Dean

I am starting another buil today, idmichel just come along for the ride,and ask about anything.

That is great! Was it a commission, or did you just go with an idea?

The curves in the top are impressive! How did you get them so smooth with no tear-out or feathering?

I haven't been around for a few months, too busy building, buy I'm really glad I spotted this one. Not too many of us archtop guys

Idmicheal, thanks for looking.No , this was not commissioned.i spent a year or so just learning on this build.I like archtops ,so I decided to make one .This is the first one I have made.The curves and lines were done with scrapers ,chisels, and a lot of sanding.The top wood had a split in it ,you can see a bit of different wood on one side of the top in one of the pictures.Everything was done by hand, some things were done more then once.Again thanks for looking.

Well, she is sold and gone.That first sale, and the birth of the guitar , a lot of different emotions.Well on to the next one, I am going to stick with this style, I seem to understand it more, and enjoy the process.

Dang Wes, retirement is looking good for your guitars.I like when they are pluged in and born.

I am going to watch this thread.It will be interesting to see the out come.

This debate will never end.I trust the builders of the past, and some of the highest noted in the build community .Tone can be adjusted with carving and bracing.Vibrating a string over a hardwood or a soft wood does make a difference.When electronics are involved ,I think all bets are off.if you want a real experiment , bring three of four different players in to play the same guitar.

I have believed this for a long time.I think wood is picked for strength and weight.i believe tone comes from the player.

I just finished a Benedetto style ,myself. Looking forward to your build.I have just started another one.

Souls, I like were this is going.Now that you have your carves going ,a scraper is a great tool to help clean them up.Good luck and keep learning.

Wes, I like the new version.Hiding all those woods would be a shame,and it looks cool ,too.

I use a drill with a polish pad.

Very nice ,I like it.The burst is a cool touch.That white binding really sets off the black, too.

This thing is so avante garde, it makes frank zappa look like a hipster!!! Wonderful work

Thanks Bob, hahaha I like lines and curves ,but the guitar has to work ,too .In this case ,it does.

This is the form I made to make the sides and glue in the tail and neck blocks.

This was made for putting on the fretboard.It keeps everything lined up and clamping pressure even.

Here are some tool I made ;

all done ,here are a couple of pic's

could not get the video to work....it sounds really good acoustic or electric.

I tried to post a small video today.Needless to say , I had some problems.

Muzz, thanks for the kind words.The last three days ,I have been working on the set- up.Fine tuning the nut a, and intonation , seems to be dead on.I plugged it in ,too..damn , what a Erie feeling, it came to life.I could feel the wood breath and start to open up.I put 13 's on it,pics to come .Thanks again ,Muzz.

It is a feature, haha scottttta, great build.

Ok, thanks

Let us know how it goes for you.Good luck.

Wow.

Dude, I'm impressed. some of your curves go a little free form on you, but that kind of gives it a bohemian art deco sort of vibe. The headstock in particular came out verrrrry nice. What did you use to finish it?

SR

I am Useing tung oil ,I am in the finish process on that.i refined the head stock and all the lines.i gave the top a shadowed 335 look by carving the top bout the way I did.The f holes are going to be my sig going forward on this type of archtop.the pic so far are early ones, I will take more soon.

Sweet guitar....classy

I think I'll go with the veneer. Never had any experience with it before so it'd be good to be around it. Any advice on where I can get smaller sheets without having to buy a full sheet? Since I won't be needing very much.

you can make it ,just get some quater inch or scrap wood and run it thru a scroll saw.Put up a fence ,clamp it in place,and shave some wood.You do not need much.

I have made every thing from scratch,even the kirfing...I really made this a learning project.Some things were done more then once,hahaha

Thanks Scot-ta

here are a couple more pics.

I will post some of the tools made to make this build.