Faux Acoustic guitar build

[gitlvr]

Hi there! Thought I'd post another build thread. I have this build posted on the TDPRI, so I am essentially transferring it over here. I hope it will be of interest to some here, even though it is a guitar build, and not a bass build.
Also, this build may take a while, since I'm starting kind of late in the year. If I don't reach finish stage before colder weather sets in, it could end up being late spring 2012 before I'm done.
Before I get started, I need to tell you a little about the reasons for this build.
I am strictly an electric guitar player. For physical reasons, the electric is much more comfortable for me. i have acoustics, but seldom play them anymore. This would not be a problem if I didn't love the sound of an acoustic guitar so much. Or if it didn't lend itself so well to one of the main types of music(Gospel) that i play regularly. So this build is basically an attempt at a crossover between the two. This is nothing new, as it has been done before by a few manufacturers, like Taylor. But this is my version. I really have no concept of how other types have been built. This is my attempt to achieve what I'm looking for. Basically, an electric sized guitar that gives me a good acoustic tone through the PA.
So, on with the build!
I have some lovely white ash laying around just begging me to build with it. So, what i basically did was take an old parlor guitar I had laying around, reduced it's size to 12.5" across the lower bout, and about 17.5" long(electric guitar size, roughly), and added a cutaway. Then I built templates for this shape. Here it is drawn on the body blank.

After cutting with the jigsaw.

And routed to the template.

 

[gitlvr]

So far, so good. Except for this:

While i was routing around the body, i failed to pay attention to the grain direction. This chunk of wood the router ripped out is the result. Ouch!
However, I found the missing chunk, slapped some glue on it, and clamped it back in place.

Doesn't look very pretty, but I promise, it'll be o.k.

 

[gitlvr]

Took the treble horn out of the clamps and finished routing.

Turned out good. Told ya not to worry.:wink:

Time to start on the body cavity. Here it is with template attached.

I don't have a drill press, so I have to do this by hand. I chucked a 1.25" forstner bit in my hand drill.

The tape will help me to judge depth. Not exact, but it'll be close enough.

 

[gitlvr]

Coming along.

There, that's better.

 

[gitlvr]

Once i hogged out the cavity with the forstner bit, I began cleaning it up, using a small hand plane.

And here it is all cleaned up (mostly).

 

[blubolt]

talk about taking the long way...... on the other hand, it looks quite interesting. subscribed!

 

[gitlvr]

talk about taking the long way...... on the other hand, it looks quite interesting. subscribed!

thanks, blubolt!
As for taking the long way, you work with what you've got.

 

[gitlvr]

That's as far as I can go on the body at the moment.
On to the neck portion of this exercise.
Got some more curly maple left after my P Bass build. Using a fine tooth handsaw, I cut the scarf.

After cleaning the joint up with a hand plane, it's on to glue and clamps.

That'll sit at least over night. More to come.

 

[Stealth]

Unusual. I'mma follow.

 

[gitlvr]

Welcome, Stealth.

 

[SurferJoe46]

Taking notes.

 

[Hopkins]

Dude, your the man. I don't think I could do what you do with the tools you have at your disposal. Keep up the good work.

 

[roberthabraken]

Subscribed! Interesting approach, taking notes.

 

[reverendrally]

I like it. HUGE rout there. Wonder what it will sound like?

 

[SurferJoe46]

Assuming - as I normally do - that the view into the routed area is the back of the body, are you going to incorporate some sort of block to support the bridge?

 

[gitlvr]

Thanks for all the interest, guys!
SurferJoe46, that's the view from the front of the guitar. The back is at the bottom of that cavity. This guitar will get a thicknessed and braced acoustic top.
Reverendrally, hopefully it'll sound like an acoustic (through an amp or PA).

 

[gitlvr]

I took the neck out of the clamps. The scarf joint slipped a little( as usual), so I need to clean that up and make certain the face of the neck blank is flat and level.

A good hand plane makes short work of this.

Once i got that taken care of, I drew out the neck and headstock on the blank.

[/QUOTE]

 

[gitlvr]

After cutting this out with the jig saw, i attached the neck template with double stick tape.

And here it is routed to the template.

And with the truss rod routed and installed.

 

[gitlvr]

Moving on to the fretboard. It is Indian Rosewood. i really like the grain and look of this board.

I finally got a decent fret saw. Bought the StewMaw Japanese one. I highly recommend this saw. I use it with a cheap plastic mitre box I have laying around. It does the job just fine.

After I finish cutting the slots, it's on to glue and clamps.

Thanks for looking. More to come.

 

[reverendrally]

You're a machine! gonna have this done in no time.