Closong box and Neck making

Negro body was closed. Before closing the box, I added Graphite filament epoxy laminated patches at cross sections on the lattice brace. This makes the lattice brace more stable and strong with minimum weight increase. Before closing the box, I also applied three coats of shellac for the top and the back. After closing the box, I start making a neck. This is a three piece laminated Maple neck using the V-joint for the head joint. To make square slots for the tuning machines, I cut-out the slot first including the head itself. Then, I glue back to make the square slotted head. The head will be V-jointed to the neck. This maple neck material has pretty nice flames. I will use this neck for the Myrtle body.

Ready for closing box

I have done all assembly for the body parts. Sound board has lattice braces, and all fine tunings for braces are done. Back brace assembly is done. Body, linings, and shellac applying are done. So, all body parts are ready for final assembly.

Body assemble and solid lining install

I made a lot of progress for the Negro nylon model. I completed side assemble including block making. Then, I assembled solid linings for the sound board. Solid lining is made from Yellow ceder, Spanish ceder, and Yellow ceder sandwich. The cut-a-way portion has a true solid lining made from a scrap Mahogany block. So, the sound board side of the body has solid linings. This solid lining design makes crispier and focused sound. Traditional nylon strings guitars have been using tentellones that has an array of single pieced parts to make a large glue section for the sound board attachment. However, tentellons makes flexible support for the edges of the sound board. Softer support for the sound board looses the sound board vibration energy. So, it makes sense that the solid lining makes more crispier and focused sound than the traditional tentellons.

Center sound hole nylon

     I made a lot of progress for the center sound hole nylon model. I completed the Rosetta and sound hole opening. The sound hole has a Hawaiian Koa trim. This makes a little bit cosmetical accent for my design. Back board thinning and polishing were done. Back bracing material rough cut has been done. This back will have traditional ladder bracing using Spanish Ceder.
    Side material cut, thinning, bend, and lamination were done. Inner laminate material is Yellow ceder as my standard selection. Laminate has been done by Epoxy glue. Laminate process needs fairly large amount of Epoxy, because entire materials must be soaked with Epoxy completely to avoid any gaps and Epoxy voids. Neck and tail blocks are made by Spanish Ceder.
     Basic design of this guitar is quite similar to my offset sound-hole with cut-a-way nylon model. So, this guitar has a cut-a-way design. However, I will make a little bit more traditional taste for this built for visitors of the La Guitarra 2015. So, I will use darker color back and sides (Negro), ladder bracing back, and center sound hole.