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I finished my first top!
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=18164		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:48 pm ]
Post subject:  I finished my first top!
Actually it should say I finally finished a top :lol: I recently posted about my X brace not being notched properly causing one of the X braces to have a gap on one side viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=17763

I got some good advice and learned a few things. Anyway I'd thought I'd post some pics while I wait for the glue on the X patch to dry.

Image

Image

Any comments are welcome. I tried voicing a little but wasn't really sure what to listen for. I took the top down to about specs for a vintage D-18 then voiced till I got an even response and it sounded musical to me. The top is about .117" and thinned to about .112" toward the edges of the lower bout. Does it look light enough?

btw, if you click on the pictures you can get an up close view
Author:  Hesh [ Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
Jeremy buddy you did a GREAT job on this top! [:Y:] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

Is this Adi? It looks like it from here.

Unusually for a first top it is not over braced IMHO and your workmanship is very clean and neat. The thicknesses of the top, for not being able to test it, sound about right too.

Nice job!
Author:  Andy Matthews [ Tue Jul 29, 2008 1:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
Another [:Y:] from me! Brilliant job
Author:  Neil Gardiner [ Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
Hey Jeremy

Very nice indeed. And way clean. Wow. Great job.

I just finished my first about 2 months ago so I am no expert, but, for what it's worth, here's what I followed. I think I read somewhere where Tim McKnight was describing about tapping the top as you carve. You tap the top before you put on braces, then remember that ringing sound and try to get that when you carve the braces. Seemed like good advice that I could follow so that's what I did and it worked out pretty well. I also got some great input on my bracing from the good people on this forumn.

Look forward to seeing the whole guitar. You have a lot of fun stuff ahead.

Top is Adirondack? What about the sides and the rest?

Neil
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
Thanks guys. Yes it's an Adi top. I like the looks of this top, it has the dark lines and wide spacing without looking weird like some adi does. There are some glue and pencil lines I couldn't get off but I can live with that.
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Tue Jul 29, 2008 2:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
neogardguitar wrote:

Top is Adirondack? What about the sides and the rest?



Neil, the back and sides are mahogany along with the neck. The fretboard and bridge are ebony. It's intended for flatpicking and the looks of the guitar will match the traditional sound I'm after.
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
Oh I forgot one of the main reasons I posted this. Once I started on the new top laying out the bracing pattern I just happened to notice the bridge was a different size than the one on the plans plus I was using a normal size bridge plate(Antes plans) so I did some measuring and found out that if I hadn't destroyed that other top the bridge would have just missed the bridge plate on the front side! I would have never known it. So I guess it was a blessing in disguise.
Author:  Michael Dale Payne [ Wed Jul 30, 2008 11:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
One critical remark for good measure! :D The UT brace's slope is tapered then flattened out. This creates a stress riser (a point where the stress from the loading of the brace will be focused. the most likely point of fatigue failure).

A continuous arc or taper will eliminate this stress riser.

Attachment:
tapper.png
Author:  jhowell [ Wed Jul 30, 2008 4:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
Jeremy--

Nice job of the bracing. [:Y:] That top is going to be killer under the finish. I really do like the look of a little character in an adi top. Should be a killer sounding guitar also from the sounds of the specs.
Author:  Steve Saville [ Wed Jul 30, 2008 5:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
Is that a maple bridge plate?
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
Michaell I wondered about that. So do those who taper their braces make them so that the taper extends all the way through the lining? Is it ok to leave it as is? I guess I could still scoop it but would rather not.

Steve the bridge plate is indeed maple.
Author:  Hesh [ Wed Jul 30, 2008 8:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
I'm not Michael and he is way better looking than I am but I wanted to say that I think that you are OK as is. The pockets that are made in the kerfed linings are one depth, I use .100 but there are many other measurements that would work fine, are a single depth so the brace ends are a uniform thickness where they tuck.
Author:  Jeremy Douglas [ Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: I finished my first top!
Thanks Hesh. Btw, that guitar in your profile pic is amazing. It's hard not to look at it when it's on the screen.
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