Where Is Wei? » Guitar Building

Maxine, finally done

WeiHu — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:17:36 +0000

The guitar is finally finished after I put on a second set of strings, I broke the first E string the first time. I am really glad I took this course. I not only learned how to build an acoustic guitar, but also how to rely mostly on hand tools. Really discovered how much of a job a chisel is and I can’t wait for my next wood project. The only thing I think I could have done a better job is the frets. I may go back and put in larger gauge frets later on. I’ve name her Maxine. Here are a few photos of the finished product.

Guitar Building Day 14

WeiHu — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:14:52 +0000

Tasks:
1. Attach bridge

2. Shape nut and saddle

3. Final sand everything
4. Add strings
5. Adjust frets if needed

Progress after day 14:

Guitar Building Day 13

WeiHu — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 15:10:35 +0000

Tasks:
1. Shape and attach cap to heel

2. Prepare bridge

3. Sand and prepare everything for spray

4. Spray

Progress after day 13:

Guitar Building Day 12

WeiHu — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:08:26 +0000

Tasks:
1. Shape the round curve of the neck with a rasp then sand paper

2. Microsaw frets
3. Hammer in frets
4. File and sand fret ends to length

Progress after day 12:

Guitar Building Day 11

WeiHu — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:03:42 +0000

Tasks:
1. Sand the purfing until flush

2. Saw fretboard

3. Saw head veneer to fit trussrod
4. Insert trussrod
5. Dry fit fretboard and then glue on to neck

Progress after day 11:

Guitar Building Day 10

WeiHu — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:27:04 +0000

Tasks:
1. Saw off and then sand off excess soundboard and back
2. Route out a groove for the purfing on the edges

3. Bend purfing on heated pipe and glue on

Progress after day 10:

Guitar Building Day 9

WeiHu — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:22:05 +0000

Tasks:
1. Chisel and sand out the braces for back
2. Glue in the bracing pattern

3. Chisel the braces to an arc

4. Clean inside the guitar

5. Glue on back

Progress after day 9:

Guitar Building Day 8

WeiHu — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:27:39 +0000

Tasks:
1. Shape the back
2. Glue in tail veneer for the side joint and sand

3. Glue braces for saddle

4. Chisel the braces to an arc

5. Glue on soundboard

6. Route out the shape of the back

Progress after day 8:

Guitar Building Day 7

WeiHu — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:19:15 +0000

Tasks
1. Join Indian Rosewood backs together
2. Route sound hole and shape of the soundboard

3. Chisel and sand out the braces for the soundboard (This creates the slight upward bend in the soundboard as well as gives the guitar is tone).

4. Glue in the bracing pattern

5. Chisel out the groove at the bottom of the side joint

Progress after day 7:

Guitar Building Day 6

WeiHu — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:17:09 +0000

Tasks:
1. Plane off excess material to level off both the sides
2. Glue of knerfing (the wood material that gives strength to the sides as well as a shelf to glue on top and bottoms pieces.

3. Shape fretboard:

Progress after day 6: