Building a guitar in 24 days - photostory

OC1 · #1 12-01-2009, 10:46 PM

I am going to post a photo story of me building my very own accoustic guitar in a neck breaking record time of 24 days, day by day.

I had previously never build any instrument, in fact all my woodworking experience could be summarized as occasionally assembling IKEA furniture.
Let's hope I will still have the same number of fingers when it is finished!

Note: I am using Sergei DeJonge very own historical SSS mold (stands for Standard Steel String), shop and tools in the great hills of Chelsea QC. Sergei is an amazing luthier and a teacher and it is a privilege to be taught by him

So let's start!

OC1 · #2 12-01-2009, 10:52 PM

Selecting wood is a bit of mystery. Unsanded wood looks just ordinary dull and I have to stretch my imagination to visualize how it will look like sanded and polished...

Making perfect joint (I used long hand plane on bench) then gluing the top:

And bottom:

Now drawing the shape

And cutting it on bandsaw (doing the same for top as well)

This is how the bottom looks like after cutting (still has glue line with some newspaper glued to it)

Hand planing the top to thickness it little bit the old fashioned way

Coarse sanding of bottom, and here it is, good as new...eeee it is new. The joint is well done, I can't even find it!

Day one is gone and I have already shaped top and bottom, good job. With this speed I may actually make it in the 24 days!

OC1 · #3 12-01-2009, 10:57 PM

Lets work on sides - cutting them to correct width

Bending machines are for small kids and old ladies, real men use a hot pipe.

Bending is definitelly fun, especially if you have never done it

It took me nearly whole afternoon to get them to shape, but the day is over and sides are bent nicely without many burn marks (on wood and fingers)

That is all for Day 2! Tomorrow I am going to make rosette so I need steady fingers.

Kitchen Guitars · #4 12-02-2009, 05:22 AM

Looks like you are having fun. What book/books? are you using?
Why the self imposed deadline? Sounds like a hurry mistake waiting to happen. But, thats me I started my first in June and its not done so hey wadda do I know!
I'll keep checking back. Good luck on your journey.

Satellitedog01 · #5 12-02-2009, 05:41 AM

Fantastic!!! Keep posting, this is fun!

Comus · #6 12-02-2009, 07:05 AM

Thanks for posting this is a great project to follow...

i wonder if you might put a bit more info on your posts though in regards to what Woods you are using what body shape etc, why you decided on that particular combination, and a bit more info on the processes involved
if that not to much trouble

Bugeyed · #7 12-02-2009, 07:06 AM

What fun!
Is this a class that you are taking? Looks like you are using a well equipped shop.

patticake · #8 12-02-2009, 08:47 AM

this is cool. i look forward to today's installment

Neil K Walk · #9 12-02-2009, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yamaha Junkie

Looks like you are having fun. What book/books? are you using?
Why the self imposed deadline? Sounds like a hurry mistake waiting to happen. But, thats me I started my first in June and its not done so hey wadda do I know!
I'll keep checking back. Good luck on your journey.

He hasn't gotten to the bracing yet, YJ!

Martin_Nut · #10 12-02-2009, 08:55 AM

OC1 - who you buildin with, or are you on your own? Looks like fun. Best of luck ... we'll be rootin you on from this end!

OC1 · #11 12-02-2009, 11:57 AM

Rosette

Finding out the center of rosette and pushing pin there

Routing inner and outer circle, then knocking the middle part with thicker bit

Hand build guitar needs a hand build rosette. Nothing actually beats a real wood and it is also easy to do. Here I am gluing two pieces of spalted wood that will be a center of the rosette.

Now the fun fitting the tiny strips of wood,
I ended up making black/white, then strips of padouk and again white/black then the spalted center and repeat that for inner ring.
The padouk needed to be cut on tablesaw to tiny strips. Chippy wood

Now glued all together and soaked with superglue as the spalted wood is prone to chipping.

Scraping the glue and sanding it down reveals the rosette

More details about the wood - the back sides are indian rosewood and the top is a sitka with some bearclaws.
The shape is more of a size of OM, but actually with a rounder top where neck is, more like of an classical guitar (OM is flat on neck)

Tomorrow - making back braces.

D.Kwasnycia · #12 12-02-2009, 01:05 PM

OC1,
Looks great!, Your off to a good start. Are you going through the build with another builder? Some of the stuff that you are using like the guitar mold, looks like it has been used for many guitars. The shop looks well equiped, Keep up the good work, Your going to have a fine instrument by the time your done. Who knows, this may become a habit.

jcwu · #13 12-02-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OC1

Scraping the glue and sanding it down reveals the rosette

That's a beautiful rosette!!

Mary · #14 12-02-2009, 04:15 PM

Your spalted wood is absolutely beautiful! Such an eye appealing rosette.

You are off to a great start. This thread will be so much fun to watch.

Aaron Smith · #15 12-02-2009, 04:22 PM

Did you build the forms, hot pipe, and go deck yourself? Very well equipped for a first build!