Andyjr1515

I spent a bit of time building a neck routing jig - more of that in a later post. In the meantime, I've started on the purfling and binding, starting with the edge routing: Then adding the 1mm wood black/white/black purfling. I use a very unconventional way of sticking these which will become clear when I move onto the binding. The purfling adds the finishing touch to an acoustic's binding: The binding I am using is rosewood with a black/white/black edge. My unconventional way of fixing wood bindings is that I IRON them on, in the same way that I do my veneering jobs. Not saying you should do this (I think I'm the only guy in the world that does) but it works for me. Basically, I paint a decent coat of good quality wood PVA glue onto the slot and the pre-bent binding (bent on the same hot pipe as the sides): Then I let it dry for 15- 20 minutes Then I position it and then iron it on, short section by short section, allowing each section to cool for 10 secs or so holding in place with a cloth before moving on: No more than 7 minutes from the point that the PVA had dried, the binding for that side is on ready for scraping or sanding: Not long now before I start on the neck in earnest.....

That's some very effective relicing, cameltoe. Love the look of the mock-up

Only just caught up with the latest on this. That is soooooo impressive, Jabba! Blast! That means I've got to raise my own game AGAIN!!! Those wretched Jabba's....can't hold the blighters down!!!!! OK - I'm going to add a sixteenth string on my 15 string travel hybrid acoustic ... no, maybe it'd better be seventeen.....

Very impressive stuff!

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1455717659' post='2981768'] Great to see this. Are you coming along to the Midlands Bass Bash with interesting instruments? [/quote] I was going to just bring my Bubinga fretless and the Squier veneered Jag basses. I won't bring this one, but I can bring the OM acoustic along and one of my 6-string electrics if anyone is interested (and promises not to exclude me from Basschat for bringing items from 'the dark side'...)

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1455717659' post='2981768'] Just how big is that cat? [/quote] Bloomin' huge! Got it from Dudley Zoo before they closed. They said it was fully grown but I'm not sure...it might be my imagination but it does seem to have got about 5' longer since we got her. A few of the neighbours have gone missing in the last couple of years and their families have blamed Tiddles! The cheek of it, I ask you....

[quote name='EmmettC' timestamp='1455639881' post='2980990'] This is a great read, I love the headstock on your other acoustic. [/quote] Thanks!

Clamps off, edges trimmed and a quick protective coat of varnish. This will all be sanded off when I do the finishing proper but, in the meantime, it protects particularly the top from dints from things like shavings, etc, when it's being manhandled for the binding, etc..: Next job on this is the purfling and binding which I haven't ordered yet. While I'm waiting, I'll start on the neck

I've done some further fine-tuning on the braces, with now a much richer resonance coming from the top. Also fitted the soundhole reinforcement and the bridge plate: Then finished off the back braces, central reinforcement strip and all-important label: And then, after checking and double checking and triple checking that I haven't forgotten to do something, glued the back on: If it's dry tomorrow, I'll trim the excess off and then start to do a bit on the neck blank. Thanks for the great feedback, folks Andy

[quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1455218841' post='2977224'] I guess there's less routing which looks fairly terrifying if you're not confident at it but more steps that need taking your time over and gear required. Still, nice work! [/quote] Yes - definitely more gear required...most of which you basically build yourself. I've just ordered the bits to make myself a routing jig for the neck joints on the body and neck - it will probably take me a week to build the jig and 20 minutes to rout the two pieces!

I like the look of that bridge, Bastav. I think this whole thing looks brilliant!

Oooohhh....that's really, really nice

That's coming up beautifully

[quote name='goblin' timestamp='1455277423' post='2977678'] Cheers guys There are various ways you can finish tru oil, I'm not fussed about going for the slurry and buff, given that the wood has been sanded to 2500 anyway, it wouldn't make much difference as the wood had a nice sheen to it before I'd even got anywhere near it with oil. Like anything, it has to be built up in coats, between 5 and 10 is ideal. The way I'll be doing the finish is a coat at a time with a very light rubbing with 0000 wire wool between coats to build it up, and this should give a rather nice sheen over the instrument, but not gloss. [/quote] No probs, Goblin - it's going to look superb whatever you do with it

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1455272709' post='2977618'] Sounds good. How do you do that? I'm guessing you simply put on a thin coat as I would normally with Linseed? I once saw a gloss Warwick for sale and I don't think the gloss was helpful to it selling. [/quote] It's a technique I have seen in a couple of the other forums. To be honest, I think it's how they use Tru-oil on gunstocks, which is where Tru-oil originated. It is VERY easy to do. You simply apply a dollop of tru-oil, then use c 1000 grit (or finer) wet and dry and use the tru-oil as the lubrication. This forms a very fine slurry that fills the minute voids and grain. You leave it 5 mins or so, and then wipe / buff it off. Do that 2-3 times and it's usually done. Then leave it overnight before final buff and, usually, it's ready to play! I do most of my necks that way - they end up silky smooth and very organic feeling - and, if it's natural wood, it's my preferred method for the bodies. These two were done like that - total finishing time was around 3 days from bare wood to being able to play it: Interestingly, I saw the bottom one in a gig last night. It's been heavily gigged (multiple times a week) for most of 2015 and it still looks like this...

