Acoustic Guitar Construction

I should probably drill for the endpin/jack socket now right?

mike-p wrote:I should probably drill for the endpin/jack socket now right?

I would leave this until far in the future. As in, after the guitar is totally finished, cured and I finally get around to buying an endpin or install a pickup.

The reason is, there's no need to do it now, and any finish you apply could just run into that hole.

Some folks do drill an endpin hole early in the building process and use it for mounting to brackets to work more easily on the body without using clamps - I prefer to do it at the end.

mike-p wrote:Thanks Kevin, one more tiny sanding question, cork block or just holding the paper?

Ken- I meant more learning experience in terms of design choices and structural and acoustic outcomes but thanks for keeping me on the straight and narrow!

Use a block or you will never have a level surface. Felt, cork, even a 2x4 just not you hands as they are not flat.

Mike, I agree with John on using a block, or something that will help with keeping the back, sides, and top level. You want to start your finish with as level a surface as you can get, and, of course, devoid of scratches.
Making the body level is one of my goals on this guitar. Finishing has been my bane so far, and I'm determined to beat it!!
Best of luck with your endeavor, you've come a good ways with this one.
Bob

Thanks guys, you are great. Given it a rub down with 180 Alu-oxide paper and cork block, looking pretty flat and fairly smooth to me so far.

I don't know if i didn't notice it before but there is a sort of wavy pattern across the grain on the top, this is the nature of the pice of wood not some amateurish scraping and sanding i may have done right?

Took pics with proper camera but too big to upload;

https://picasaweb.google.com/parlemicha ... 8OjDx5yiPQ

If you are talking about the wavy pattern that is roughly perpendicular to the grain, most noticeable at the top of the picture due to the way the light is reflecting here, yes that's the natural grain.

I do notice a slightly dark band around the bottom of the guitar there, so that's likely from the sealer you used when doing the binding. You will need to sand that out (someone else will correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think it would be very visible under the finish).

The medullary rays are with the wood showing you have a well quartered top. The top will look great finished.