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I am building a mahogany dreadnought and I am nearly ready to glue the top and bottom to the sides that are clamped in a body mold. The linings are notched for the braces, things seem to fit and I think I am ready. I plan on using cam clamps with cauls to clamp the top and bottom in place.

Which one should I glue on first, the top or the bottom, and why?

It seems to me if I glue the bottom on first, I could clean up more glue squeeze-out that could be seen once the instrument is finished.

If I glue the top on first, I should be able to make some of the critical alignments easier.

Recommendations?

Thanks!
Matt

I put the back on first for just the reason you state.
What critical alignments are you speaking of that would be easier without a back on the guitar? Center line and neck joint are really all you need to worry about. I cut the top so the neck joint end is flush with the sides and then the centerline is marked on everything. Pretty simple really.

What Paul said.

When you glue the top on, flip it over so that any excess glue will not run down the sides.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

I guess I have been aligning the top from the centerline on the inside. I currently have too much overhang to get an exact alignment from the outside, but I guess I could trim that.

Matt,
When I cut out the notches for the X braces and top brace it is lined up. I'm not sure if others rely on that alone, but is works for me. I'm thinking of terminating the braces just before the linings, so I'll need another method if I do that.SteveS38965.7959143519

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

If I recall correctly, Robby O’Brien suggests, in his DVD, doing the back first,
just in case doing so causes any shifting of the sides. I assume the sides
could then be re-contoured so the top fits perfectly without any odd
deflection that might otherwise be necessary if the sides have moved.

Or do I misunderstand?

Cameron Reddy

[QUOTE=SteveS] What Paul said.

When you glue the top on, flip it over so that any excess glue will not run down the sides.[/QUOTE]


Thanks Steve! DUH, why didn't i think of that?

Next time

I glue the back first too for clean-up purposes.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Back

Mike
White Oak, Texas

I always glue on the back first, for just the above reasons. But, I always dummy fit the top before gluing on the back, cuting the notches for the X and transverse brace into the linings before gluing on the back.

ColinColin S38966.2981018519

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

[QUOTE=Colin S] ... But, I always dummy fit the top before gluing on the back, cuting the notches for the X and transverse brace into the linings before gluing on the back.

Colin[/QUOTE]

Now folks, a virtous tip like that is the exact reason I love this forum so much. Another one for the 'now why didn't I think of that' category. (I won't mention that my forehead is still smarting from the slap I gave it) I'm hoping that it would have come to me eventually... However, I'm not so sure...

Superb tip Colin. You've just saved me a few head aches on the next! Thanks!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

I second that thought Alain and Colin, i gave myself a slap so hard that the wall gave me another Thanks for such a nice tip!

Thank you to all who responded. This forum is a great place to ask a simple question and get a quick answer.

By what appears to be a vote of 6 to 0, and two DUH's, putting the back on first wins. I was able to do that this past weekend and as soon as I get a chance, I will add a picture to this post to show the result.

Thanks to all for sharing your knowledge!

Matt

Yup, I glue the back first for cleanup purposes, and on this last one (#4), I fit and notched for the top before I glued the back, like Colin said. Hey Alain, it only took me four guitars to figure that one out!

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

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