January 22, 2012
I built this workboard several months ago. It’s adapted from the workboard I used for the ukes and examples I’ve seen at luthier suppliers. The next step is to shape and dimension the butt block then glue it in place in preparation for the attachment of the sides.
January 22, 2012
The neck was notched on the router table to accept the top. The center lines were aligned, pilot holes drilled, and the neck has been glued to the top. After drying, the neck and top will be mounted to the workboard in preparation for attaching the butt block and joining the sides to the top.
November 30, 2011
Let’s start with the Lava Light.
After William left for UW, several items which I coveted were left behind. Lava Light (or Lamp)!
I mapped out a schedule for the completion of Uke 1101, and it is possible to complete before I go to Salt Lake for Thanksgiving. It will be a bit tricky to continue working on the uke while the lacquer is curing. Today, I finished the 8th coat of lacquer, with an intention of putting on 20 coats. Tomorrow I’ll add 4 more coats. Coincidentally, I am adding coats to the Bubinga uke, and after tomorrow’s application, it will have 24 coats.
This is the back of the Bubinga.
Between coats I attached the fret markers to the Hybrid’s fretboard and the Thorn and Vine to 1202 (Bob). The shell is glued to the surface with white glue. I will score a border around the glued shell, then pop off the shell in preparation for routing a channel.
August 22, 2011
The past year has gone by rapidly and I have engaged in many endeavors which little resembled guitar building. I started and completed a program which garnered me a secondary teaching certificate. I have accepted a job as a High School math teacher, and my first day with the students is September 7th. All my concentration on becoming a math teacher has eaten into my time building guitars. My 2011 output has been well below my previous years, yet I still continued to gain commissions for guitars and ukes and have created quite a backlog.
I realize that I need to analyze and prioritize my pending work and set out a semblance of a plan to organize.
Uke 1001 – Bubinga Tenor: This, my first uke, has been sitting with 12 coats of lacquer, waiting to accept more lacquer. My original intention was to piggy back on the lacquer work for Uke 1101. Once the lacquer has been applied and cured, I will be able to quickly finish with the following: Install bridge, saddle, nut, end pin and tuning machines. Level frets and do setup.
Uke 1101 – Koa Tenor: I have taken this uke on a grand tour, displaying it at a cousin reunion and guitar camp. It needs minor filing of the binding, a bit more neck shaping, then aggressive final sanding before the sanding sealer, pore filling, and application of lacquer (together with Uke 1001). This uke, for Cynthia, is priority number 1, and I intend to start back on Tuesday of this week.
New: Uke 1201 – Koa Tenor 2: I have all components on hand to build another Koa Tenor Uke. A man has to build himself a uke. This lands as priority number 5.
Guitar 903 – Walnut OM: Devin’s guitar (my apprentice). Devin took the summer off and only recently has returned to finish his guitar. The bridge is mounted, and the remaining work includes saddle shaping, bridge shaping/notching/installing, fret leveling/polishing/truss rod tweaking culminating in stringing and setup. He is days away from walking home with his finished guitar.
Guitar 1002 – Hybrid Cutaway: I have been ignoring the ukes by dabbling away with this Macaferri style nylon string cutaway for Jim. I have been shaping the neck and heel and dreaming of bending the cutaway side for the past months. Before I proceed I need to resolve the dimensions of the neck, and how the cutaway will join and transition into the neck heel. The top and back are braced but still need further shaping/sanding before I’m ready to join the neck to the top for insertion into the new workboard. This work is priority number 2.
New: Guitar 1201 – Myrtle Parlor: I have a gorgeous piece of California Myrtle which will be the showcase for a new parlor for Rachel. I already have an Engleman Spruce top which has been joined with rosette installed. I have all components on hand and still need to decide appointments. Priority number 3.
New: Guitar 1202 – Indian Rosewood OM: This guitar has been commissioned by Susan as a gift for Bob. Gonna get that name Bob into the fretboard inlay design somehow. I always wanted to inlay the word Bob. This, along with guitar 1203 are priority number 4.
New: Guitar 1203 – Devil Parlor: I call this the Devil Parlor as it will have a double cutaway. This is a commission for Emily and shares priority number 4 with Guitar 1202. I’m using Peruvian Walnut and Engelman Spruce. I’m considering a black lacquer back and sides and am going to attempt a sunburst top. Ivroid binding. Somebody tell me how I’m going to do that please.
I have numbered the new instruments with a 12 prefix, anticipating that these will be completed in 2012.
Still on hand, and available for future guitars: Sitka Spruce, Bearclaw Sitka Spruce, Ziricote, Ovangkol, Master Grade Claro Walnut (2 sets).
July 9, 2011
Just a heads up on a few new jigs/techniques. In order to keep dust and such out of the box during final sanding and prep, I blew up a balloon while dangled in the box, then tied it off.
I am now using a recently completed neck shaping jig. It’s just a vise mounted platform that allows me access to shave and shape the neck.
June 19, 2011
Bracing is installed and trimmed, awaiting final sanding. Bridge plate installed and X-brace patch installed.
June 16, 2011
All back bracing and top bracing/tonebars have been installed (glued and clamped).
The braces have been pre-shaped for minimal chiseling. After further shaping, and feathering the ends down toward the edges, I will install an x-brace patch over the joint, then sand.
The bridge plate will finally be installed prior to joining back, sides and top.
June 12, 2011
I have begun the process of finger planing/shaping the back braces. I’m also 75% complete on gluing/clamping all the top braces. I’m heavily preshaping the top braces as my past experience has been that this is a more efficient method than planing/shaping after the braces have been installed.
The owner of 1001 dropped by to request a tweak. His open A string had the dreaded wolf-tone which was really a small gap underneath the nut on the fretboard side. A simple filing of the nut slot to release the gap fixed the problem.
I’m also continuing to apply lacquer filler to the headstock for the 12 string Ovation repair. I’ve reattached the sheared headstock, repaired are relacquered the truss rod cover, and after the lacquer filler cures I’ll spray several coats of touch up lacquer then sand and buff. It should be ready later next week. I would like to get this back to the customer before we head out to Alaska for our RV adventure.
June 10, 2011
I completed the side supports for the workboard for Guitar 1002. The workboard is an alternative to the body mold which I have used for previous guitars. As I’m using a Spanish Heel, the neck will be attached to the top plate before the sides are installed. The workboard allows the top and neck to be secured.
Each dowel side support will be in a slot to allow adjusting the position to create the final and proper shape for the sides before gluing to the top. I will also need to dish out the lower bout area of the workboard to accommodate the radius bulge of the top from the X-bracing.
I have rough cut all the bracing. The top bracing will be spruce, and back bracing cedar. The back bracing is radiussed to 15′ before gluing.
May 30, 2011
I used the drum sander to bring the back plates down to .090″ then jointed and joined in the spanish joiner jig.
After drying, the joint was sanded, a protective posterboard cover was taped to the outside, and the center strip was glued using the go-bar clamp.
The top was similarly protected with posterboard (I’ve dinged too many top plates) and the bracing pattern was pencilled in.
