Accidents into opportunities

[sgabalski]

I broke the bass top side when putting on the kerfing! As I was putting back in the mold bracings, while the guitar/mold was on its side, the guitar fell back and the side snapped where the kerfing was glued and clamped. https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif The piece cannot be put back on cleanly.
So, an opportunity arises. I have been wanting to build a guitar that is thinner on the bass side, like a wedge if looked at from the bottom to the top. I have seen these and was wondering if this could take place of an arm bevel. Has anyone ever done something like this?

[yellowesty]

My last half dozen builds haver all been "thinner on the bass side," and yes, this can "take the place of an arm bevel." Known as a "Manzer wedge," recognizing luthier Linda Manzer who has popularized the design in the last few years, this allows a shorter reach for the picking/strumming arm without compromising the volume of the box. I find that the design is easier to build than an arm bevel and has less visual impact (for good or ill). I generally make the lower bout ~1" wider on the treble side than on the bass side.

As I build with an active back, my builds are to be played while sitting and with the guitar held away from the player's body. Though the wedge shape is quite noticeable when "looked at from the bottom to the top," it is not noticeable to the seated player except for the reduced need an extended elbow on the picking/strumming arm.

All that said, it may be a challenge to convert, mid-build, from a design with parallel top and back to a wedge shape. I've found it important to keep the fretboard surface aligned with the soundboard, so converting your build to a wedge design may be more involved than you're planning.

[sgabalski]

Originally Posted by yellowesty

My last half dozen builds haver all been "thinner on the bass side," and yes, this can "take the place of an arm bevel." Known as a "Manzer wedge," recognizing luthier Linda Manzer who has popularized the design in the last few years, this allows a shorter reach for the picking/strumming arm without compromising the volume of the box. I find that the design is easier to build than an arm bevel and has less visual impact (for good or ill). I generally make the lower bout ~1" wider on the treble side than on the bass side.



As I build with an active back, my builds are to be played while sitting and with the guitar held away from the player's body. Though the wedge shape is quite noticeable when "looked at from the bottom to the top," it is not noticeable to the seated player except for the reduced need an extended elbow on the picking/strumming arm.



All that said, it may be a challenge to convert, mid-build, from a design with parallel top and back to a wedge shape. I've found it important to keep the fretboard surface aligned with the soundboard, so converting your build to a wedge design may be more involved than you're planning.

The only concern I have is that my heal block may not be oriented/large enough for the neck joint. I have a lot to learn yet as I am building three at a time and these are number 2,3 &4. I will research Linda Manzer and what an active back is. Thank you for the hope.