Acoustic Guitar Construction

Dave Bagwill wrote:Yep, looking very good.

Do you find that glue bottle to be a useful thing? I could use something to help my accuracy in applying glue.

Dave
I like it a lot. It's the glu bot - 16 oz. I also got some extra tips because they seem to need replacing every now and then. But maybe thats because I often leave the cap off.

Back glued on, overhang trimmed. The box is closed. Installed a tail wedge. Squared up sides and got the back binding rebates cut. Test fitting the bindings/purfling. I had a little trouble with the routing because the guitar is so small! I have to sit it up very high so the router jig will clear. It popped out and nicked my thumb but thankfully no unintended cuts to either skin or guitar. I didn't see it till later but when the box popped out of the holder the top smacked down on one of the bolt ends and left a nasty dent in the top. A wet rag, a hot iron and some sanding and I think it'll be hardly noticeable.
Always learning.

Mmmmmmmm......tasty!

Top binding and purfling done.

That's a neat top purfling!

My first scratch neck. Here we go. I glued together some mahogany with some maple and walnut for the center. I cut a chunk from the middle to glue on for the heel. Then I cut the angle, then the tenon. All good. I routed the channel for my truss rod. Neck block test fit. I made a little jig to cut the headstock angle. (A sled for my band saw.) Happy with the result.
Next I installed the bolt inserts and sealed with ca glue. I glued on the headstock veneers (maple/walnut) and laid out for my slotted head tuner holes.

Carving the shape was the next step. I used my rough dragon rasp and went for it. Slow and steady and kept checking and "feeling" to get it where I was happy with it.
The truss rod I cut the slot for was too long for this little guitar. (Measure twice, cut once!) I ordered a new, shorter one but it was wider than the first one. I finally settled on some 80 grit stuck to a head plate blank and was able to sand the slot wider. I cut some relief in the heel cheeks and got a nice fit to the body.
Then came the slotted headstock. I was a bit nervous at this step. With no jig I carefully laid out the slots. I then drilled through with a 5/8" Forstner bit at each end of the slot. Then continued to drill additional holes the length of each slot. I used my trusty rasp to get close and then sanded to smooth. Overall very happy with the outcome.
Fretting and bridge next!