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Ok, I'll be the first guinea pig and start a documented build

Began my second guitar about 2 weeks ago. #1 is sitting on the bench while I build a neck jig to cut my mortise and tenon connection and for the fretboard radius jig to be built. So in between collecting parts for the jigs I decided to start #2. This will be a sinker redwood top with mahogany back/sides dread. Solid wood rosette and binding out of lacewood. Mahogany neck, ebony fretboard and will probably use the offcuts from the top for the head plate.

Joined the back.


Bending the sides. Currently using light bulbs, but I really need to get the heating blankets!


Sides inserted in mold. Think I left them long enough? lol

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Bobby Masten

Cut neck and tail block (and made a spare mold).



Glued neck and tail blocks to sides.


Glued kerfing to sides. (forgot to tak a pic of #2 at this stage so this is #1's pic)


Installed butt wedge in body.

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Bobby Masten

Profiling sides and kerfing. 20' back radius and 28' top radius.


Put a wash coat of de-waxed shellac on the inside and out of the sides including head and tail blocks and kerfing. Really starting to like the look of the hog and sinker redwood together. Plus the rosette now meets my standard. Much better.


Cut the binding on my table saw and then ran them thru the drum sander.

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Bobby Masten

Bent the binding. Got a couple that had a few small cracks, will try to repair but if I don't like them I'll make some more. The lacewood was much tougher to bend (didn't want to relax) than the mahogany or eir that I've bent so far. Probably should have gotten some supersoft for this.


Bindings laid out on top. I'm thinking I like this look a lot.

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Bobby Masten

Actually the top is done that way on purpose. I had it glued up bookmatched originally but after it sat on my work bench for a week I took it apart and reglued it this way. I like the fact that some of the curl is now above the soundhole instead of all in the lower bout. It also gave me a bit of the curl that can go into the headplate from the offcut. How does it feel? Scary, but the feedback will be welcome to help me improve my processes hopefully.

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Bobby Masten

Some great stuff happening there Bobby. Keep going!

I really like the lacewood rosette.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

Beautiful freakin' top.
Nice looking git-box!