Official Luthiers Forum!

 

It’s been a busy summer as I’m sure any of you with grade school aged kids on summer vacation can relate to so I haven’t been on the forum much.  But I did get a chance to make some headway on no. 2 over the last couple of weeks.  It’s an SJ sized guitar for my oldest daughter.  I’m sure it will be a year or two before anything challenges her iPod for her daily attention so she’ll have some time to grow into it.

 

Claro Walnut B&S

Cedar top

Cocobolo end graft and bindings

 

Question - This is my first time working with a cedar top.  Assuming it’s reasonably stiff, is it common to thin the edges a bit at the lower bout like many do with stiff spruce tops?

 

 

 

 

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Doug Mills
Chicago, Illinois

The way to treat cedar is how you would treat spruce, yes. Flex the top when thicknessing and check it's as flexible as you'd like. You'll find when you get it to the right point chances are it'll be thicker than a spruce top, as the wood's not quite as strong.
Shaving round the lower bout's also a great idea, I do it on every instrument.

Love that rosette by the way!

Very Nice!  I also like the rosette.

Glenn

Just be careful when you're sanding around the edges... Cedar sands away LOTS faster you you are used to.
Ditto on the rosette... Looks like a solar eclipse. Gorgeous!

That looks great to me.  I see solar prominences in the rosette.  Really nice work. 

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I have to say that is one of the most interesting rosettes ever. Congrats on that.

Your claro walnut is really fine too.

This is going to be a great guitar.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Outstanding rosette!

You have recieved excellent advice on the cedar top. Be careful and dont sand thru that rosette though!  Man I like that!!  Nice job on the end wedge too! very clean joint!

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Reguards,

Ken H

Very pretty wood combination. It is going to make a great guitar.

When thinning Cedar, be aware that the dropoff in stiffness is mcuh faster than spruce as it is thinned. Easy does it and keep flexing as you go but in general cedar is kept thicker overall than a corresponding spruce top would be.

I don't have any advice Doug but I think your daughter is going to treasure that instrument. Outstanding job with the rosette. I was streached to the limit just doing a plain ol herringbone

Regards

Craig.

 

Good hearing from you again, Doug! Nice to have you back.

I love that rosette...details please

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Nice rosette, what kind of wood is the rosette? That guitar is going to be a beeute.

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