J-Doe Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 ok, I am about to finish up my very first solid body guitar and etc.. that doesnt matter lol what matters: is that i have begun thinking about my next project and i always wanted a Casino or Es335 or 330. My questions are really about building it. my first question is about the top wood... could pine be used for the top? second, do you guys have any advice or any info on how to carve the top? and what type of tools do you need? i could use a small plane but do i have to use a plane that is bullnose?? third, i dont have a lot of money (college student and also planning a wedding) is there anyway i can macgyver a wood bender? four, plans.. i just downloaded the plans from guitarbuild site i think that's how it's called... the plans were made from a poster here... i lurked.. is there anymore free Es335 plans? to cross reference? I have lurked and some of the questions i have asked have been answered but i want to make sure. thank you and appreciate for your guys taking time to help me out oh and ill leave you with a pretty picture of the fine ass casino that have inspired me since i was 14 and which at this moment made me realize i am getting old... grr http://content.clearchannel.com/Photos/mus...pol_live_GI.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikbojerik Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Bending the rims gets you into a whole 'nuther level of guitar building - the world of archtops - which it is (IMO) pointless to try until you've built some acoustic guitars first. Instead, the thing to do is to start with a solid core and hollow out the wings, leaving the center block untouched - essentially a big chambered body core. Then glue on your top and back. For carving the tops and backs, get the book by Robert Benedetto "Making an Archtop Guitar" - you can get it through your local library (via interlibrary loan if they don't have it on the shelf). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Abbett Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 I just finished my second 335, it's very doable. That being said I have a full woodworking shop in my garage with all the needed tools. To do the sides you can do it your self, I bought a Chracoal Grill Starter Wand, it's a heating element that you put in a charcoal grill and it starts it up. It gets red hot in about 1 minute. I bought a section of pipe (3" x 12") and threaded some threaded rod on it for legs. I out a heavy duty dimmer switch on it for control. There are plans for it somewhere, google for home made pipe bender. I think the total cost was about 30 bucks. It works fine. I used solid wood, and not carved. I did that because I don't have the paitience to carve out the top, I would invariably start taking off more and more until I take off too much. I glued up 3/16 bookmatched hard curly maple stock together and bent it around a formed center block and with hot steaming towels on top of it, clamped it down with a large selection of bar clamps and wood wedges to get the wood to conform to the center block. Once that cooled, I glued and clamped the center, then the edges. It works well, but again, you need the clamps, the center block and a way to make thin wood that is smooth. I have a drum sander that took it down to the required thickness. If you try to do 1/4 inch, it's a huge difference in bending capability from 3/16. Can you use pine. Sure, you can use anything. Benedetto did an all pine guitar (It's in his book) to prove that an acoustic can be made out of construction grade lumber. The difference is that he is a master, and knows what he is doing without thinking about it. So, yes, you can do it. Make a mold for the sides, build a pipe bender, play with it for a couple of hours until you get the hang of it and there is a pile of broken sides on the floor.. The thing is, if you don't have the right tools, it's going to be a time consuming job, and probably frustrating. I once knew a guy who built a very serviceable 19 foot sail boat with nothing more then scrap playwood, and two by fours and a hammer and nails. He used house paint to finish it off. He didn't have any money and wanted a boat real bad. It came out great. Anything is possible. -j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Doe Posted March 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 I just finished my second 335, it's very doable. That being said I have a full woodworking shop in my garage with all the needed tools. To do the sides you can do it your self, I bought a Chracoal Grill Starter Wand, it's a heating element that you put in a charcoal grill and it starts it up. It gets red hot in about 1 minute. I bought a section of pipe (3" x 12") and threaded some threaded rod on it for legs. I out a heavy duty dimmer switch on it for control. There are plans for it somewhere, google for home made pipe bender. I think the total cost was about 30 bucks. It works fine. I used solid wood, and not carved. I did that because I don't have the paitience to carve out the top, I would invariably start taking off more and more until I take off too much. I glued up 3/16 bookmatched hard curly maple stock together and bent it around a formed center block and with hot steaming towels on top of it, clamped it down with a large selection of bar clamps and wood wedges to get the wood to conform to the center block. Once that cooled, I glued and clamped the center, then the edges. It works well, but again, you need the clamps, the center block and a way to make thin wood that is smooth. I have a drum sander that took it down to the required thickness. If you try to do 1/4 inch, it's a huge difference in bending capability from 3/16. Can you use pine. Sure, you can use anything. Benedetto did an all pine guitar (It's in his book) to prove that an acoustic can be made out of construction grade lumber. The difference is that he is a master, and knows what he is doing without thinking about it. So, yes, you can do it. Make a mold for the sides, build a pipe bender, play with it for a couple of hours until you get the hang of