Copying old tops

[Dave Bagwill]

This is in reference to carved tops - acoustic jazz guitars.
Reading Benedetto's book on archtop building; he has a picture and some good words to say about using a homemade copy carver (guess what - I made one and am itching to use it!! :-)) to copy the top and back of a carved guitar.

Where do you suppose I could find such things to copy? Or alternatively, templates that are cast, or something like that? It would make the building much more doable for me, at least.

Any ideas welcomed.

[John Parchem]

Waldron Instruments has carving molds for a variety of instruments that they CNC. They are made to be copied, but a set is costly.

I think what you need to do is carve your own following his instructions with his instructions in soft easy to carve cheap wood, and then you your carving tool when you are happy.

[ken cierp]

How about something like this to make your sample/pattern

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dl ... 028wt_1104

And then you'd end up with a knock around arch top too boot!

[Dave Bagwill]

Both good ideas. Thanks.

[Kevin in California]

Copy carver???????????
Really??????????
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm??????????
:>)
We would love to see it in action

Kevin

[Dave Bagwill]

Kevin, all you had to do was ask. Geez.
Oh wait -- you're THAT Kevin, that has been asking?? :-)

[ken cierp]

I was watching a couple of videos last night showing guys carving tops and backs -- man that is a lot of work! I do remember the tip of using a stud post in a drill press to remove the bulk of the inside surfaces -- good tip. Is your copy machine wide enough to lay down two 17"+ objects along side each other?