Neck Joint (2)

I finished neck joint fitting for all SSJ, MD, and Nylon models. Neck fitting requires three dimensional alignment for action and neck angle to the body. Also, neck heel at the joint must be seamlessly fitted to the body. After I introduced a neck and body mortise cutting fixture, fitting work is so much easier.

I also checked the fitting for the guitar case for MD model, and it looks good. MD model is able to accommodate into the D-size guitar case. SSJ model requires Gibson J-185 guitar case. This is a very hard to find case. However, SSJ is able to fit the Gibson ES-175 case too. ES-175 has a 16" body, and thickness of the guitar case matches the SSJ model.

After assembled the neck and fingerboard, I measured the total weight. SSJ model is 1800-grams. MD model is 2200-grams. Those weights do not include the truss rod. Truss rod weight might be 200-grams. Nylon model's weigh is 1400-grams. Nylon model will not install the truss rod. Nylon and SSJ models were built for light weight using lattice bracing for back. I was able to obtain very light weight guitars. This is very exciting for me to see the sound difference from the reduced weight.

Next week, I will shape the neck. Then, the guitar construction work is pretty much done.

Neck Joint

I did neck and body mortise making for the neck joint. I did for SSJ, MD, and Nylon models. I have been using mortise joint from previous guitar making lot. All joint methods such as bolt on joint, dovetail joint, and mortise joint have advantage and disadvantage. I tested all three methods. My vest choice is the mortise joint at this moment. Mortise joint is able to fit very well with shortest working time. Also mortise joint has lightest weight. Mortise joint is able to install carbon fiber rods all the way from nut to sound hole. This neck to body through carbon fiber rods reinforcement makes super stable guitar construction. Therefore, the mortise neck joint with carbon-fiber reinforcement method realizes almost neck reset free guitar.

MD binding assembly

This MD making project was on hold for a while. This project is resumed now. This guitar is for my friend Ricky who is a professional guitarist in Taiwan. This guitar has Carpatian top and King wood back and sides. I completed Ebony binding work except cut-a-way portion. I will do those small portion during this week. Body making will be completed by end of this week.

Finger board making

     I made three fingerboards. Two 25.34" (643.6mm) and one 650mm fingerboards are slotted. Two fingerboards (643.6mm and 650mm) for steel strings models are made by African Black wood. For me, African black wood is the best material for fingerboard. This material is very dense, pore less, and super hard. Much more herder than Ebony. Recent years, Ebony quality is consistently worsening. West African ebony which is the best finger board material is no longer available with reasonable cost. Gabon Ebony is very soft, and it almost like a Balsa wood for me. Only negative part of ABW is workability. This material is simply too heard to work. However, once complete as a finger board, it makes super comfortable neck.
     For the nylon model, I will use Brazilian rosewood with short scale (643.6mm). This nylon model showed super responsible top vibration; therefore, I selected a short scale to balance out buss tone. I also wanted to makes a super comfortable neck for nylon strings guitars using the short scale neck. Finger boar width is 48mm at the nut and 60mm at the 12-th fret. This slim neck width with short scale are able to realize very good play ability for Jazz and contemporary musicians.
     I also finished body sanding for both Nylon and SSJ models. Next week, I will joint the neck to the body.

Body making complete

SSJ body making is completed. SSJ body has the completed beveled armrest. This armrest is made by 1.5mm Maccaser Ebony. For the beveled armrest, other makers usually use a very thin (0.6mm) veneer for easy bending and gluing. However, the armrest portion is part of a binding. Binding has two functions. One is for protecting the guitar edge, the other is for tightening the guitar edge as the rim of a drum. Therefore, I have been using fairly thick veneer material (1.5mm), even thought the bending and gluing processes are very difficult. After install the thick beveled armrest, the body showed substantially long tap torn. This is a very good sign for creating nice sound from this body construction.

Binding install

I have been working on the binding install for both nylon and SSJ model. Nylon model was completed the binding install. SSJ needs to install bindings at beveled armrest and cut-a-way portions. So, the body making is pretty much done. I selected highly flamed Hawaiian Koa binding for the nylon model. Hawaiian koa is a non traditional material for Classical guitars (nylon). However, this nylon model is designed for mostly Jazz and contemporary musicians. I selected a non traditional binding material. I also selected Madagascar rose wood for SSJ model. I have been using Ebony for my steel strings models; however, Ebony is quite brittle, and I usually loose 30% of binding materials. To avoid loosing binding materials, I switched to Mad RW. Mad RW is so much easier to bend. I never broken the binding material during the bending process. Hawaiian Koa is a wonderful material for bending process. However, I am not able to use the scraper for the leveling process after the installation. I have to use sanding paper for the leveling. This is a time consuming process. So, each material has advantage and disadvantage.

Purfling for Body

Now, the project is moving to details for body making. I finished purfling install. I also completed rough neck making including truss rod channels and head shape.So, I put together to show completed guitar shapes for both SSJ and Nylon models. Both bodies have finished all channel making for binding also. Binging installing at the cut-a-way portion is also completed. After install the binding, body making is over.