Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello,
After seeing multiple posts regarding problems with purfing at end graft, I was curious if any one glues the end graft to the end block before gluing the sides? I have done this on my last 2 flamencos and it worked great. Even though I am using a spanish heel for the neck/top/sides, I would expect this would work for SS construction as well. The only caveat is the bottom end of the sides must be cut fair and square.

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John Nowicki

If it works, do it.

I've tried several times to get a clean seam that doesn't need a graft, and so far haven't succeeded. Trying to get a perfect joint against a pre-glued graft wouldn't be any easier. A knife and chisel is the easiest for me, so that's what I use

I think guitar building is tough enough doing it the conventional way..........no need to complicate things...............BUT, if you find this works for you, who can argue with that fact. If it works and looks good no body is going to quibble about how you did the construction.....!!! Go for it...!
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I don't know how, but I actually managed to get a clean seam that would not require a graft on my jumbo build. I will still put a graft there but this is not something I was able to do before. All I did was mark the part, and trim it with a small backsaw and glued the block in. The seams are actually off center however because I couldn't find the center of the form... something to do with the pieces I use to keep it together. I will be able to correct it when putting the graft in.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

FYI:
To get the end of the ribs perfectly square, I touch them up against a disc sander to give me a nice flat and straight edge to butt up against the end graft. Different strokes....

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John Nowicki

Thanks John, I was about to suggest you show us how you do it. For me, the difficulty would be matching them up while using an outside mold. Building on a solera there would be a little more leeway on exactly how wide the lower bout is. Inside the mold, your width is the limiting factor. Too bad to, this thread has me thinking it would be cool to joint the ends of the sides like you do the top seam and have no graft; I just don't have the skill/precision to pull it off. If I'm being honest, I do a sloppy job here because I know I have the end graft to cover my butt. . .

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.