Hey Jimmy,
I've read that book at least ten times.
I am honing my woodworking skills before I try an acoustic build.
Sure would like to see some photos of your build!
Thanks,
Dan

Thanks Rodger, I knew there was something a bit different (from what I do) with his neck angle method but couldn't remember. Still, the message of caution for mixing methodologies applies.

Jimmyjames, you might be surprised at just how much dome 1/8" of deflection across, a say 15" lower bout, produces. That actually seems like it might be a tighter radius than needed. Go look at the section where he describes how to get the radius for the braces using a spline curve. I think he had something like an 1/8" deflection between 18" or something like that (but go look because I could easily be way off base with my memory). If that is true and considering that the cork would interface with the top inside the lower bout (making it less than 15") his method very well could be using producing a top with somewhat sprung in braces. But like I said, it has been a long while since I read it. . .

Having never read Cumpiano's book I'm probably not in a position to comment, but from what I've gathered from questions asked on here, it seems like a very complicated method of building. If you just put 1/8th inch shims around the edge of the soundboard, the radius will be changing from tail to waist as the waist is closer to the centre of the arc than the tail. You'd then have to try and match that shape when planing the rims, which sounds pretty hard to me.
Why not just make a radius dish? That way everything fits together perfectly and you get a very accurate, predictable result. It only takes an hour or so and a couple of MDF boards. You don't even need to make a load of mess with a router - this method worked fine for me http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/sho ... adius-Dish
Also go-bars are far cheaper than a load of clamps!

It is a bit weird. He just glues on the top to the flat linings. I always had a problem with that but it does work. I like to slant the linings to the radius though.

When I first bought that C&N book, everyone did it that way. Only a couple freaks were experimenting with radius dishes. Most people don't seem to realize that this radius building thing is a relatively new innovation.

Anyhow, I still prefer the flat board + shim method. A dugout workboard does effectively same thing .

I am an Industrial Engineer by trade -- so the idea that a new process is being formulated prior to actually experiencing, seeing, the expected goal of a tool or procedure seems way odd. There are so many that have "been there done it" --- pretty difficult to "do it right right from the start", when it not even clearly understood what "right is" I may have it wrong but this is what glean from the OP. $.02

Yeah first came the solera. I guess that's where the idea of radius dishes came from. The last several guitars I've built have been dead flat, I just let the strings pull the arch into shape

I did always wonder if that's the way W&N actually build guitars or if they have well made fitted and arched work boards and just came up with the cork shim method for hobbyists. I've built many using that method and they all came out just fine but I've always felt that the cork shim thing is not quite the perfect long term solution. But it certainly works.

I think I remember one poster here who may have taken a class from Cumpiano maybe he'll chime in.