My first guitar: Tensions during soundbox assembly

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My first guitar: Tensions during soundbox assembly - is it very bad?

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MiSz

Posts: 27
Joined: Jan. 26 2011

My first guitar: Tensions during sou...

Hi guys,

first of all - thanks for all the information i got until now during the last weeks from this forum! It could not be possible for me to get this far with my work without your help!

Here is a few information about me: I have finished my medicine studies just a few weeks ago and now I'm waiting for the first job.
I wanted to use this free time for my dream - building flamenco guitars.

I am building a Reyes Model after Mr. Blackshear's plan.
Materials: cedro neck, haselfichte top, birdseye maple back and sides.

My problem is:

During the assembly process i noticed that the sides were not 100% fitting, so i had to plane the top side after bending a little bit again and clamped them down in the mold - otherwise they would not fit perfect to the top.
Same thing with the back: To get the right form, i have to push here and there sides a little bit to fit the back.

My question is:

Am i right, that this tensions while the assembly process will have a really bad impact on the final sounding of the guitar?
On the other side, in the strung-up guitar there are lots of Newtons pulling on the top causing a lot bigger tension - but of course only the necessary one.

I would be so thankful for any advice! (Even if it does not improve my mood, perhaps it would improve my skills for the next guitar)

Thanks!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 15 2013 7:09:03

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: My first guitar: Tensions during... (in reply to MiSz)

Basically you are answereing you questions yourself.

*Its best to have as little tension as possible during the assembly.

* Its close to impossible to be perfect, so we all push and drag a bit here and there.

So try to take it easy. Concentrate on making the neckangle correct and make the box as correct as possible. I´ve made some guitars that werent correct in the shape of the box, but the sound and the playability didn´t mind.

And finally. Be good to yourself and accept that its your first guitar. Noone makes a perfect first guitar.

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 15 2013 7:36:43

MiSz

Posts: 27
Joined: Jan. 26 2011

RE: My first guitar: Tensions during... (in reply to MiSz)

Thank you for the advice, Anders. It's so great to have such experienced luthiers in this forum.
I wanted to add a few pictures. On the back it does not fit on the upper bout. You can see how i clamped the sides down to the soundboard for the assembly. The normal space between sides and top was about +- 1 mm in 1-2 places, so i had to push them down a little bit.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (3)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 15 2013 8:06:53

Alain Moisan

Posts: 30
Joined: Jul. 24 2012

RE: My first guitar: Tensions during... (in reply to MiSz)

My take on this is that if the tension you induce done so with finger pressure, than you shouldn't worry about it. If you need clamps to set things in place before glueing, than you are running for trouble.

Regarding your current issue with the back not meeting the sides exactly, you would haver been better off cutting your top and back a tad bigger (roughly 3 to 5 mm) than the tracing. Once they are glued on you can trim the excess.

_____________________________

Alain Moisan
Les Guitares Moisan
www.guitaresmoisan.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 15 2013 12:58:00

MiSz

Posts: 27
Joined: Jan. 26 2011

RE: My first guitar: Tensions during... (in reply to Alain Moisan)

Actually there was only finger pressure needed to get the sides touching the top without any gap. I just clamped it down in order to have the hands free for glueing on the single tentellones (i did not use kerfed lining but single tentellones without clamping pressure, i think this is the traditional spanish way, isn't it?)
I left about 12 mm more on the top and just 1-2 mm on the back according to cumpiano's book. But you're right, next time its the better way to have more space...
I didn't glue the back on yet because i have seen that the arch changed due to humidity changes in my garage (40% -> 30%) - acutally the 3 mm side-toside arching are now 1 mm concave - so i removed the bracing and will redo it in about a week when i get back from my holidays in egypt.
I have seen Anders' post how to arch the back braces correctly. I think it is pretty helpful, so i'm going to try this out.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 15 2013 16:36:53