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1455267396' post='2977564'] It's looking great, but doesn't Tru-oil give a high gloss finish? Have to say high gloss wouldn't be my choice for a Warwick, but each to their own. I'd use boiled linseed oil, which gives a satin sheen. I guess the advantage of Tru-oil is it's non permeable - in the same way as a varnish. [/quote] Not with the slurry and buff method, Grangur. Hence my question to Goblin. You can't easily use the slurry/buff method for a stained wood, but it is ideal for natural wood. It produces a silky smooth, satin finish that is fully protective but still feels like real wood. I think it would be perfect for this.

Looking really good, Goblin. Based on this thread I have suffered terrible GAS for a Corvette! Are you going to go for the slurry and buff method ref the tru-oil?

[quote name='6v6' timestamp='1455182310' post='2976671'] Very impressive work, thanks for sharing! Out of interest, how did you make the radius dish? The only method I can think of is a router on an enormous pivot or dangled from a piece of rope (what could possibly go wrong! ) The wood grain on the back looks really nice, I bet that will pop out and look amazing when it's got finish on it [/quote] Thanks, 6V6 From memory, I worked out the arc depths, drew some suitable contour circles on the MDF and hand routed the contours, starting with the deepest, middle one, and working my way outwards, reducing the depth of cut each time. With such a wide radius, the maximum depth is only a few mm, but I seem to remember a HUGE amount of MDF dust (a mask is absolutely essential, by the way). I then finished off with a curved cabinet scraper to smooth down the 'steps' Andy

[quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1455125447' post='2976218'] Very nice! Acoustic builds look like the hardest to get right but it looks like you've got the skills and gear for it. Looking forward to seeing the finished product. [/quote] Thanks, GarethFlatlands Actually, there are a number of aspects that are easier...but you have to get your head around the design musts and must nots. And there are quite a few extra jigs and fixtures to make (body mould, radius dishes, go-bar deck, neck joint jig, etc)!

Hi, Jabba What is it you are using the router for? Just the outline shape? If so, then once you have the outline rough cut in the pic above, I would just use files and sanding blocks - it won't take very long and much safer (for the item and your appendages). I wouldn't use a router personally on a small item... they are significantly stronger and more vicious than a small piece of wood ever could be Ignore me if I've got the wrong end of the mahogany.... Andy

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1455046187' post='2975427'] Indeed it is..! Excellent topic, excellent write-up, excellent photos. Excellent all round, in fact. Thanks for sharing. [/quote] Thanks, Dad3353 !

Bit more progress on this. Got the back braces radiused, rough shaped and into the 15' radius dish with the go-bar deck. Look at that top bend! Then scalloped them with a sharp chisel: Finally, added the centre-join reinforcement: Then used the radius dish again with some 120 grit to shape the body for an all round fit . Some more to do before I 'close the box', but it's starting to look like a dreadnought body: In the meantime, I've started on the neck...

[quote name='FuNkShUi' timestamp='1454520330' post='2970477'] Here's mine: [url="https://soundcloud.com/tona-fied/noodle-1"]https://soundcloud.c...a-fied/noodle-1[/url] Sorry for the lack of editing Free time is scarce in my house, so i recorded what i had in my head, and that will have to do! I've showed you mine, now lets see yours Recorded straight into laptop via garage band. AJR bass guitar. 22% reverb. Other than that, its a dry signal with no EQ tweaking, or no amp simulations etc. Like i said... no time [/quote] I'd missed this first time round. Love it! Wherever did you get a bass that sounds that good?????

[quote name='Dazed' timestamp='1454626808' post='2971555'] I have to say though I am slightly disappointed the cat didn't get its revenge for the thread lock incident [/quote] Don't you think that being waited on hand and foot, given multiple meal choices and having the freedom to turn your nose up at all of them, sleeping most of the day and half of the night and, lucky b*****d, being stroked by Mrs Andyjr1515 on a regular basis is revenge of the sweetest kind? ....in my view it's the feline and very calculated version of 'up yours, mate'

[quote name='PlungerModerno' timestamp='1454517331' post='2970433'] Never thought of a magnet - The X:Ray machine was a bit of a long shot! [/quote] Damn! And I'd just negotiated the loan for 20mins of the local hospital's MRI scanner! Still, saves on the cost of a box of chocolates for the radiography team, I suppose...