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I'd want to make sure you can return components if you aren't happy with them and get them replaced before buying.
How do you propose bending the sides?
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
You will have a mould to put it in then, once you've bent the sides, right?
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
FWIW I'd go for rosewood over mahogany, although be aware the Cites rules have changed recently if you intend on travelling with the instrument.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
I went to college to learn and bending ribs is not that easy imo
It takes practice, the more you do the easier it is and an experienced person to show you is highly recommend
I'm rusty but do plan on building something next year so I can remember how to do it, we use a bending iron and fox bender which is better for a more consistent bend but not necessary.
I built a mahogany martin oo style as my first one, it was fairly cheap wood but I got good results
My second was Amazon rosewood back and sides, much more expensive wood
Point is start with cheap wood get experience then upgrade wood on the next builds
(formerly customkits)
I was also shown by people who knew how to do it.
It is the trickiest part of the build- these days I use a bending machine.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
I was also going to say my mahogany ribs came out with slight ripples, I only used a side bending iron by hand
It was lack of experience, rib thickness has alot to do with it and how much heat and water mist is used with a cloth
Not bloody easy that's for sure
(formerly customkits)
Yes, rib thickness is key.
I get rosewood down to about 1.9mm and mahogany to 2.1mm.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
I'll be using the fox bender on anything else
You still need the side bender on tight bends and cutaways etc
Those thickness measurements sound about right but it's along time ago now
Definitely time for a refresh next year
I do have a 335 style build planned though which is the same construction methods
(formerly customkits)
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
whichever kit you go for (and the LMI kit scores highly, but will possibly be more expensive), I would absolutely without question factor in the acoustic building book by Natelson and Cumpiano. It is possibly the most comprehensive guide out there, and is invaluable for general luthiery. Some of their techniques might be considered old fashioned, but I can guarantee you won't be displeased - it is pretty much also the book Mark started his acoustic building with.
good luck with the build, and be prepared to make mistakes and ask questions
Adam
Just for the fact of using a front and back radius jig, it's easier imo because it's all held in shape with inside braces
Also shaping the end blocks the body mould is used with sandpaper on the inside, that's how I got taught anyway
I can post up some pics at some point
Building the body mould is not too bad either, you can use mdf sheets
Get your guitar template half shape, cut the shape out on mdf then use that to route 3 others then glue the 2 halves together, glue and pin pine blocks in between top and bottom mdf templates, you can use a router to shape the pine blocks after
when your not working on the body you hold it in the correct shape
(formerly customkits)
Everyone ignored it and used sandpaper.
It is better.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
Originally our course was a city and guilds until they pulled the plug
I didn't care about the paperwork it was the teacher that made that course worth it
The guy that taught us is just an unbelievabley skilled and knowledgeable teacher
He's the head of instrument making at Merton college
I think he's been there 37years
(formerly customkits)
I bent the sides (after thicknessing them with a sharp plane and hours of scraping) by soaking them in the bath and then bending them to approximately the right shape with a bending iron, then clamping them into the mound and leaving it in there overnight.
If doing it by hand you just need to take your time and bend a little at a time, keep the wood wet, applying gentle but firm hand pressure with the bending iron.
Tbh I was lucky, I didn't really know what I was doing and was just following the instructions in the David Russell Young book!
Took me hours.
I went to London Met fwiw.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Football is rubbish.
Took me bloody hours by hand to get perfect
(formerly customkits)
http://www.madinter.com/wood/kits.html?dir=asc&order=price
I came across a few at Maderas Barber as well, which aren't as high in quality but the prices are decent - pre bent sides albeit laminate
http://maderasbarber.com/tonewood/en/acoustic-guitar-kits/2759-acoustic-guitar-kit-model-folk.html