More progress on the SSJ model

I made more progress on the SSJ model. I finished tail inlay work and binding work. Binding material is Ebony. Jumbo body's narrow wast helps me to make rope clump pretty well. I really like the narrow wast for easy roping work. I just need a little bit more binding work for the cut-a-way portion. Then, two ongoing guitar making projects go to the neck construction. Laminated neck blanks are already stabilized after three-weeks of the clumping work, and ready for the neck shaping.

SSJ purfling install

I finished the purfling install for the small-small-jumbo (SSJ) model. This guitar has a matched Maple-Brazilian-Maple-Black(died) Maple purfling to the Rosetta design. Rosetta was also made from a book matched Brazilian RW. All Brazilian materials came from a bed flame owned by this guitar owner's grand mother. Brazilian materials are almost 100-years old.SSJ has narrow wast, and bending the purfling material for the narrow wast is a little bit difficult. Bending process using the heat iron creates material shrink if add too much pressure with excess heat. So, a gentle bending process is required for the purfling material. In this guitar, the purfling material was able to install almost perfectly.

Bevel is done

Finally, I installed an Ebony piece into the beveled armrest. Now, the body is almost completed. Macasser ebony was cut, bent , and installed on the bevel. Color matches very good for all binding materials those are African Ebony. Maccasser ebony is slightly light in color. However, light striped makes a nice accent for the beveled armrest.  I picked the most darker color portion from my stock.
Next step is the oval hole making. I will make five oval holes on the beveled armrest.

Binding Install part-2

I am still working on the binding install. Tricky part is for a cut-a-way portion. Cut-a-way has small curve. It is quite challenging to install the Black-White wood trim, because curving this material for horizontal direction is almost impossible. My solution is using a laminate by my self, and cut it for the curved cut-a-way shape. I finished all of the black-white border trim installation including precise mitering. I also finished all of the Ebony binding work except the beveled armrest. Tomorrow, I will install the beveled armrest using Ebony material.

Binding install

I did Bindings install. MD model has a beveled armrest, and the binding install is quite tricky work. First picture is for a binding channel for the beveled armrest portion.Second picture is a channel for the tail bindimg. This one has a matched design for the back center strip. I also have been working on bindings installations. I have been using a traditional rope based clumping technique. This technique enables to install bindings quite tightly. I also am working on purfling install. Purfling needs a detailed mitering. Those very detailed work needs very sharp knives and chisels. My small chisels and knifes have Japanese made hybrid metal blade. Those knives are made from Japanese iron called "Tamahagane". Tamahagane has been fabricated from a Japanese traditional iron foundry in Shimane prefecture. These special chisels and knives have super sharp blades with exceptionally long lusting period for next blade sharpening. If you want to use those knives and chisels, you may purchase from "Katoriya". Katoriya is a Japanese knife store in Tokyo.

Purfling install

This week, I did purfling install for the MD model. Purfling is my own design using White (Maple)-Walnut-White-Black (died maple) layout. First step is cutting border for purfling channel. German spruce creates tipping very easily from a high speed routing tool. To create very clean border between the purfling and the body, I always hand cut the borders. Then, using a Dremel, I cut the purfling channel. Dremel cutting accuracy is not good enough for me, I always cut the channel slightly smaller than the cutting border. So, I need a hand cut using a very sharp chisel to complete the purfling channel. Now, it ready for installing the purfling. Purfling channels are super clean, and have super clean border. Last two photos are completed body for purfling work. I really like very detailed work .

Brazilian twins

Now, I have Brazilian twins on going project. MD model completed the beveled armrest making. The bevel continues all the way to the waist. This extended area will have five sound ports.

Left side of the body is a Taku's SSJ (small-small jumbo) model. Small-jumbo is unusual name for me. This name might came from Gibson's jumbo body. SSJ body style is a mini version of the jumbo body. Body total volume is about the same for both models; however, tap-tone is completely different. Narrow waist shape constrains the top movement and resonance modes. This shape makes more fundamental tone dominated sound. I also did not add the top thickness graduation for the SSJ mode, because this guitar will be a 12-strings model. The top needs a little bit more stronger mechanical stability against 12-strings load.

Both bodies have premium grade of Brazilian rose wood, and are equally beautiful for me. I am quite excited to make those special guitars.

These photos are for a completed top for the SSJ model. This top is made from a German spruce with full of bare craw. This material is also came from Taku's remaining project.

Taku Sakashita 12-strings making

This is my volunteer work for Taku Sakashita's left over. Back and sides are already assembled by Taku Sakashita before he passed a way. I will complete the top and neck and assemble them. This
is a second series of using a 100-year old premium grade Brazilian rosewood. This guitar will be a younger sister of my previously finished Brazilian RW based nylon model.

Today, I re-saw the Brazilian blank to get head plate veneer, bridge and Rosetta veneer. The premium grade Brazilian RW will be used all of details for this guitar such as Rosetta, head plate veneer, finger board, bridge, and pufling decoration. This guitar will be a special one.

Myrtle Complete

I completed the Myrtle version for final assembly. I did fret wire leveling and polishing. I applied Oil finish over the finger board.Then, I assembled the neck and the body, and glued the bridge. I have been using the vacuum clumping system. The Kasha bridge needs to use a pressure aiding attachment to obtain a perfect assemble, because the Kasha bridge has super thin edges. Once I apply the glue over the bridge bottom, the bridge wings will be bended due to the glue moisture. I have been using the vacuum clumping with the attachment. This technique enables to perfectly accomplish very tricky Kasha bridge assembly.