Doug 59 Posted December 28, 2010 Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 I was asked if I'd like to build a 12 String Acoustic as a surprise gift for a good friends 40th birthday in July ......of course, I said yes. This is uncharted water..... So, I'm going to start right at the beginning, by building a bunch of jigs, forms and moulds. Basic specs... 25.5 scale Jumbo shape in Australian Wood. Sides and Back...Queensland Maple (Flindersia brayleyana) Top and Braces...Red Cedar (Toona australis) Neck...Queensland Maple Fingerboard and Bridge...Black Bean (Castanospermum australe) 14 th fret to body Inlay work Gold Hardware Comments, guidance and info welcome. Thanks for looking, more soon. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scatter Lee Posted December 28, 2010 Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 I'll be watching, jigs, forms and moulds, cant get enough of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted December 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 I'm going to build a "fox side bender" complete with an attachable cutaway bending jig, and use a silicon heat blanket over bending forms for bending the sides. Cut out the master template for cutting all the pieces that need to be laminated together for the body mould, did a normal template too, as well as sides for the bending forms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted December 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 Completed side forms, and the Bending Machine....just about complete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted December 28, 2010 Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 My suggestion is to use heating blankets instead of the light build heating method. I used lamps for my dreadnought and it worked OK except for the cut away area were the heat was simply not enough. EDIT, looking at the pics makes it obvious that you are going to use heat blankets... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted December 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2010 Thanks....that is the plan Yes, I have lamps in the first simple bender I made, it works reasonable well too, but as you said, not enough heat for tight bends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 So, with the festive seasons festivities over, it's back to work! Since I have the two different bending forms, I'll make two body moulds as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted January 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Plenty of left overs!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Latest update.... Queensland Maple Sides, and Kerfed Linings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Queensland Maple for the Back... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted January 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Half a slab of Red Cedar to take billets from... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 The Top... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 The Box coming together... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Top attached to the sides, back still to come... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 The Neck... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 More progress... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted February 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2011 Fingerboard... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Latest update... Delivery is in about 3 weeks. The Guitar has been finished for a while, so I've been able to let it settle in and enjoy it at the same time. About a month ago I put the final coats of clear on... In the mean time, a few other details. Nut,Saddle and Bridge Detail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Inlay and Rosette... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted July 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 Well, that's about it...better pics soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewey Posted July 10, 2011 Report Share Posted July 10, 2011 That is a beautiful instrument. I love QLD Maple for acoustics, how does she sound? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted July 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 ^ Thanks. She sounds great! Big and resonant. I'm really happy with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hitone Posted July 11, 2011 Report Share Posted July 11, 2011 Very Nice build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaycee Posted September 8, 2011 Report Share Posted September 8, 2011 Nice build Doug. Is the shape your own? there's a nice balance in the widths of the upper and lower bouts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug 59 Posted September 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2011 ^^ Thanks Hitone. Thanks jaycee...Yes, my own shape, inspired by 50's Archtops. In inches...lower bout 16.5, waist 10.5, upper bout 12.75, length 20.75. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.