Manzer wedge

[ken cierp]

I am currently working out the details for preparing a wedge style rim using the KMG Mega Mold or the KMG stand alone contouring fixture. However, I am not certain when I have time to run a prototype. The wedge primarily thins the lower bout on the bass side.

[Go4aRyd]

Linda Manzer's design actually also widens at the treble side to keep the air volume roughly the same to maintain the same system dynamics otherwise there will be a discernible change in tone. I am sure it will have some small effect anyway, but the air mass would need to be the same or you would essentially have a different tonal "shape" to contend with. Not everyone modifies both sides, but it makes sense to me.

[TonyinNYC]

I wedged mine from tip to tail. I don't know how anyone else does it. It just made sense to do it that way.

[Tj Turner]

Tony...

Seems to me that I asked this question at one point, but somehow can't find the answer and my short and or long term memory has slipped!

Anyway, how do you cut the binding for your wedge guitars? Do you use standard binding and just bend it to fit the wedge, or do you custom cut it ala somogyi?

Thanks!

Tj

[ken cierp]

TJ --from Tony's January post

FYI: I was advised by several builders that I respect that I should build a Fleishman Binding router jig because there was no way, in their opinions, that I would be able to make good, parallel to the sides, binding channels using any other method. Well, I am lazy so I wasn't going to build one, and I didn't want to send any money to a guy who had destroyed the first set of Koa I sent him for bending in order to purchase a Fleishman jig, so I used my trusty KMG IA Router Binding Attachment. Worked like a charm! You will need to take a little more care to get your channels perfect because the angle at which the back plate meets the body is very different from one side to the other versus a traditional, non-wedge guitar, but it will work very well.
I expect questions. This is a difficult concept to explain without pictures. I will elaborate on anything to the best of my ability and answer all questions as best as I can as well. I would post some pic of the guitar, but I can not access Flickr from work. There are pics on this site in the Gallery here:
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=73

[Tj Turner]

Thanks Ken...I probably wasn't clear in what I was asking. I think I understand cutting the channels, but then doesn't the actual binding need to be cut or bent to adopt the shape and stay perfectly fit (perpendicular) to the channel? I think in Somogyi's book he has a picture of cutting the binding at an angle. I was just wondering if the regular binding would work or if I need to make something special? It seems like the actual wedge angle along the binding channel wouldn't be so extreme so that it would be okay to use regular binding...but I'm not sure.

Thanks!

Tj