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WALNUT GUITAR --CONSTRUCTION -- CONTINUED

 

wpe5.jpg (4706 bytes)The rough machine work is done on the neck.  My necks are laminated from a mahogany, maple, rosewood, maple, and  mahogany sandwich -- I do this partly for strength and partly because I like the look.  I make up rectangular blocks and cut two necks from each block.    The machine work then includes cutting the truss rod slot, the dovetail, shaping the peghead (including drilling the peg holes) and stock removal (i.e. getting the neck to approximate dimensions).  For more on my necks, go HERE.

wpe6.jpg (10082 bytes)These are the end blocks.  Mahogany for the neck (dovetail) end and Baltic birch plywood for the tail block.  I began using the plywood at the suggestion of Jim Olson.   The rationale is that since we are now putting so many pickups (and large end pins) in guitars, the plywood is less likely to crack if the guitar falls on the end.  I thinks this makes sense, and I have noticed no change in the sound of my instruments.

 

wpe2.gif (101390 bytes)The ribs are now bent, and the end blocks are glued in. I glue the end blocks in with the ribs firmly held into the mold, so that the body shape will be true.    After gluing the end blocks in,  I cut the dovetail and the butt wedge slots. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wpe4.jpg (25209 bytes) The walnut dreadnaught now has its neck glued in and is getting close to completion.  (If you wonder what's happened from the last photo to this, look in the building a guitar pages - there are photos there of the whole process, including some of this guitar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wpe5.jpg (30547 bytes) Another view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wpe1.jpg (12967 bytes)

This website and all of its content, text and images are copyright ©1997-2011 by Charles A. Hoffman.  All rights reserved.

2219 East Franklin Ave.
Minneapolis, MN. 55404

choffman1@mn.rr.com or choffman@hoffmanguitars.com

(612) 338-1079