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I thought some of you might be interested in seeing a couple pics of the two molds I just finished. These are for an instrument I'm designing that will exist somewhere in the realm between guitars, mandos, ukes, and bouzoukis. 4 double courses (unisons) tuned GCEA, like the top four strings of a guitar with a capo on the 5th fret. It's going to have an elevated fretboard with a "negative" neck angle and an adjustable neck. The body is 12" wide by about 15" long.

I'm planning to build two at the same time (one for my wife's 50th birthday, and one for sale). As I was thinking about making two molds, an idea occurred to me. Thinking ahead to clamping the neck block, tail block, and sections of side lamination (partly because I plan to put in a rather large side sound port), I thought it would be great if I could put the body in a mold that is at least the full height of the sides. That way, the mold makes a perfect full height outer clamping caul. So, I made two molds and used some aluminum rod I had to pin the two molds together in perfect alignment for those clamping steps. If I haven't explained that clearly, let me know and I'll try again. Here's the pics:

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

That is just brilliant Todd, i can't wait to see that work under progress, it'll be very interesting to follow you on this, is it possible to ask how much you will ask for the second one?

Love your bench too, is it a downdraft table i see there for when you do sanding? i thought i'd do the same on my bench in the future and connect it to my shop vac. Very clever!

It's great to see the actual "shape" of the new design. I've carried the mental image for some time now. Very pleasant and soothing lines.....

Thanks, guys.

Serge, I really don't know yet what the price will be. The way I'm looking at it, it'll be an instrument I exhibit and also play myself at gigs and gatherings, and if somebody wants it, I'll name a price - I'll have a rough price in mind by that point, and adjust it based on the instrument's condition and other factors. Even better, as I see it, would be if it generates orders, but if someone really wants THAT ONE, I won't argue, I'll just make another to replace it.

What you see in the photo is a section of a large, beat-up old workbench I got for free - that section of the bench I converted into a downdraft table. It is ducted to my dust collector and it works quite well. I actually use it most often with a perforated rubber "anti-slip mat" laid on top, and it still works well.

I'm pretty serious about dust control. I'm only 42. I'd like to get at least another 50 years of good use out of these lungs I've been given.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Thanks for explaining Todd and great idea to protect our lungs for many more years, i'll get mine started soon! Can't wait to see what comes out of them molds for sure!

Thanks bud!Serge Poirier38871.8223958333