SSJ body complete

Finally, the SSJ body making is completed except final sanding session. I assembled all bindings including tricky beveled armrest and cut-a-way sections. You may be able to see a tricky rope clumping technique for the cut-a-way portion. I have a creative way of clumping a tricky shape. Wood binding installation is always challenging and need a lot of patience. 

Binding installing

I installed a binding for the beveled armrest portion using Ebony material. All three bodies are done. Then, I cur a binding channel for the armrest portion. This is a very time consuming process, because I am not able to use a routing fixture. So, channel cutting is free hand. I put a cutting pattern using a flexible tape as you can see in photo 3. Then, using a Dremel, very carefully, cut by hand. This is a very risky and sensitive work, Binding channel for the bottom portion is a straight forward work. I also need to cut binding channel for cut-a-way portion.

Purfling work is done

I finished purfling work for all three bodies. Three of them have Macaser Ebony beveled armrest, Three of them also have Maple-Brazilian RW-Maple-black (dyed maple) purfling. Next step is installing Ebony binding for both top and back. Then, the body making is done. Body making is already pretty much done at this moment.

Purfling install

     I installed purfling and a veneer for the beveled armrest. This time, I reversed a step for the veneer install. I have been installing the veneer as the very last step, However, a surface sanding for the beveled portion is somewhat challenging. So, I tested a different steps for beveled armrest making. So far, it looks good. If this technique works good. I will use this making steps for rest of two bodies.
     A biggest challenge for the purfling installation is for the beveled armrest portion. In this portion, the purfling needs steep curving. I use a heat bending technique for re-shaping the purfling. Steep curving needs an extra care to make successful shaping without damaging materials.
Next week, I will have a vacation in Maui. I will not post my progress for two weeks.

Neck blanks making

     Three neck blanks are made from well seasoned and aged Cuban Cedro logs. I have been using 8ft long and 5"x1" logs for my neck construction. After purchase long logs, I store those material approximately three years in my garage. When a guitar making start, I cut the log into decent size for neck laminate, and than I roughly surfaces it. Then, rough surfaced materials are stored in my work shop. Finally, the row neck material re-surfaces using a #7 hand jointer. Then, cut for the neck profile, and glue for three piece laminated neck. Beauty of the laminated neck is stability. Also, neck does not have the heal joint.
     In this industry, one piece neck is the best choice as commonsense; however, the large and thick Mahogany log (4"x4") is very heard to reduce moisture level using natural aging process. Basically, Kline is required for stabilizing the one piece log. For me, it too expensive to use forced aging process for my guitar construction. Therefore, I have been using the laminate neck construction.

Three sisters

This week, I closed a box for the King wood version on MD model. Now, three sisters are ready for binding works. King wood version has been using slave cut materials. It looks pretty wild guitar.
Next week, I will work for the neck making project for those three bodies.

Closed box for SSJ

A body for the SSJ model was closed. This body also shows approximately 1-second of tapping sound decay time. This is what I want to get. This guitar design is almost perfect at this moment. Now, I have two closed bodies for MD and SSJ. Both bodies show approximately 1-second of tapping sound decay time. Next week, I will close the other MD body made out of King wood.