Acoustic Guitar Construction

I spent the day preparing to build a harp ukulele for a city arts program auction.

I bought a set of plans from Pete Howlett in the UK. I always take the plans to kinkos and do a few full sized copy. This allows me to keep the original and cut up a set to make the acrylic templates that I like to have. I also made a bending form to fit in my fox style bender.







The plans called for a slotted headstock. I have nice jigs for full sized guitars but they are no good for this instrument. Instead I made a wood template the way I always see in the books to make a slotted headstock. I used a 1/2" forstner bit to get the ends just right, then I switched to a 3/8 bit to safely cut the middle out. I used a rasp to finish the slots. I will probably use this wood template with a flush trim bit in my router to do it on the real neck.







I roughed out the mold and I decided to use koa for the back and sides and cedar for the top. My koa set is for a guitar, so I though I would cut out a set of koa binding and put them in with a black fiber side purfling. I will use the thuya burl you see in the photo for the headstock and peg board veneer and possibly the rosettes. Also you can see in the picture that I will make a rosewood fretboard and a rosewood bridge.

Cool project John. I think Brian Itzkin built or is building a harp uke. You guys can compare notes!! Then, when they are both done, you can have a harp uke jamboree...via skype of course.

Very ambitious John, I like it! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

I have two thuya burl boxes, bought in Morocco very cheap in which I keep some specialist bits, but I couldn't for the life of me find any raw lumber there, where did you get your block from?

Bob

Great project! -- a little different then the one that Kathy Matsushita documented on her website.

Litmus wrote:Very ambitious John, I like it! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

I have two thuya burl boxes, bought in Morocco very cheap in which I keep some specialist bits, but I couldn't for the life of me find any raw lumber there, where did you get your block from?

Bob

We have a couple of woodworkers shop Rockler and Woodcraft, I make a habit of going through the blanks they have for wood turners. So far I found two blocks I like an amboya burl and this thuya burl. It is very hit or miss, for even the kind of wood they have.

Ah, nice find John. Have you cut into the thuya yet? The fragrance is unbelievable, I can't stop sniffing it!

Bob

Litmus wrote:Ah, nice find John. Have you cut into the thuya yet? The fragrance is unbelievable, I can't stop sniffing it!

Bob

Not yet, I still looking at the sides to determine how I want to slice it up.

I noticed on your web site you have a guitar, upper right, with gorgeous individual slotted tuning machines. (the curved head stock is also unbelievably nice). Can you tell me where those tuning machines come from.

Thanks,
John