Official Luthiers Forum!

OK, I need advice from the classical guitar bulders, Joshua yes I've got yet another question!

I'm in the process of building a solera for my first classical guitar, Spanish heel the whole nine yards. Now I've got the solera cut out to profile and need some advice on whether to dish the solera for the soundboard arch or to use the Cumpiano style cork insert. I'm using an external mould, with the open head end for the neck, which will be bolted to the solera and able to be raised and lowered to allow for the soundboard overhang prior to trimming.

I've got the hard part done in that I have the neck made, and the rest of the wood selected, Mad Rose/Euro with Cedrela neck. And, I'm working on my rosette design, not as complex as John's or Joshua's superb designs, think early Torres.

Colin





Colin S38788.3402777778

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

Colin,

I have a solera that is a bit different than most. I don't use the solera like most Spanish builders in that they attach the top to the neck, then one side, then the other etc. Basically it is just a dished board that I use to glue up the top braces in. It is radiused below the soundhole and flat above it. This puts the radius in the top where I need it. I then build the guitar by attaching the sides to the neck in the traditional Spanish heel method. The guitar then goes in a mold or form and I continue building in the mold. I use the go bar deck to attach the top and back to the rims.
Some things to consider when making your solera are where and how much radius to have. You may also want to consider the neck angle you use, if any, in your construction method. You can build that into the solera if you like.
Good luck.

Robbie,

My design will be a combination of the traditional open solera and the SS type body mould. I'm OK on that side of things just undecided on whether to radius the solera or use a shim. The braces will be glued to the top and back in my usual dishes. No neck angle, this is a copy (loose) of FE19 so the neck is level and the angle built into the fingerboard.

Colin

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