I posted a photo of this in the "post a photo of the last thing you made" thread a couple of days ago, but I thought I'd add some more detail here. This was my first attempt at building an acoustic guitar.
This is a steel string guitar based on a Martin 0-28 with a slotted headstock and 12 frets to the body. The scale length is 25" (635mm). The plans are from here GenOne Luthier Services Guitar Plans
The soundboard is western red cedar and the back/sides/neck are from african mahogany. Fingerboard/headstock veneer/bindings/bridge are indian rosewood and I used a bubinga inlay around the sound hole. A two-way trussrod is installed. The fingerboard width at the nut is 47mm and the fingerboard is flat with no radius (that's the way I like it).
The saddle (from bone) is split to allow better intonation and the nut (also bone) has been compensated to improve improve intonation at the lower frets (believe me it works). It was surprising how much compensation was needed at the nut - about 2.5mm for the 6th string. I use 10 - 47 size phosphor bronze strings.
The guitar was constructed on a flat traditional spanish-style workboard (a "solera") and no moulds were used. There is no dome to the soundboard which is constructed flat, to achieve the correct height of the strings at the bridge the fingerboard has a slight taper along its length. There is a slight dome to the back however.
The neck to body joint utilises a traditional spanish "slipper heel" type of construction. Note that this version uses two tapered wedges to secure the joint. This is a lot easier than trying to cut a deep 2mm slot to take the ribs (sides).
By far the hardest part of the build was bending the ribs, I have a thermostatically controlled bending iron, and needed a lot of practice to get this right. The end shape was close enough to the template however and at least the two sides ended up pretty well symmetrical.
The finish is a solvent based matt polyurethane.
The book I found most useful was "Guitarmaking" by Cumpiano and Natelson. The idea of using the "slipper heel" for a steel string guitar was from the book by Alex Willis and the idea for the tapered wedges from Courtnall's book.
I'm really pleased with how this guitar sounds and the 0 size is so comfortable to play and surprisingly loud.
Clive
This is a steel string guitar based on a Martin 0-28 with a slotted headstock and 12 frets to the body. The scale length is 25" (635mm). The plans are from here GenOne Luthier Services Guitar Plans
The soundboard is western red cedar and the back/sides/neck are from african mahogany. Fingerboard/headstock veneer/bindings/bridge are indian rosewood and I used a bubinga inlay around the sound hole. A two-way trussrod is installed. The fingerboard width at the nut is 47mm and the fingerboard is flat with no radius (that's the way I like it).
The saddle (from bone) is split to allow better intonation and the nut (also bone) has been compensated to improve improve intonation at the lower frets (believe me it works). It was surprising how much compensation was needed at the nut - about 2.5mm for the 6th string. I use 10 - 47 size phosphor bronze strings.
The guitar was constructed on a flat traditional spanish-style workboard (a "solera") and no moulds were used. There is no dome to the soundboard which is constructed flat, to achieve the correct height of the strings at the bridge the fingerboard has a slight taper along its length. There is a slight dome to the back however.
The neck to body joint utilises a traditional spanish "slipper heel" type of construction. Note that this version uses two tapered wedges to secure the joint. This is a lot easier than trying to cut a deep 2mm slot to take the ribs (sides).
By far the hardest part of the build was bending the ribs, I have a thermostatically controlled bending iron, and needed a lot of practice to get this right. The end shape was close enough to the template however and at least the two sides ended up pretty well symmetrical.
The finish is a solvent based matt polyurethane.
The book I found most useful was "Guitarmaking" by Cumpiano and Natelson. The idea of using the "slipper heel" for a steel string guitar was from the book by Alex Willis and the idea for the tapered wedges from Courtnall's book.
I'm really pleased with how this guitar sounds and the 0 size is so comfortable to play and surprisingly loud.
Clive
