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This is the first time I have attempted to make a build thread.
In this thread I will be showing pictures of me building a new student model guitar. I will update the thread with images at the end of the working day to show you all what progress has been made. I will give a few explanations for the processes I have chosen.
Being a student model all of the decorations will be minimised with the main focus of the guitar being sound and playability. Every thing will be made from scratch with high quality materials. No bought in components and I will be the only person building this guitar.
So just to kick things off here are most of the materials I will use for this guitar. I took this picture just before stating this thread.
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
So my day has come to an end. I have taken quite a few pictures today. I haven't taken a picture of absolutely everything that would turn into a huge thread. I've had a good run today encountering no problems so far. So here are todays pictures. Feel free to ask any questions I will get back to you when I get a chance.
These 3 pictures show the soundboard in the jointing board. Cutting the prepared neck at 14 degrees for the head join and gluing the head join after planing.
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
The picture shows gluing the neck reinforcement in place. The second and third pictures show two stages of putting the rosette in. I had put all of the vaneers in place then used the masking tape to take them out whilst staying together. The next stage is to add glue then put the rosette back in.
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
The first shows how I glue the head plate on. The second is how the top and back had progressed and the third is a close up of the rosette. I have copied a rosette I have seen on a very old Vicenta Arias guitar. I love the look and have always wanted to do it.
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
In the first picture you can see how I glue the sound board struts on in my go bar deck! The clamps are just Mahogany sticks! The second picture shows how I glue the zoque in place. (heel and slipper blocks) The third is routing the head slots. I had done quite a bit more work on the neck up to that point but didn't take pictures sorry!
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
The final two pictures are just there to show todays progress.
I hope you have enjoyed day one of my first build thread. Let me know if there is anything specific you would like to see me doing and I will try and take a picture of it.
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
Good Morning again. I have just stepped into the shop and thought I would answer a few questions before I get cracking.
tijeretamiel. At the moment I am not sure how these will go. This one is an order from a flamenco guitar shop. It is possible they may only be available through this shop at this time. Kent Guitars is doing a fantastic job of the classical version but is not interested in the Flamenco version. It will be a light french polish.
This build is meant to be fairly swift. I have a very logistical approach to this type of build. Making the best use of my time in the shop. I have got most of the bars in the right dimensions already. I just have to shape them.
Yes I made the jig myself finding the perspex was the hardest bit. It also has an extraction point so no dust escapes into the workshop. I mainly use my trusty Henry hoover who is always happy to help ;).
Ruphus - Both my head slotting jig and roller holes jig have been made to line up to the same reference point.
RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
Thank you, Stephen.
If you don´t mind, I would be interested to see how a jig for roller holes can be looking like.
Ruphus
PS: Seems as if the availability and value of perspex ( or "Plexiglass", as we name it in German) has changed. When I was a kid it seemed not big deal to find. I used to glue sheets to blocks with acetone and then make sculptures like e.g. of a horse from it.
RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
Good evening all. I have finally finished sorting out the pictures ready to be up loaded. Here is today progress. I have to say I was a little disapointed today as I didn't quite get as far as I would have liked. This guitar is going having a pick up put in it and I always slow right down when I don't know what I am doing. So no Anders I'm afraid I didn't put any string on it!
First and second picture is how I make the linings for the back. They are made from 3 sawn vaneers stuck back together again in a mold. The effect is they still look like the same bit of wood but at 4.5 mm a hell of alot easier to bend!
The third is side bending. Cypress is sooooo springy.
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
The First picture shows that the harmonic bars have now been shape and I am scalloping them.
The second picture shows how I cut the slots in the Zoque for the side and wedge. The third shows the inside of the slot after I have removed the waste and given it a little clean up with some 120 on a stick.
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
The first picture shows how I do the square ramps in the head slots. I used a saw either side, then chiseled out the waste. I usually do round ramps but I find this method to be faster.
The second is a picture getting ready to carve the heel with my weapons of choice. You just cant beat fine Japanese steal!
The third shows the second stage of the heel carve. Putting the curve into the side of the heel
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
The first picture is how I clamp the neck to give me good access around the heel when using my knife for carving. I am lucky in that I am good at using the knife with either hand so the are no awkward moments.
The second picture is how I leave the heel at this stage. I have always found that I end up doing more work to it later in the build to theres no point going all out with the cleaning now.
The third picture is all about fitting the wedges. Rather clamping the work it's far easier to slide the work of the clamped plane.
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
The First is show how I like to cut the rebate for the top. The ruler taped to the table adds just the right angle to the neck in order for it to be a snug fit. I do clean the rebate with a chisel and sand paper to make sure it is correct.
The second and third pictures show how I use a simple piece of card to fit the sides into the heel slots. I mark the starting position of the slot on the side then use the card to mark the exact angle of the inside of the slot. Using the card you can make sure it fits perfectly everytime without the need for lots of measuring and marking!
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
And Finally the first picture shows the wedges the have just been glued in. Don't worry. it doesnt matter that they are different lengths they do get chopped off in the next process.
The Second picture shows how I glue the end block in place.
Last but not least is the guitar that has now had all of the peones put into place. (or tentalones if you will).
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RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
Ruphus - I shall take a picture of the roller jig tomorrow .
Plexi glass is I think fairly available just not in the small size I needed.
John - You can only do what you can do. I don't ever feel like like I am rushing anything and would never sacrifice quality in order to get something done faster.
I just do it freehand and plane it to fit properly. I go from that stage to gluing in less than 5 minutes. Surprisingly, I actually use very few jigs considering how many you could use!
Hope you all enjoy my second installment and again don't hold back if you have a question to ask. I will probably answer it tomorrow before I start day 3!
Posts: 219
Joined: Jun. 22 2012
From: Seattle, USA
RE: Building a Student Model (in reply to Stephen Eden)
Thank you for sharing your building process and posting these great photos. I always learn something new about guitars when I see the details of how they're made, and it helps me appreciate my own (luthier-built) guitar even more.
I do not build guitars, but I have done some woodworking (cabinets, furniture, etc.), and it surprises me that you don't let the glue dry for very long before you do further work on a piece.
For example, with the neck you cut and glue the scarf joint, then within hours you glue on the head veneer, then within hours you route out the head slots. And you glue on the heel block then within hours you're shaping the heel. It seems like you're clamping the pieces for the minimum recommended time then immediately working the pieces, where personally I would let the joints dry for at least 24 hours before working them. Am I just overly cautious?
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