Acoustic guitar - Build #2

[difalkner]

I've talked about this several times and I'm finally back to building #2!  When I built my first guitar I didn't have the CNC, actually built the CNC while I was finishing that guitar so the only job I did on the CNC for that guitar was a little bit of the bridge.  I began build #2 while I was building #1 but got so busy with high-end custom woodworking for other folks that I set #2 aside; I didn't realize it was going to be for 5+ years.

Now that I have the CNC I would like to use it for a few more tasks in the building of #2 so the first thing I did was to take photos of the body rim and draw that as closely as possible in my CAD program.  The short video below is using a Sharpie to draw that outline so I could see how close my digital drawing came to the hand shaped rims - pretty close as it turns out.

The body is Honduras Mahogany, the lining is Maple with a little Curly Maple thrown in for aesthetics, the top will be Sitka Spruce, and the neck will be glued up African/Honduras Mahogany with a Maple stripe (that could change).  The body shape is my design but is very close to my Takamine Grand Auditorium (probably close to Martin's GA or OM, as well).

I'll post updates to the build here in this thread so follow along and ask questions, offer comments, and I'll do my best to get this guitar finished soon so I can get started on more guitars.

 

[wtnhighlander]

Looking forward to this one! Musical instuments don't get enough love around here, IMO.

[JohnG]

Following this build. I’ve been wanting to make a 2nd ukulele, it was a fun and interesting build. 

[difalkner]

It is fun building instruments - yes! Thanks, guys! 

Rosette inlay test on Honduras Mahogany.  This is sort of a twisted vine that I drew and decided to use on the guitar but I wanted to test it first.  The Mahogany was already cut and the proper thickness for a guitar top (sort of, it is 0.080" thick).  The inlay pieces are Maple and Redheart.  There's a short video below showing the steps I used to make the inlay.

 

[difalkner]

Got started on the top today and decided on Curly Maple and Imbuya Burl for the rosette. 

[difalkner]

Rosette inlay completed but not yet glued or sanded flush - 

[Coop]

Wow! Beautifully done! 

[difalkner]

On 9/22/2023 at 8:44 PM, Coop said:

Wow! Beautifully done! 

Thanks, Coop!  Fun to do, as well.

[Coop]

And, are you musically as well as woodworking talented? 

[Ronn W]

Nicely done, sir.  like it.

[difalkner]

On 9/22/2023 at 9:28 PM, Coop said:

And, are you musically as well as woodworking talented? 

Depends on who you ask - LOL!   I play in our Praise Band at church and have several friends that play circles around me but I still enjoy getting together with them to do a little picking.

On 9/23/2023 at 10:31 AM, Ronn W said:

Nicely done, sir.  like it.

Thanks, Ronn!  Do you play?

[difalkner]

The rosette is completed and the top rough cut to shape (actual shape plus 3/16" all the way around).  No finish yet but a little Naphtha on the rosette close-up.  Not perfect but I'll take it. 

[Tom King]

Like building most things, it looks perfect to everyone but the builder.

[Ronn W]

On 9/23/2023 at 11:13 AM, difalkner said:

hanks, Ronn!  Do you play?

No I don't.

[difalkner]

On 9/23/2023 at 8:37 PM, Tom King said:

Like building most things, it looks perfect to everyone but the builder.

So true, Tom, so true!  We are our own worst critics, right! 

[difalkner]

Finished the video for the rosette and cutting the top out.  Next will be cutting and fitting braces to the underside of the top.

 

 

[JohnG]

Rosette looks great!

[difalkner]

On 10/2/2023 at 6:19 PM, JohnG said:

Rosette looks great!

Thanks, John!  It was rather fun to do, actually.

[TerryMcK]

Liking this build David.

[difalkner]

Made a little progress on the guitar build and got the X-brace glued, ready to sand the 28' radius on the bottom of the braces.

 

[Coop]

I like your videos David! 

[difalkner]

On 10/28/2023 at 7:12 PM, Coop said:

I like your videos David! 

Thanks, Coop!  I have fun making them, not terrifically creative but they're still fun.

[difalkner]

Finished the next step and began another, so here's an update - 

Glued these 80 grit pieces to the 28' radius dish - 

Cut the Bubinga bridge plate and an MDF caul to hold it down for gluing -  

And a video to go along with all of this -

 

[difalkner]

More progress on the acoustic build - 

 

[Coop]

David, I really like your “ long reach “ clamps. Care to share a couple of picks of those?