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Old 05-01-2017, 01:00 PM
SnowManSnow SnowManSnow is offline
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those of you who are more experienced than I am, which is most of you, I want to get your thoughts on something.
I'm pretty much done with the body on an attractive build (in my opinion). Everything was built fairly lightly and to the best of my ability with one exception (which I feel stupid for). While I was leveling the rosette to the top face I somehow tapered the sound hole so that it gets pretty thin from the inside of the rosette to the hole. It isn't "sharp" but it IS thinner than Id like to see the top. Would a real player notice it.. yes. would the average joe notice it.. no. would I KNOW it was there.... YES!

Now, here is my internal struggle. This isn't something I'd sell or even give someone, and at this point and the purpose of building guitars is to simply get better at building guitars (sort of time / expense investment) so it isn't something I especially want to play either, although I'm certain it would be a decent build when all done.

The rest of my materials are ready to go.. .bone nut / saddle / neck / bridge... truss rod... everything. SO I'm wondering if I should embark on the next body and save those resources for THAT build and just keep the near finished body for another day. Although, in the back of my head I'm afraid I'll make another mistake that I will always be aware of.

I know i'm not the only one to have been in this mental bend..

I guess what I'm asking is: from those who are experienced.. should i press on and finish the guitar, or save some resources, start again, and simply try to get right what I messed up.
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Old 05-01-2017, 03:09 PM
Halcyon/Tinker Halcyon/Tinker is offline
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Pics and measurements...
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Old 05-01-2017, 03:56 PM
dgt178 dgt178 is offline
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well...FWIW....I don't build guitars, but if the current body condition bothers you enough to post questions on AGF...then I'd say mitigate your losses, and start a new body.....
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Old 05-01-2017, 04:49 PM
Frank Ford Frank Ford is offline
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I think you should finish this one!

You will confront the operations that stymie so many novice builders:

SETUP - you simply can't have too much practice fretting and setting up action.

FINISH - again, practice is the key to getting predictably good results.
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Old 05-01-2017, 05:20 PM
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Bruce Sexauer Bruce Sexauer is offline
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If you finish this one you will likely make some more mistakes you won't have to make on the next one. Keep going until you can't. Then put it aside as you may well wake in the middle of the night with a solution to that problem too. Solving problems is one of the essential skills we are developing.
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Old 05-01-2017, 06:42 PM
Howard Klepper Howard Klepper is offline
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If that is your biggest issue (it's common) you are doing OK, and should definitely complete the guitar.
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Old 05-01-2017, 06:49 PM
SnowManSnow SnowManSnow is offline
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Thanks guys. I'll work though this one then and do the best I can.
Ed, I'll get those measurements posted when I get a chance to build again.
I also thought of widening the soundhole some to get back to thicker wood, but I'm unsure of how to do that at this point outside of a cone of some kind w sandpaper on it.
It is nearly full thickness closer to the rosette.
Again thank you for you wisdom.
Excited about the process again.
I took Thursday off work to build so I'm looking forward to it!


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Old 05-01-2017, 06:51 PM
SnowManSnow SnowManSnow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Klepper View Post
If that is your biggest issue (it's common) you are doing OK, and should definitely complete the guitar.


It is definitely my BIGGEST issue, but I also have a "thin" slot in the binding. Good lord how do I keep all that perfect while scraping! I think I routed my binding channel too thin and left too much to scrape. Need to trust the measurement more and get it closer to precise.


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Old 05-01-2017, 08:26 PM
Halcyon/Tinker Halcyon/Tinker is offline
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A few pics would be good...
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Old 05-01-2017, 08:31 PM
phavriluk phavriluk is offline
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Default soundhole reinforcement

A question - - - would OP's soundhole adventures be mitigated by laminating a donut of crossgrained wood on the backside of the sound hole and proceeding? Or perhaps enlarging the soundhole a bit and binding it with wood wide than the soundhole is thick, with the overage sticking down into the soundhole...or combine the two and bury the telltale lamination joint behind the soundhole binding?
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Old 05-01-2017, 09:28 PM
SnowManSnow SnowManSnow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Halcyon/Tinker View Post
A few pics would be good...


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  #12  
Old 05-01-2017, 09:54 PM
Halcyon/Tinker Halcyon/Tinker is offline
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Is it just the soundhole edges at 63 and 67? Is the top in the area between the UTB and the neck block at proper thickness?

At what point did you level the rosette, and how did the top get thin?
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Old 05-01-2017, 09:58 PM
SnowManSnow SnowManSnow is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Halcyon/Tinker View Post
Is it just the soundhole edges at 63 and 67? Is the top in the area between the UTB and the neck block at proper thickness?

At what point did you level the rosette, and how did the top get thin?


Yea sir. It's just that area on the inside. The rest of the top is proper thickness.
It got thin because I wasn't paying attention sanding and apparently was leaning into the hole while I leveled the thing. Very rookie mistake (which makes sense)
The rosette had some work to be done after I clos d the box. I don't know how I missed it while it was flat, but I did. That's when I think it happened. It won't happen again.


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Old 05-01-2017, 10:00 PM
SnowManSnow SnowManSnow is offline
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Rest of the top is right at .090.
It should be a tad thinner around the edges, but not sure of the exacts.
The upper bout was left a little thicker than .090 for stiffness / support.


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  #15  
Old 05-02-2017, 12:19 AM
Halcyon/Tinker Halcyon/Tinker is offline
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Then if that's the only spot I wouldn't worry about it either. Curious, at what stage did you level the rosette? Before or after cutting out the soundhole?
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