it and there is a pile of broken sides on the floor.. The thing is, if you don't have the right tools, it's going to be a time consuming job, and probably frustrating. I once knew a guy who built a very serviceable 19 foot sail boat with nothing more then scrap playwood, and two by fours and a hammer and nails. He used house paint to finish it off. He didn't have any money and wanted a boat real bad. It came out great. Anything is possible. -j Ah, i googled what you told me to google and i found this: http://soundsalon.com/2007/02/05/make-a-ho...e-bending-iron/ but what confuses me is how to wire it up what type of dimmer did you use? and what was the wattage? how does your guitar sound? i just juggled the idea of a flat top ES 335 since this will be my first venture into making archtops. do you have pictures of the building process? sorry for the bombardment of questions and thank you john and erick for your reply : D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Abbett Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 That's the link I used. It covers everything. The dimmer I uses was something like 500W. NOT the normal one you buy at the home centers, it's a higher wattage. You wire the dimmer in line with the hot wire. I think it shows it. I unhooked the switch, and took the two wires and wired them to the dimmer and the grounds togeter. Please note, if you don't know what I'm talking about, ask someone who does wiring. It was pretty obvious to me what to do, but I've done stuff like this in the past. I believe that article takes you step by step. Here is a quote from the weblink you posted: Drill out the rivets and remove the plastic cover of the BBQ Lighter (voiding warranty). Carefully remove the wiring and heating element intact. Take about nine inches of insulation off of the cord. Gently (but firmly) reshape the heating element so that it will fit into the pipe snuggly.Do not damage the inner wires of the cord! The idea here is that you are going to put the dimmer (with its black wires) in line with the black wire of the cord. You should also connect the green wires (ground). You don’t need to cut the white wire unless you need to thread the cord into a small electrical box (like I did). Carefully connect the wired using twist caps, and electrical tape over that (If you are unsure of your electrical skills). The guitar sounds great. It has a great acoustic tone. I can play it to practice in front of the TV without and amp and hear it clearly, not like a full acoustic of course, but much louder then an SG or LP. The amp'd up sound is great. Pickups make a difference.. Here is a couple of pics of the building mold http://www.flickr.com/photos/15318670@N06/...57603745242624/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/15318670@N06/...57603745242624/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/15318670@N06/...57603745242624/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/15318670@N06/3117115280/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Here's another way of building a 335 without bending sides courtesy of Bluesy. -Vinny http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.ph...=37360&st=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDub Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Ive got a wooden bracket I made, with a hole in it, and a 2 1/2" pipe flange on it. I use the appropriate size bushing to reduce to what ever size pipe I want to bend on, then stick a torch in the hole, with it set for fairly low heat. Wait until a drop of water placed on the pipe sizzles, then bend away. Made the whole set up for @ $20, including the torch. Clamps right to my bench top, and I built supports on the bracket to hold the torch in place. If going with this method, please use your head, you are working with an open flame. Think things through, and never leave the set up unattended. Did the side for this on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toneblind Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Here is a couple of pics of the building mold http://www.flickr.com/photos/15318670@N06/...57603745242624/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/15318670@N06/...57603745242624/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/15318670@N06/...57603745242624/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/15318670@N06/3117115280/ Did you build that surface sander? If so, it's a beyond awesome job!!!!! I've had an 80% complete design for building one on my CAD station for years and have most of the parts necessary, but until seeing that finished product, didn't have the motivation to actually build it. Now I must build one. Using the drive from a table saw is a great idea. A bunch of questions if you don't mind... What HP motor are you using? Is the sanding drum made up with layered up disks of plywood? What is the diameter? Is the spiraled sand paper held on with velcro or adhesive? If adhesive, any problem with heat build up? Do you know the final drive RPM's of the drum? Did you use any type of pressure rollers before and after the sanding drum? Any problems with the work being pushed back? Thanks, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-Doe Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 Ive got a wooden bracket I made, with a hole in it, and a 2 1/2" pipe flange on it. I use the appropriate size bushing to reduce to what ever size pipe I want to bend on, then stick a torch in the hole, with it set for fairly low heat. Wait until a drop of water placed on the pipe sizzles, then bend away. Made the whole set up for @ $20, including the torch. Clamps right to my bench top, and I built supports on the bracket to hold the torch in place. If going with this method, please use your head, you are working with an open flame. Think things through, and never leave the set up unattended. Did the side for this on it ah do you have a picture of your set up? i just cant picture it in my head... i am one of those learners that is visual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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