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Next job is cutting and bending the second side and end cap.
I'm almost tempted to have two, with the second sporting a walnut front and an ebony back :-)
And the kerfed linings have arrived!
Here they are being glued using the old 'clothes pegs and rubber band' trick:
Tomorrow, I should be able to do the same with the other side:
These two are around 1.5lbs together...not bad so far. Now where's that lightweight ebony...
I used the modded mould to chalk the outline:
You can see how close the outline gets to the side, top and bottom on the widest piece of ebony I could find!
And cut (always) oversize. This is the cut pieces actually resting on the back assemblies:
Total weight of the backs and tops together is 3 1/2 lbs. Not bad, although you have to remember that there is a through neck to add to that!
But there's a lot to get right and it is worth the pondering without the temptation of cutting or gluing something before I'm sure!
This is where I'm at with the wings:
The ebony is around 6mm thick and will have a subtle top carve, following the same sort of curve as the back, a couple of diamond 'f' holes and some weight relief scoops in the underneath. And some very careful routing for the switches.
Switches?
Yes - we're going Jaguar switch system, back mounted.
"And so I'll be moving into a 'planning before doing' phase over the next couple of weeks"
The timber for the neck arrived a couple of weeks ago from David Dyke. Remembering that the timbers will darken and the maple will yellow a touch once the finish is on, this is broadly how it will look front and back when it's glued and sized up:
The first lamination is in the clamps gluing up as I type
Just got to turn them into a decent, playable guitar now, then!
*gulp*
This is in the first category - gluing the cutaway sides:
Number 2 is gluing:
While Number 1 is glued and the excess removed, ready - at some stage - for the bottom edge to be routed for the maple binding:
I have to cut the access hatches (yes - absolutely NO to feeding everything through the 'f' holes ) but therefore I need to agree with @meltedbuzzbox the best place for the Jaguar-type slider switches. And, actually, that's not such a straightforward decision with so much stuff going on with the top.
So, to help envisage it, I set about cutting the diamond 'f' holes.
I drew their basic positions up:
And marked up and cut them out slightly undersize - I will finish size them by hand before binding them with maple.
And that meant I could do a more realistic mockup for @meltedbuzzbox in terms of where he would prefer the switches and knobs to go (still under consideration but we are probably looking at a triple row of slider switches (no plate) and two of three pots)
I think I have an idea. I'll mull it over tonight and get back in touch sir
A very sharp chisel and then a highly sophisticated clamping system to hold the bits in place while the glue was drying:
One done, one still to go
It's looking great Andy!