Acoustic Guitar Construction

I have had to level my drum sander a couple of times now. I agree that you are OK with the thickness you have for a nylon string back.

-May I have a word with you, Ben?
-Sure, Mr. Robinson
-I have one word for you, Ben, just one word
-Yes sir?
-(whispering) Shims. Shhh. That's it. Shims.


The only way I can keep my performax 16-32 drum completely level over the table is by the use of two small sheet-metal shims. I lift the open end of the drum carriage up with one hand, and slip a shim under the adjusting screw on the other. I do that on both the upper screws. Perfect.

Coo cootch a coo Mrs. Robinson.

There is no support on the outward end of the drum on this Ryobi version of the 16/32 and I think I need to add one, then perhaps I can adjust it closer across the drum. There are some shims already there too, but I didn't put them there. This think WAS accurate to about .005" when I first started using it. Thanks for the "hint" Dave.

Okay the end blocks are glued to the sides, and tonight I sanded the top edge of the rims flat, they are ready for kerfing.
Back is joined, I'll get some bracing on it soon.

Kevin

Have you decided on you top bracing pattern? I have a crossover in my future, so it will be fun to watch this one.

Yes, I have a pattern traced to accomodate this OM shape, and the bridge position for a 14th fret neck.
I believe it is a 7 brace fan arrangement with pretty much standard bracing below and above the sound hole. There is a bridge patch too.
John, I know you have done a couple of classicals. What are thinking for body, frets to body, etc for your future crossover?

Kevin

I will go with an O0 close to what you have, but I will go 12 frets to the body, using a martin short scale. That will put the bridge in the middle of the lower bout. I use a bridge patch about 1 mm thick. It seems that there is a divide in the classical community for or against the patch. I also will use 7 fan frets.

I think the main thing to watch out for is the neck geometry, The strings are lower at the saddle than a SS. On my classical guitars with 12 frets I now pitch the neck forward slightly (the nut end of the neck 2 mm higher than the plane of the top.) In this case a straight edge on the an unfretted board would be 2 mm into the top. This difference from a SS comes from 2 reasons.

• String height at the saddle is typically 2 to 4 mm lower than a SS.

• The action at the 12 fret is at least a mm higher than a typical SS