Official Luthiers Forum!

I just received a great new mold from John at Blues Creek, but this isn't just an ordinary mold. Check out the picture below:



At first glance it looks like any other mold, but see if this next picture helps you spot the modification:



Yes, that's right, finally a mold that will accomodate classical guitar construction with a spanish heel. This mold is straight from Robbie O'Brien's dvd and is a great improvement over the solera listed in the Cumpiano book. There are a ton of great ideas on Robbie's dvd's, and John Hall was able to modify one of his molds to accomodate. As you can tell, I'm pretty excited about this new mold. I've been jealous of the great molds all you steel string builders have always had. Here's another pic from the back:



As you can see there's plenty of room for a spanish heel, and the best part is it will make assembly of the sides/top/back much easier and more consistent. Time to go try it out.

Cheers!

John

John,

Cool! I think that is great. Is it sized for a Hauser body classical? I love using a mold, otherwise I get less than acceptable results.

Good Job John, John, and Robbie!

Jeff

irving sloanes rather old book on classical buiding covered making a mold which allowed for the spanish heel, but didn't featur destaco clamps

Very clever, there is so much creativity here, kudos to Robbie and John and to you as well for buying it!

Thanks for the plug and I am glad you are happy. This is a hauser design.Have fun building and keep us posted on your progress.
john hall

Nice mould John, if it's made by John Hall it will be great quality. I wish I could find those clamps over here.

As a steel string builder moving on to classical building I wondered how I would manage without my mould when using a Spanish heel. So, I built this solera/mould the neck block of the mould is removeable for the neck and the mould can be raised and lowered to allow for the soundboard overhang, until it is flush trimmed. I will also use the mould off of the solera with the neck block fitted as I like this body shape (Torres FE19) and intend using it as a little 12 fret steel string mould.



Colin

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

Speaking of Sloane's book -- a classic, btw (pun) -- I made a mold based on his design shortly after I began building. More recently I made a couple of modifications to it.



Originally, I had the sides permanently mounted to the base. I wanted to be able to remove the sides, so I could insert an untrimmed back or top in the mold. So I drilled four holes in the sides and mounted four aluminum rods in the base. I also cut two small angles in the sides where the removeable block is so that a 10-string would fit.

Despite all the work, I seldom use it for more than storing bent sides. I find that I usually need the flexibility of a solera, especially when it comes to getting a tight fit-up between the neck heel and the sides, which can be a chore with a 10-string classical.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Hi Colin

This place carry a vast array of Toggle Clamps

Good Hand

I can send them if you want. Maybe get a group buy. The company that made my original clamps went out of that business but the new clamps are better as they are as string just s bit smaller. They do cost a bit more but they are handy items in the shop
john hall

John,

Thanks for the compliments of my DVD's. I am glad you are finding them useful. Good luck and Happy Building!