Wednesday 1 October 2008

Acoustic Bass Guitar



Another Unfinished Project: An Acoustic Flat Top Bass Guitar based on a Martin Design. Guitar is assembled but requires fingerboard, saddle and finishing and hardware. So close yet so far away.

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Manual Bending of Guitar Sides on Bending Iron
(A Side Bending Jig was actually used)


Various Wooden Components of Acoustic Bass Guitar in preparation


Partially Assembled Parts:
Front Spruce Top Joined and Thicknessed with Soundhole cutout;


Joined Spruce Top Plate with Soundhole Cutout

(Soundhole cut with special cutting tool attachment on Dremel Tool)


Bracing Ribs Glued & Clamped To Spruce Top


Braces Trimmed with Chisels and Small Planes


Guitar Sides Glued and Clamped (Joined) at End Block


Sides at front Joined by Glue and Clamping to Neck Block


Excess Side Wood Chiseled away to reveal Neck Block V-Pocket
(Alternatively Dremel Tool could be used)


Side "Kerfed" Linings glued and clamped (high-tech clothes pins) to sides
(Linings provide strength and surface where to glue front and back plates.


Truing Surface of Linings with Small Plane


Truing Sides of back with Jointer


Glued Back being double checked for Thickness with Caliper Guage


Back Braces Glued and Clamped to Back


Routing Channel in Back for Decorative Inlay Strip
(Strip covers glue joint strengthening it)


Assembled Back& Sides


Spruce Top Placed on top of Assembled Back & Sides


Assembled Body with Neck in Foreground


Assembled Body (with some violin making tools on right)


Assembled Body showing Decorative Inlay Strip in Back


Binding Material (Coiled) with Dremel tool and Binding Channel Attachement


V-Joint Neck Attachment


Dremel Router Readied to cut Inlay Logo Pocket


ThunderHouse (THI) Logo Inlay Pocket Ready for Abalone Inlay


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This instrument remains uncompleted until I can once again get back to my shop.


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