01-08-2018, 02:33 PM
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More pics from Mary along with her commentary this time...

Educating the wood to keep the proper shape...



Close up of braces...



The rosette is inserted and glued in...



Routing for the trim rings...



White MOP for the trim rings...



Rings are glued in...



Great choice. (Thanks Mary!)

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  #40  
Old 01-08-2018, 02:43 PM
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Braces are in place and being sanded...



Neck block, kerfed lining, sanding...



Tracing the frame on the back...





Wood glue is used to trace the back shape...



Glue is also added to the tail and neck blocks...



The guitar frame is placed on the glue outline...



Manual pressure is applied...



Go Bars apply pressure to the frame over night. Note the humidity level in this area...



It will set over night...

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  #41  
Old 01-08-2018, 02:53 PM
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Lets move on to the top...



Sanding before checking the top on the deflection table...



Maybe you noticed this in the shop yet never really comprehended what we use it for...



This is after the first pass under the Grizzly 0527...



Removing the coaster from the inner rosette area...





Sometimes you just might wanna look back to see what your guitar is really made of...



Sanding the top rosette area...

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  #42  
Old 01-08-2018, 02:57 PM
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By tracing the bridge Tim knows where all components belong...



The traditional X brace, of course. PLUS ...



A little of this and ... sorry ... Houdini moment. I'm not sharing any more of this...



Last picture of the day ...

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  #43  
Old 01-08-2018, 03:03 PM
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It is so much fun to follow the details in these builds.
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  #44  
Old 01-08-2018, 04:39 PM
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A built up or hollowed out beam?
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  #45  
Old 01-08-2018, 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by printer2 View Post
A built up or hollowed out beam?
Another of my (light weight) designs, it’s a machined truss or my interpretation of the upper transverse brace. Most of my features are seldom seen and “under the hood”.
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