Making an Acoustic Guitar 2

[skinzdyzinc]

lalalala screw u wmg

[superlurf]

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[classicalmannick101]

the soundboard bracing is huuuuuge!

[crokey64]

@classicalmannick101

Yeah, I've got to agree with you. First guitar. The sound of the guitar isn't too bad, though. Not as tight as one might expect from those braces.

[classicalmannick101]

@crokey64 well it is a steel string, i expect that makes a difference because of resonances of strings and tension etc etc. bracing like that on a classical would make for a very quiet and sharply toned guitar.

[mat876]

hi, sorry if this question has already been asked , but how did you bend and shape the sides of the guitar? i know factorys boil the wood for 30 seconds and heat press them into shape for a minute , but just wondering how to do it without expensive machinary, thanks .

[BlueMacGyver]

@mat876 I can tell you what i have done for that, if you don't mind. I put the wood in my bath tub and let it soak for 1hour with the hottest water the water heater could make. When the maple was done soaking I wraped a 2.5 inch pipe with a rag and cable ties, clamped it down, put water on rag, and put small torch inside pipe. The pipe heats up and you keep putting water on as it dries. The steam bends the wood as you press it on the pipe. I used one long piece for the sides- over 65 inches.

[DECIFERTHIS09]

@BlueMacGyver I did this then when I went to glue the sides to the guitar it would not stay without wanting to pop off im using a thin veneer like 1/8 it bent well but i did not bend it exact(its my first still doing trial and error)

how do you keep it in place. I thought about cutting the shape again out of plywood and gluing the sides to that maybe a couple little finishing nails. Thanks

[kd8ux]

Why the braces on the sides? don't think I have seen that before.

[crokey64]

Those are in order to prevent any crack in the sides from moving along the grain line around the guitar.

All steel strings have them - Martins and some others use linen instead of wood - less visible.

[sirgreggins8824]

@kd8ux its not needed. it adds rigidity and strenghtens then sides. The more stiff the back is the more the soundboard influences tone. Whereas vice versa, it allows the back and sides to vibrate more adding its unique tone to the overall tone of the guitar

[schacem]

beautiful! what kind of wood is that??

[crokey64]

Thank you! The back and sides are silver maple - which I probably wouldn't use again. Not hard enough. The top is Sitka Spruce - very traditional wood for guitar tops, and excellent for steel string guitars

[twoboots4you]

the buffalo nickel inlay is a great idea.

[crokey64]

thanks! Certainly easier than cutting my own shell!

[HarvesterBob]

I have a question. You had a picture of a piece of wood with sticks pointing upwards from it. Is that how u shape a guitar? (sorry for my english. Couldn't find the right words :p)

[crokey64]

No worries on the English - I understand your question. No, missing from this video is the process of bending the sides of the guitar, using a heated bending iron, and water. The sticks pointing up are a very crude attempt to keep the shape of the guitar, once in the mold. There are many better ways to do this, one of which is in my other posting. Thanks.

[HarvesterBob]

Ok. Thanks!

[gymhourfee]

I've been building for years.You have some good ideas! I learned somthing new.

Thats what guitar building is all about...being open to new ideas!

good stuff!

[crokey64]

Thanks very much!

The one advantage to learning by reading books and what I can find on the net - I frequently have to get a bit creative! Your videos have also taught me a ton!

[Belzanazza]

dude thats crazy. how long did it take u to make it? how did u learn how to make it?

nice work man

[crokey64]

Thanks! It took me about five months of evenings and free time on Saturdays, etc. But a lot of that time was building jigs, etc. Getting faster as I go. Great resources available on the web. If you want to try to build one, I recommend two books; William Cumpiano's is the bible, and a book by Jonathan Kinkead. If you really get into it, join the Guild of American Luthiers and Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans. Enjoy!

[und3rth3bridg3]

wow amazing wood work and awesome head stock inlay !!! keep up the great work and please post a vid of the finished sound box =) ! Neil Young.. cant touch em

[crokey64]

Thanks very much. I appreciate the kind comments. As for the finished product, I'm actually much happier with the other one (other video). Better sound, intonation. Take a look

[Papachulo57]

Great job on your first Crokey. I'm on my second build. First was East Indian rosewood and this one is now is mahogany. Thanks for sharing. Btw, I love Neil Young, good choice. I like to hang out on the Official Luthiers Forum. See ya there. ChuckH

[crokey64]

Thanks Chuck. I appreciate the kind comments.

[ianschmtt]

i love Neil Young.

[Jteppic]

A story. 280 years ago a man planted an oak seed in the ground. As generations passed and died the seed grew taller. The goverment sought to destory its beauty and it was cut down. One of the descendants Jack Edward Archer requested wood from the tree, from it he crafted a Guitar. That guitar is in the Lydiard house of Swindon England. Made from the finest English Oak.

[crokey64]

Thanks for sharing. Jack must not have built many guitars previously - oak is a bit notorious as an unsuitable tonewood.

[Jteppic]

I wouldnt know but i am proud to have him as my son.

[1peoplesun]

wow that bracing looks so heavy its usually quiet thin in comparison.

nice work.

[crokey64]

Thanks - they certainly were heavy prior to scalloping them - after that, not too heavy for a dreadnaught. But I certainly learned a lot about what to do and what not to do on this first guitar

[azzarough]

good song

[castthom]

Very nice mate id love to see the final thing. the head stock inlay is gorgeous bet it was a real bitch to cut though ??

treated myself to a tanglewood tw 1000b a while back love it to bits. have made a pretty nice electric to and when i go loughboragh uni this year am hoping to make an acoustic cant wait :)

[crokey64]

Thanks for your kind words - yes the inlay was a bit of a learning experience, although the nickel wasn't as hard as I feared it would be - the issue was fitting it to the mother of pearl - need more practice. Go for it on the acoustic - it's a load of fun

[47kez]

Wow, is this your work. Well done Cork but we all want to hear the result !! ...Downunder Chrisso.

[crokey64]

Chris - you old hiero!

You haven't heard me play - that would change your tune. Get over to the states and we'll play together

[mamagallon2000]

I remember my first... keep it up.. it only gets better from here... by the way, I have found that a luthier can never have too many clamps.. best of luck

[globule200]

Really nice job... And now how she sounds like ? Do you need tools which are used only for the construction of a guitar ? Or you also have to construct your tools sometimes ? I hope you'll answer me. Maybe you could answer me also on msn messenger ? Thx !!!

[crokey64]

Thanks! Yes, the first one took about three times as long as the second because of the need to build forms and buy tools. I recommend William Cumpiano's book (extraordinarily thorough - an incredible resource) as well as Jonathan Kinkead's book (the pictures are excellent)