Official Luthiers Forum!

Well I figure I will just forge ahead and post some pics while I am signed in under temp password...

I finally completed my very first archtop.....in fact, my very first guitar!

Basic rundown...

Top: Italian bearclaw
Back/sides: Red maple
Neck: Red maple/ebony/red maple
Headstock over/underlay: ebony
Pickguard:ebony
Binding: Multi line celluloid
Tailpiece: ebony
Tuners: Grover Imperials with genuine MOP knobs
Inlays: MOP hand engraved
Electronics: Floating humbucker with "stealth electronics" (capabilities of Varitone as well as S/P/SC, T, V)

In any case.....some pics!

The big picture....





The back....






The front.......








Hidden controls...





Headstock....





Tailpiece....




Hope you enjoy! Thanks for looking!

Tom

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"By the hand of one man".......
Doc's Stringed Instruments, Doc's Mandolins
http://www.docsmandolins.com

That is totally unfair!!! To have made such a beautiful intstrument on your first try! How can we ever compete with that???

Seriously, you did an outstanding job on this guitar. You are talented and blessed! I know it sounds as good as it looks! The binding miters are perfect. How did you get the 'f' holes bound so tightly?

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Steve Walden
Aspiring Builder,
Bartlesville, OK

Nice job Tom.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Thanks for the compliments. I should note this is my first guitar, but I have a few mandos under my belt.
Steve.....The trick to the binding? Actually just persistence. The F holes were a major pain. I prebend the sections over forms with a very cool heat bending system I developed. Then fine tune each section and its miters with both the wood and the neighboring section. Use lots of special wedges to apply pressure where needed to insure tight glue joint. But truth be told, binding the F holes was probably the LEAST favorite part of the build.
Tom

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"By the hand of one man".......
Doc's Stringed Instruments, Doc's Mandolins
http://www.docsmandolins.com

Very nice, both in detail and woods used. As a side issue, how do these things sound unplugged?

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Build log

Thanks, Alex. This guitar was designed to be acoustic....with the electronics as a plus. It is full hollow body and has a full sound with impressive volume/projection "unplugged". I designed the "stealth electronics" to enable the player to have a wide range of 'sounds' normally not available in the typical archtop. At your fingertips...yet be hidden.
Tom

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"By the hand of one man".......
Doc's Stringed Instruments, Doc's Mandolins
http://www.docsmandolins.com

Tom--Very cool indeed!

I enjoyed your comments on binding the F-holes. That has probably been the most challenging for me to get done right but it's also rewarding. I too have all kinds of little tools, cheaters and gadgets for the process. Even go so far as to cut out the pieces on CNC so that they conform to the rise and fall of the top.

Anthony Z. is the local F-hole guru if you want some good tips.

Nelson

Great job Tom

Beautiful Job Tom!!

And also, as an owner of one of Tom's Heat Bending systems, I can vouch for how easy it is to bend with...Thanks for getting that out to me Tom! Works fantastic!

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Mitch

Great job Tom. You've really brought out the beauty of the wood. I'd be interested in hearing more (pics?) about your cool bending rig! Also, forgive me but what do the switches do??

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Dave
Milton, ON

Tom, gorgeous guitar! There are a lot of really nice and original things you did with that instrument:
 Cool headstock
 Superb binding job
 Fingerrest and hidden switches and controls
 Art Deco tailpiece and inlay
 Beautiful bearclaw top

“The F holes were a major pain. I prebend the sections over forms with a very cool heat bending system I developed. Then fine tune each section and its miters with both the wood and the neighboring section. Use lots of special wedges to apply pressure where needed to insure tight glue joint.”

I’d be interested in learning more about your F-hole binding process as well. I don't much enjoy the process either.

A couple of questions and observations if I may:
1) What did you use for a finish?
2) The maple has a nice amber look to it, did you use a shellac base coat?

In a couple of pictures it looks like there is a shim under the fretboard extension near where the neck mates with the body. What is it that I am seeing?

The neck extension looks like it fits snug to the top past where the neck block is. This might cause a problem for the top down the road if the extension is making contact with the top past the neck block.

Don't listen to Nelson, I don't have anything on him when it comes to binding f-holes.

Beautiful guitar!! Very, very nice work. I would love to see some pics of your mandolins.

WOWZA....... sure appreciate the nice feedback. Especially from folks I consider 'special' when it comes to archtops. Means a LOT
Nelson....brought a smile to my face to know F holes did not just haunt ME....commiseration is grand Began to think I would never get them done to my satisfaction...but indeed....rewarding when accomplished. I will say this......sure made me rethink binding the F holes on those still in the pipeline! HAHAHAHA
Mitch, thanks for the plug on the system.....it DOES make a difference. I guess it would be cool for me to post some pics....not sure. Better wait for an OK.
Dave, the switches control the sound. Can play with changing the humbucker settings (series/parallel/single coil) as well as change the tone cap. Really increases the versatility....hence...VersaJazz !!!!

Thanks again folks!
Tom

Hmmm....how do I post with My name? I did sign in.....
Also...I need to get one of those cool pictures by my name!
Tom

Amazing workmanship with lots of original touches. I am taking notes!

Anthony,
That is indeed an ebony trimmed maple shim under the extension over the neck block. After hours of fitting the neck perfectly, it ended up needing that to accomodate the gear under the pickguard without contacting the top. Shim is fitted perfectly for good contact. There definitely is no contact past neckblock....just cant see it well in these pics.
Yes.....shellac base coat. I like what it does to the maple.
Don't know what to add on the F holes....they were aggravating. I do have some pics of the little forms to share...I'll post later.

Tom

Let's see if this works....might actually have a name and avatar
Tom

"Let's see if this works....might actually have a name and avatar "

Well I guess NOT

Someone please walk me through the process....I seem to be stuck. I type in my user name but it says it is in use....RIGHT...BY ME!!!

HELP

Tom - Clear your cookies using the Internet Tools button on the browser - then log in again using your mandomaniac handle...

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Mitch

Thanks Mitch,
Let's see if that worked.....

Nope

Can you hear me now??????????

here's the problem...if I log in...then type in my user name, it says it is in use and won't let me post.
If I log in, but don't type it in, it posts as 'guest'
So what is the trick? I have cleared cookies multiple times, even rebooted.

Tom, when you click "login" & type your username, count how many "*'s" there are is passord box - windows may still be trying to automatically put in your old password.

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Dave
Milton, ON

if you log in, you shouldn't have to type in your user name again...it will just redirect you to the front page and your status will be "logged in" - I know you can do it, because the posts further up the line have your proper name, and even your avatar...

Lance? thoughts?

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Mitch

No luck....
Mitch, the avatar automatically appeared in old messages when I added the pic. Just can't post under my name now....
Now I tried to have it log me in automatically....I have fingers crossed.....

_________________
"By the hand of one man".......
Doc's Stringed Instruments, Doc's Mandolins
http://www.docsmandolins.com