MD lining install

The year 2012 is almost ending. I have an update for one of the MD model. I finished solid lining install including for a beveled armrest. This guitar is my 3rd projects that requires the beveled armrest install. I am quite comfortable for installation of the armrest. This time, I will use a Cocobolo veneer for the beveled armrest. I also will use Madagascar rosewood as binding material. This MD has black wood side and backs. Slightly lighter color of binding matched with Cocobolo beveled armrest will create a nice color contrast.
Thank you for watching my blog in the year 2012. I will continuously update my progress in the coming year 2013. I hope all of followers in this blog have a happy new year of 2013.

MD assemble

While I am waiting for Yellow ceder side laminate materials come. Blocks making, and side assemble are done for one of the MD models. Neck block and the bottom block are made from Cedro. Neck block has three piece configuration. Cedro is the best material for me. This material is lighter than Honduran mahogany. Ceder has very nice tap tone with a lot of over tones. However, this material is also getting herder to obtain. In fact, this material is not able to export from the US without authorized documentation. Now, sides are assembled as shown in photos. Next step is making solid linings, and then I will install linings.

side laminate

This week, I finished side  bend and laminate process for one of the MD models. I used Cocobolo for the laminating material. African black wood for outer material is approximately 1.8mm and the Cocobolo is approximately 1.5mm, and the total thickness for the sides is 3.3mm. This is a very thick sides compared with conventional solid side design. Laminated sides create a very solid construction that maximizes top vibration efficiency to create more power and better overtone generation. As a result, the guitar creates very clear tone and long sustain. Cocobolo laminate material is also very beautiful. This sides could be reversible because it is so beautiful. However, it is impossible to make a reversible sides.

Back bracing

I did back bracing work. I have been using Spanish ceder (Cedro) for my back bracing material. Cedro has very light weight, strong, stable, and very resonant properties. This material is also has very nice aromatic scent. So, using Cedro is a really joy to work. I put 12' doing curve for the bracing material first, and then shape the brace for the best weight versus strength ratio. I install bracing to the back using the vacuum clumping technique on the 12' dish. Completed back has very light weight with the best stability.

side and back making

I did thickness sanding for back and sides. To obtain approximately 2mm thickness from 5mm material requires a lot of works. Drum sander is a standard tool to obtain desired thickness. However, it takes long hours and many sanding papers that I have to change. African black wood has a lot of resin, and it makes an over heating issue for the sandpaper, because the melted resin fills sandpaper quite quickly. To minimize drum sander sessions, I channeled back and sides with a laminate trimmer, then planed with a block plane. In this session, I am able to obtain approximately 2.5mm thickness fairly quickly.
I also installed five horizontal narrow wood patches in the back. These patches prevent back clacking issues that might happen in the near future due to the invisible internal clacking. Also, these patches support the four pies back structure. My black wood backs are made by four pies jointed materials. Black wood materials purchased from Hibdon hardwood have excellent quality. Back and side materials are super stable. I am very happy with the material quality.