Official Luthiers Forum!

no hesh... thank you. often times people write WOW! or something similar in response to a post, but i literally found myself saying WOW! as i was reading along. so ... WOW! that was an excellent tutorial and definitely some killer koa. keep up the good work and keep the instructionals coming too, as they are much appreciated. did you mention the specs on this guitfiddle?

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sweat the small stuff.

Nice tutorial, Hesh! I like these a lot. I can build vicariously while I'm still at work.

I do mine much like yours, except with a homebuilt bender. The last set I bent, I clamped the tail down, which left the sides sticking straight up, bent the lower bout, then most of the waist, upper bout, then final waist. If you're curious, it's here on my little site. I couldn't maintain the waist location very well clamping the waist first, so I tried this. Seems to work fine. Not sure where I first saw this, maybe in an American Lutherie. Another tool in the bag.

Thanks for the post and great pics!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

hesh, not only are you the man, but youre just so cool.

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sweat the small stuff.

Very nicely done Hesh!

I have really been enjoying all of the tutorials that you've put together recently.

Thank you for taking the time to do so.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Thanks Hesh! Very generous of you to take the time to share like this - and very thoughtful in the way you provide the little details that help the beginners understand not ony the what but the why.

Kudos to ya!

Hesh,

Thanks for once again sharing your process with an excellent description with pictures.

I essentially use your process, but I do two things slightly differently. First, I clamp the feet of the bender to the bench, so that it can't move when I'm pulling on the cauls. I use one hand to pull on the caul, and the other (gloved), to smooth the sandwich down around the form. Second, I bought my bender from John Hall, and he included a digital thermometer in the kit. I insert it between the wood and the upper caul when I have the blanket on. I just thought-I do one other thing differently. I put the heat blanket on top of the steel/paper wrapped wood/steel sandwich. I've thought about trying other positions in the stack, but John recommended doing it that way, and it's worked well for me so far.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Hesh -

As an absolute newbie, I have got to say thanks for the tutorials! You have managed to demonstrate clearly what other instructive material has left me even more confused about...

This is a good and timely thing, as I just last night ordered a very cool mahogany B&S set - This will be the first non-kit build for me and as you say, bending them $side$ is scary to me! Now I'm a little more confident. 

Thanks for sharing!

Tom

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Tom Barton

Hesh -

Or anybody else..this is how green I am! I gotta ask..

Where did the term "zoot" come from?

Apologies in advance!

Tom

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Tom Barton

Hesh -

Thanks for the reply.  I should have thought of zoot suits - very cool.

BTW, the B&S set is from the very same Bob at RC Tonewoods - looks like I'm in the right place!

Regards,

Tom

 

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Tom Barton

That was great! It's going to look even better with French Polish.    I'm
kinda new at this but I thought the top braces go on the side without the
rosette. It's going to look really nice. Love the neck. Thanks!

Hesh, I have to tell you...man, thanks greatly for all the tons of time it takes to do these kinds of tutorials. I've bent quite a few sides already, but this is unbelieveably helpful for those just starting out. It demystifies the process, and that's a very, very good thing.

You are to be commended, really. This is good work, and exceptionally generous. Your stock just continues to rise.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Hesh,
   Great words of wisdom. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

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Brad
Avon, OH

Hesh,
Maybe its not my place to say because I am new to the forum and everything... but you're kind of killing the experience for me.

I mean how am I ever going to have any grizzly stories about cracked sides or freakish rosettes or even top and back plates that don't end up being as "joined" as I thought they were...

You really know how to suck the fun out of learning. I might even get things right the first time.... and that's just plain ridiculous.

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

I'm really hoping that you caught all that as sarcasm my friend... I can't even say how obliged I am for all the wonderful tutorials you've been posting. Thank you!!! 

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

Well Done to the Heshter   

Always posting exactly the kind of material that a great guitar building forum needs to remain useful to new and old players alike. Best of all, Hesh always manages to explain things in a away that covers all the bases.

This clearly shows how well our man Hesh remembers just what it was like for him when he was first starting out. He remembers that it is the little things in the detail of a process that are normally not covered by others that can most confound or cloud the issue for newbies leaving them to procrastinate for yet another day.

Bravo to you Hesh cause you is one of the good guys, and to my mind, your recent post clearly mark you as BOG here at the OLF

Cheers

Kim

Hesh, no matter how sides someone has bent it's always helpful to see another person's approach. I think there are a few nuggets in your tutorial that I will adopt. I must say my friend that the quality of the pictures and clear explanations that go with your tutorials would qualify you to write a great book.

A question if I may, why do you put the blanket on top of the wood?

Lastly, seeing that side spritzed really pops the figure on that Koa....that's going to be another gorgeous Heshtone.

Hesh,

I'm sorry but I don't believe a word of it.  There has yet to be even a bit of dust show up in any of your photos let alone a whole pile of mess like I see in my, I mean my friend's shop.  How can anyone do any actual work in such conditions?!?!

Kudos to whomever it is that brings these fine examples of craftsmanship into your "work"  area. 

Really great tutorial HESH.  You are the Master Tooter (edit) Tutor.  We all learn and gain confidence with tutorials like this.  Sometimes, its hard to get work done because I don't want to miss anything new on the forum.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] Thanks Kim and Anthony!

Kim what is "BOG"

[/QUOTE]

BOG stands for Best On Ground Hesh, it is a term we use in AU. The honour is usually awarded to the guy with the prettiest face and bloodiest knuckles at the end of a game of Aussie Rules Football

Cheers

Kim