Welcome to my Archtop Guitar Project Blog

The Archtop, or "Jazz Box", is a unique style of guitar. It has a complex design, and a sound that one might say can only come from such a design. Having never built a guitar of any kind before (unless you consider a ukulele to be a guitar) I have decided to jump right in up to the neck and start with the archtop. When I tell this to people, the normal response is something like, "have you ever built a guitar before?" or "so, you have a pretty good idea how to do this, right?". My usual reply is, "nope". I do, however, make a point to assure them that I have built many kinds of things, using many different materials, and I consider all constructions to have a logical and understandable process.

So, if you're interested in "newbe" projects like this, then grab a fresh cup of coffee or tea and follow along. The earliest post shows the design I'm going for.

**UPDATE TO INTRODUCTORY TEXT** You will see as the posts progress from earliest to newest that a few modifications and compromises have been made. As with all learning experiences, this project has allowed me to work out any problems with a design that have not been foreseen on paper. I also welcome any input from readers/followers who have some experience in either building or playing guitars that will point out potential problems.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Sound Holes Written in .... Spruce.

I often say to myself, "it ain't gonna get done just by me lookin' at it all day", so I went ahead and decided I was happy with the position of the sound holes and cut 'em out.

After carefully and gently clamping the top down, I started by drilling a few pilot holes, and then I used a small keyhole saw to cut them. No high-tech stuff here, just old-fashioned hand/eye coordination. I used a template to make sure the holes were symmetrically placed, that's about as technical as I got. I used an x-acto blade to refine the cut, and sanded them smooth. They just need a little more cleaning up and they'll be good to go. Since I'm going for the look of an old radio design I have decided not to put binding on the inside edges of the holes.

Voila, I now have enough room at the back end to place the buttons - no more pesky stuff in the way of strumming problem.
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 16, 2011 at 8:58 AM

    Excellent solution. Getting anxious to see the finished product.

    ReplyDelete
  2. GypsyboyOctober 16, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    So am I. But my fear of ruining by going too fast outweighs my impatience.

    ReplyDelete

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