acoustic guitar build
this guitar build is a passion project to push my woodworking skills & experiment with how materials affect instrument resonance & sound quality.
this project is still in progress.
as it stands, the body has been glued up and is awaiting trim and a dovetailed neck.
shop drawing
this custom shop drawing is available for personal use.
material selection
adirondack spruce top
for sweetness, volume, & clarity
rosewood backplate
for deep, growling lows & sparkling highs
form mold
two side profiles made of mdf, hinged together and latched.
a turnbuckle keeps the guitar waist curves tight
bracing
strings put an enormous amount of tension on the guitar body.
bracing is key for structural reinforcement, good tone, & longer sustain.
this glue jig is used to
glue the bracing in place. springy strips of wood are used to clamp the braces as the glue dries.
the soundhole is cut out with a router jig.
the rosewood bridge plate is added last. it will provide extra support and stiffness for the bridge.
side bending
a bending iron was improvised with a charcoal lighter & a steel pipe.
it easily reached the temperature needed to permanently bend the rosewood.
video: using the diy bending iron to shape the sides
