No thanks Ken, I love to do this. I will post all steps on the bridgemaking.
Herman
Florentine Cutaway
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Kevin in California
- Posts: 2807
- Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:19 pm
Re: Florentine Cutaway
Herman, the guitar looks fantastic. I should come take a building class with you!!!!
Kevin
Kevin
Re: Florentine Cutaway
Bridgemaking:
After routing the saddleslot I drill the pinholes and take off the excess with my bandsaw:
Then the half of the area of the wings are routed flat up to 5 mm thickness. That leave a bit meat for sandingerrors. As Somogyi wrote: most wings on traditionally made bridges are to floppy. So the final thickness have a target of 4 mm.
This is how that looks like:
After chiseling the slope into the wings:
And sanding this area smooth:
Sanding the 16" curve unto the top of the bridge. Tough work as the Wengé is very hard.
Sanding the lower edge of the bridge into a smooth radius:
Almost looking like a real bridge. I have to smooth and thickness some part better as they are now. But that is a thing for a moment with a cup of coffee and a good eye.
After routing the saddleslot I drill the pinholes and take off the excess with my bandsaw:
Then the half of the area of the wings are routed flat up to 5 mm thickness. That leave a bit meat for sandingerrors. As Somogyi wrote: most wings on traditionally made bridges are to floppy. So the final thickness have a target of 4 mm.
This is how that looks like:
After chiseling the slope into the wings:
And sanding this area smooth:
Sanding the 16" curve unto the top of the bridge. Tough work as the Wengé is very hard.
Sanding the lower edge of the bridge into a smooth radius:
Almost looking like a real bridge. I have to smooth and thickness some part better as they are now. But that is a thing for a moment with a cup of coffee and a good eye.
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John Parchem
- Posts: 2750
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:33 pm
- Location: Seattle
- Contact:
Re: Florentine Cutaway
Timely post, I am making a bridge today. It is fun to see how you do it.
Re: Florentine Cutaway
You do it differently, John?
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John Parchem
- Posts: 2750
- Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:33 pm
- Location: Seattle
- Contact:
Re: Florentine Cutaway
I do not use a router for the wings. I have a little drum sander (luthier's friend) that I use for the wings, so I naturally get the curve up. The router interested me as it would be easier to get the angle of where the wings break when looking from the top. I do take my wings down to 2 mm by the time it is finished and glued down. I do not want the extra mass.
Re: Florentine Cutaway
Yeah, I used to thin them like that. I read the Somogyi books in where he makes a big issue of the floppyness of the usual bridgewings. He makes his bridges in a parabolic way. Personally, I don't know what contribution the "floppy-or-not" wings do have. Anyone an opinion?
So this is why I choose to make quite thick wings this time. If the bridgewings turn out to be too massive in appearence, I will take a bit off. We hate lumpy guitarparts, don't we? Well, we'll see how this guitar turns out.
Waiting with spraying at the moment, 'cause humidity is 80% now.
So this is why I choose to make quite thick wings this time. If the bridgewings turn out to be too massive in appearence, I will take a bit off. We hate lumpy guitarparts, don't we? Well, we'll see how this guitar turns out.
Waiting with spraying at the moment, 'cause humidity is 80% now.