Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm building a laminated archtop. It's my first build. Yes, I know it may not
be the best choice for a first timer but archtop's are the only guitar I like to
play these days and I'm gonna take this super slow.

That being said, I've been reading over the Benedetto book. It's pretty good
but he breezes through things a bit too quickly. For instance, I'm hung up on
how to carve the bracing to fit the curve of the top. Benedetto simply says to
place the braces on the top and scribe a line using a compass, then make a
rough cut where you scribed.

Are there better ways than using a compass? I feel this leaves a lot to be
desired.

Jack-
A compass works OK for this job. That said, I've never found a compass particularly easy to use for this sort of thing- I generally just use a pencil and a small block of (scrap) wood for scribing. Once I 'get in the neighborhood', I just use a pencil stub and run it along the surface. Then it's on to carbon paper, sandpaper, etc to get the fit to the final stages.
Keep in mind that the two sides of the brace will not be the same, so you should scribe both faces while holding the brace stock 'vertical'.

BTW, I don't think a laminated plate archtop will be any harder to build than other types of acoustics, so there's nothing wrong with your project choice.

Cheers
John

Jack-
The Benedetto DVDs 'fill in' some of the gaps in the book, so might be a useful request from Santa, if you don't have them already.

John

Hi John,
Thanks a bunch. I've had my eye on those DVD's. Maybe I'll ask Santa. :)

Another trick is to find a bigish washer and stick the pencil in the hole so it is snug but not tight and roll the line onto the brace stock.

The fine fitting is tricky so take it slow. I use chalk instead of carbon paper, but the result is the same. Mark your fit, cut down high spots, repeat until the contact is 100%.

Louis

_________________
- Louis Freilicher

Oh No! Not another learning experience!

Jack,

On Frank Ford's frets.com there is this method that Tom Ribbecke uses.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I use this method and it works really well.

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Don Sharp
Got Brazilian?
http://www.sharpguitars.com

Same here.

I also use a version of the Ribbecke method. Once you have the jig made, it is fast and very accurate.

Mark

I chalk fit my braces.
I used to use carbon paper,but find the chalk to be superior.
I have a friend who makes double basses who taught me this method-works great.
Brad

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys. I'm thinking of trying the chalk
method.

I've looked at the pictures on Frank Ford's site and couldn't make heads or tails out of the Ribeckke jig he shows pics of. Any chance one of you gentlemen could post pictures of your version?

I'd be much obliged.

There was a GAL issue that I need to search for that showed a jig for this purpose as well. If I find the issue number I will be sure to post it.

Cheers all!

Anthony, the Ribbecke jig is basically fixed position end clamps, adjustable for brace stock thickness (so you've captured the stock in yaw & bank) , & (spring-loaded) downward pressure between the stock and the plate. Slip sandpaper between & off you go.

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Dave
Milton, ON