Sexauer/'15, (chapter 2)

[Bruce Sexauer]

OMG, Last Caul for you, Tom, but yeah, that's about right.

I had more, Bob, but didn't need them.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Here's one "clamp" doing the job of 42:

[iim7V7IM7]

The pernambuco binding will look great on that guitar Bruce. Particularly when it darkens under finish and if you employee your Cremonese Finish on the guitar again. You can see the finished 1/16" pernambuco purfling that you used under varnish next to the Bocote binding on the JZ/2 that you made for me.

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

Here's one "clamp" doing the job of 42:

[Nort]

Bob / Bruce,

that JZ/2 finish looks even more beautiful now than when first built,

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by Nort

Bob / Bruce,

that JZ/2 finish looks even more beautiful now than when first built,

While I am sure that you are correct, if you notice the hand holding the guitar has calluses from carving it. That shot was taken by Bruce during construction of the JZ/2. It is nice to see Bruce making full archtop (JZ)!

[Bruce Sexauer]

I do not actually know how anyone else releases te plates, or even if they do, but here is some insight into my thinking and process. One side of the bound back has had a mm or so taken out with the gouge creating the beginning of what I call the "channel", a term taken from violin making. I will take the other side out similarly, and then will scrape the plate into a smoother contour. The top will get a similar treatment.

[Steve Kinnaird]

That's a lotta work. And they wonder why archtops cost so much...
Looking great Bruce!

Steve

[Bruce Sexauer]

Except for the details, this box is done.

[Teleplucker]

That looks awesome, way back in the day. I ordered an archtop from Steve Andersen. This was before the days of smart phones and internet. I remember asking if I had to audition to get him to build me a guitar. "Nope you just have to pay for it" was his reply.

I have always loved the look and sound of archtop guitars. yours looks beautiful and your pictures are very enlightening to the process of how they are made.

Thanks

[printer2]

Go ahead Bruce, give use the details.

Looks great. Can't wait to see the neck come together.

[Richard Mott]

Bruce, what a fabulous new take on the archtop! Love the aesthetic, totally fresh look.

[Tom West]

Bruce: You certainly don't let any grass grow under your feet. You work fast.....!! I wonder when you are cutting the channel in the back do you work to free up the back, pitch it to a certain note separation above the top or both. That is one super back, it will be special to see under finish.
Tom

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by Tom West

Bruce: You certainly don't let any grass grow under your feet. You work fast.....!! I wonder when you are cutting the channel in the back do you work to free up the back, pitch it to a certain note separation above the top or both. That is one super back, it will be special to see under finish.
Tom

None of the above, Tom. When I do the main carve I take it down to the edge of membrane-nous, and when I carve the channel after closing the box, I simply remove some of the rigidity around the perimeter of the membrane. The trick is that in the main work I get into serious touch with specific piece of wood I am working, and after 10 or 15 hours of carving on it we have something like a meaningful relationship. Others will call it drudgery and prefer to use a CNC, but I say they gain efficiency at the cost of intimacy.

As always, the proof is in the pudding. Having failed to impress with the delicious all-walnut pudding, I hesitate to suggest that interested parties can check out this maple and spruce concoction at Woodstock, assuming I still own it.

[Bruce Sexauer]

One of the "details" is the dovetail, which I chose to cut by hand on this one, much as I do on a fiddle. Setting up for a router jig is too much trouble for a one off IF one has the saw and chisel skills to cut by hand.

Both these pics are rougher than the final result:

[iim7V7IM7]

Enjoying watching this one happen...