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I posted progress pics of this about a month ago.

Here are the vitals:

Top: Sitka
Back & Sides: Euro Maple
Neck: Big leaf maple
FB, and appointments: Gabon Ebony
Fret markers: Gold MOP, Denim Recon
Peghead inlay: Gold, Black, and White MOP,and African Blackwood
Binding and F-hole binding: w/b/w plastic
Finish: Epoxy, McFadden sealer, McFadden Lacquer
Pickup:Kent Armstrong Slimbucker

Building this was a great experience. Almost everythng about it is different than a flat-top, and generally more difficult or time consuming. Oddly one of the most difficult things was the tailpiece. Bennedetto doesn't do a very good job of describing how he makes them, so I kind of had to comeup with my own techniques.









It's a waterfall if you couldn't tell. The blackwood(oddly enough) turned pretty black under finish so it's hard to see.

Thanks

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Matt Jacobs

"Don't tase me bro"

Outstanding! I'd say you got the tailpiece all figured out. Nice how you continued the headstock binding and purfling down onto the fretboard.

   

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Is that your first guitar?

Looks pretty nice!!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Really sweet looking. You work looks flawless. So this is your 1st archtop or have you been building them for a while? I really like that back shot of the neck. So, how's it sound?

Matt congratulations -- your guitar looks great! I especially like the look of the silky Euro maple.

Is it my eyes playing tricks on me but the shape looks slightly different than that of a Benedetto. Either way -- I really like it.

OUT STANDING is RIGHT!

Congrats Matt!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

It looks very nice!

Is there a story behind the inlay on the back of the neck shaft?   I have a similar inlay on my first guitar...

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

That is one excellent archtop, Matt!
I`ve been considering building one myself.
Coe

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Thanks Matt, but you're not getting off so light.
You have got to post some shots of, and also an explanation of, your truss rod adjustment.
It's really clever.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Matt, that is just beautiful. Very nice workmanship. I hope you're bringing this one on Saturday, I'd love to play it.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

That's a stunning looking archtop! Very nice!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Matt, it looks great! Man, you sure build a lot of different things. This one is definately a keeper though. Looking forward to seeing it on Saturday!

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

It's beautiful Matt! The only thing missing is your name on the
headstock...

Oh...   and I dig the position markers!!

Long

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"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus of Ephesus

What a beautiful job ,especially for your first archtop.
I really like your neck and inlays! Very impressive

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Missed this thread somehow but wanted to add my kudos as well. Can't imagine an archtop at the point in my guitar building adventure. VERY nicely done.

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Thank You and Best To All

Thanks everyone,

Peter- this is #5 overall

Donovan- My first Archtop, It has tons of voulme and great overtones, it's pretty balanced frequency-wise

Arnt- the inlay is a coverup from a router table mishap, but I like the look it balances the headstock veneer and the heel cap.

OK Steve here is the truss rod adjustment.

sorry for the blurry pics. I wanted a way to adjust the truss rod without cutting into the peghead. It is just a 9" ball-end wrench that fits perfectly in the truss rod nut.

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Matt Jacobs

"Don't tase me bro"

Thanks, Matt. Tell them that what they are seeing is the truss rod adjustment accessible from the end of the peghead. That long hole runs inside the length of the peghead, and then guides that wrench to the TR nut.
Only seen when one looks directly at the end of the headstock. And how often is that done? Sort of like looking at the top of someone's scalp, studying their part...it's rare.
Anyway, I wanted to blow your horn a bit because I think this is clever.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

What a creative idea! Looks like you've got a bit of the inventor in you, Matt. The whole guitar looks great, and I especially like your save on the back of the neck after the router mishap. It could become a requested feature if future customers become aware of it. Nice job!

Very Nice Matt, she's a beauty. Something so elegant about a nicely built arch top.

Cheers

Kim

Amazing Matt, simply amazing. Wow.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Matt, I think the neck inlay looks very nice, and as has been said: Good save!

The mistake that I made on my first guitar was to carve into the truss rod channel, and my "repair" was not nearly as nice as yours. I have read (on the Internet, so it must be true ) that Ervin Somogyi's famous neck inlays also started as a cover up. How is that saying about the apprentice-journeyman-master and how they handle mistakes...?

Here's a Somogyi neck inlay

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

It is true, Arnt. He had an article some time ago in the GAL's quarterly, IIRC, about this accident. He exposed the truss rod and had to graft in a piece of mahogany to save the neck--which, of course, would be quite noticeable. This was his creative solution to hide the glue lines, and it became a most-requested feature by subsequent customers. If you can't hide it, make it look pretty!

Very well done Matt. Benedetto sells a video on making the tailpiece and other appointments, hence the blurry description of the process in his book. His full size drawings however, detail the tailpiece quite nicely.

What type of bracing did you use, X or parallel?

Darrel

Beautiful! That's one my favorite woods for the back and sides. I think archtops are the classiest looking git-boxes around.

Great job!