OM Acoustic Build (Mark Bailey Course)

ArchtopDave · March 2016

Neck Joint. Tape stuck carefully right up against the edge of the Fretboard and Heel.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SchaFJIy2A0/VrfnJK_-MeI/AAAAAAAABkU/D8EQAdm0Tt8se1KEsFP_whFUioDVIq3MACCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0156.jpg

With the Neck removed, you can see there's finish (the darker strip) inside the taped area. This has to be gently removed with a chisel before the Neck can be glued into place.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Lj7O_QDvnes/VrfnK_H9DAI/AAAAAAAABkU/CMfwsUOXsWEagFaRT2jn5eY41ZTAAlhiQCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0160.jpg

ArchtopDave · March 2016

Neck glued in.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Fx0xCHwzGYc/VrfnRsui_AI/AAAAAAAABkU/z6NkN9HBSS0EFEaNzoXRf99erEQUIApQgCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0162.jpg

The Joint looked tidy when the tape is removed.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BHM4a9hBLuA/VrfnTdlAwzI/AAAAAAAABkU/UW17fVg0DswoQ9aYwHDW76fmXe_345lKwCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0165.jpg

ArchtopDave · March 2016

Back then to the Bridge - I re-marked the back edge to take off about a tenth of an inch, and sanded the edge down on the vertical sander. This takes a bit of time because Ebony is hard, and you can only sand one area for a limited time as the surface of the wood gets quite hot.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--qedUdfAHzg/VrfnUAJoJgI/AAAAAAAABkU/H2qRty2hQTA6IQC0S6RPkwF-dDDBR4KRQCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0167.jpg

The ends of the Bridge were then shaped on the vertical sander, and further shaping of the back of the Bridge done.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SriU9x6_vyk/VrfnWbt8m_I/AAAAAAAABkU/Zeu9sY09koI3T9pl85p_2dr_PK0j-O3BQCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0168.jpg

ArchtopDave · March 2016

The Bridge was then carefully positioned, and the two E holes drilled through the Top. This meant that I could remove the Bridge, stick tape to the Top, and then reposition the Bridge easily again. Then I drew round the Bridge, and cut out the area of the tape where the Bridge would go.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0d5SahxcSd0/VrfndHaIvsI/AAAAAAAABkU/6zQuuTaxQKEFK0QBWSYOKTJr370piX0ggCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0169.jpg

The finish in this area has to be removed before the Bridge can be stuck into place. Most of the finish was removed using a Dremel set up to just go through the finish layer. In this photo, you can see that there's bits of finish (shiny strip at top right for example) just inside to the tape to be chiselled off. When you've got it right, the Bridge actually feels like it's being held in place by the finish.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2q_5IcPV8kY/VrfnhAhbwjI/AAAAAAAABkU/shFQ15s_5TwdEWA4T0EpbVlWAcK-nMp7wCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0172.jpg

ArchtopDave · March 2016

Bridge given a polish before being glued on.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8DmIkN8bQsY/VrfnhZqNdPI/AAAAAAAABkU/4eHB1hpwHxg1OaeW3cMZtNEZNfjZ3cBMwCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0174.jpg

Looks tidy with the clamps off.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6ZdzsJG7Ick/VrfnpHcKG3I/AAAAAAAABkU/QMDmDPwviKYZ5WrvKtheCyt8J_OfYLcegCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0176.jpg

ArchtopDave · March 2016

Tuners fitted into place. One of the few people to make Tuners in this country lives only 5 miles from where I live (Keith Robson), so I got him to make me a set using the a piece of the same Ebony as the Bridge for the Tuner Buttons.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ljHI4w9Mqmg/VrfoqM3Jp1I/AAAAAAAABkU/Ts8KKoaSxwci7bjyEV4HJfojwqWMcWVHgCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0177.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q7fWg8r-wDE/VrforPH3MQI/AAAAAAAABkU/OJ4qIE8gTSMbEMvLqMciWYKACBJoSQzZwCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0178.jpg

ArchtopDave · March 2016

Nut and Saddle marked for depth and sanded down.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iarrmHYVvM8/Vrfo4I6aT1I/AAAAAAAABkU/GapFlp9FAqgDN31fjrxNcs15PBp_UFA5QCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0179.jpg

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lnw8uTkSgMA/Vrfo4ycfYlI/AAAAAAAABkU/GiuDgooOsGAoyqYwyhI92G2ih9XD6jEDQCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0183.jpg

ArchtopDave · March 2016

Fret dressing the done on this bit of kit. You string the guitar up and strap it on to this jig. You zero the gauges with the orange tipped supports touching the Neck. Then you remove the strings, and the adjust the supports so that the gauges go back to zero. This means you are then doing the fret dressing with the Neck in the same position that it will be, when strung up.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oh-g5yfF8vo/Vrfo1J8dyaI/AAAAAAAABkU/BwXM8AlEW3wVsIV3V8VteQ8PV7KgArd8QCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0184.jpg

Note the taping of the Top not only around the end of the Fretboard to protect the Top from damage, but also the Sound Hole is covered to stop metal debris getting inside the Body.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wm2Cb_3UJhQ/Vrfo8ANJsyI/AAAAAAAABkU/2dhHW_wAWawDGOdU0EGOUyZ7fHwKQhnxgCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0189.jpg

ArchtopDave · March 2016

Then I put in Pickups -I used the K&K system with Contact Pickups under stuck to the underside of the Bridge and a Microphone. These are wired direct to a Stereo Endpin Jack Socket. I bought the K&K external Preamp, which is supplied with a Stereo cable, so that the output from each Pickup is individually adjustable. Then strung up.

I'm pleased with the sound. I like my guitars full sounding. This sound is nicely balanced from my point of view with a good bass, good mids, and a nice treble with a bit of zing.

Front :

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4xtZQDcgg6Q/Vub0Xbxa98I/AAAAAAAABsA/1tEsUUfQeOoUHmnVU9n6CYqiV6wsiiZ5wCCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0256.jpg

You can see the microphone in the Sound Hole.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M4-Ut6MEpa0/Vub0XMAZx5I/AAAAAAAABsA/42QzH402NLcDHkTZkoiRandDnzgcel22ACCo/s800-Ic42/DSC_0265.jpg