Well the last couple of days have found me working away on the Cascadia prototype (16" double cutaway thinline archtop) I was originally going to build the first one with a cedar top, mahogany back & sides but I actually dreamed about this guitar & in my dream it had a mahogany top & maple back & sides. Initially I thought- no I can't do that but the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea. I have played some incredible mahogany topped flat-top guitars. Loud, clear & bright with really dynamic color.
I re-sawed the mahogany on my Walker turner 16 bandsaw, joined it and roughed it out on the new pantograph carver. After a couple hours of hand carving, scraping and sanding I turned my attention to bending the quilted maple sides. I used my side bender to bend the initial shape then came back and re-bent the cutaway portions by hand over a hot pipe.
I clamped the sides into the assembly molds after bending to leave overnight. This just helps to maintain the shape and reduce any tension in the sides. The cutaways are about as tight as you can bend figured maple without breaking it and I really took my time on the hot pipe coaxing the wood into allignment.
I really think this guitar is going to be a beauty. I will start carving the maple tomorow and begin hollowing out the inside of the top plate and cutting the f-holes.
4 comments:
Very intrigued by these stories of the luthier craft-- great reading; & thanks for your interest in RFBanjo. Am looking forward to reading more about your craft.
Thanks John, I should be posting fairly regularly now that I am getting the hang of it (though the photo's don't go where I tell them to? really enjoyed your interviews!
This current project has really peaked my interest.
My big 17" archie is currently been moth-balled by a thinline semihollow that my buddy has built for me...
Oh the shame...
The sound is amazing though.
When you finished promise me you put a video up of someone playing that baby.
Good luck...from frozen Ontario ...
Glad to see you following this project Trotsky! I am really enjoying myself on this one and I will get a video up for you if I can figure out how such a thing is done. I understand wood but struggle with computers.
Post a Comment