Triple O Acoustic Guitar

[Alan Frazier]

I have built many electric guitars before and tried an acoustic but had problems with it and decided to start over so here is what I'm working on.

It will have cherry back and sides, sitka spruce top, striped ebony fingerboard, no fingerboard inlays, one piece mahogany neck, body joint at 12th fret, and a slotted headstock. Here's pics of the wood, I had 4 tops, 3 backs, and 2 sides to choose my favorites out of. Sorry the pics aren't that great.

sides (sap wood will stay and will be on the top side closer to the neck):

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2929.jpg

back (there is some quilt figure in it finishing should bring it out some more):

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2931.jpg

soundboard:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2934.jpg

Here's the mold, it's solid mdf.

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2935.jpg

[Jim Kountz]

Looks good so far!! Ive always thought of building a guitar but never got up the nerve. Over the years Ive been in and out of so many luthiers shops and was always interested in their stuff. Keep us posted on the progress, looks like a fun build!!

[Dave Verstraete]

Alan
Curiousity is getting the better of me....How thick is the wood in an acoustic guitar? Does it have to be steam bent?? Obviously, I would only dream of building a guitar!

[Alan Frazier]

Alan
Curiousity is getting the better of me....How thick is the wood in an acoustic guitar? Does it have to be steam bent?? Obviously, I would only dream of building a guitar!

The sides are 5/64", the back is 3/32, the top 7/64". I use the thicknesses from Irving sloane's book, there's no exact thickness for each one to be. The sides are bent on a pipe heated with a propane torch, I soak them in the bathtub for about 10 minutes and spray them with water when they dry out, then when there close to my mold I clamp them to it and leave them for a day. When they come out there's almost no springback. I will take pics of the whole operation. I tried steam bending before but the sides are just to thin to be able to clamp then to the form fast enough before they dry out.

[Doug Shepard]

Cool. I'm looking forward to watching this come to life. Have you tried any of the rubberized heat blankets for bending? I picked one up on the bay a while back but haven't had a chance to try it out bending wood with it yet.

[Alan Frazier]

Cool. I'm looking forward to watching this come to life. Have you tried any of the rubberized heat blankets for bending? I picked one up on the bay a while back but haven't had a chance to try it out bending wood with it yet.
No I haven't tried any of the blankets I thought about it on my first one but didn't have the money and after the steam bending I tried just sing the heated pipe and clamping it into a mold, I figured it wold be harder to get it right. It's actually one of my favorite parts of guitar building and I wouldn't change it unless I went into business making guitars and needed to speed it up.

[Alan Frazier]

Saturday I glued up the soundboard. Today I glued up the back (same way as front), bent the sides, and inlayed the rosette.

Gluing up the soundboard:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2937.jpg

Waiting for pipe to heat up:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2938.jpg

Side bent and clamped in mold:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2939.jpg

Routing for rosette:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2941.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2942.jpg

Gluing in rosette:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2943.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2944.jpg

[John Keeton]

Alan, I admire those that undertake musical instrument builds. The added dimension - making a pleasing sound - puts everything in a different light.

On a furniture piece, I pretty well know at all stages if the project is going to be successful. With a musical instrument, it could turn out to be beautiful, but sound like a wooden bucket. Huge undertaking, and it will be interesting to watch it come together.

[Rick Steverson]

Wow, something I've alway thought of doing.

Ran into a book about building guitars at the college library way back 1975, and that got me thinking. Had several Stewart-MacDonald catalogs over the years, and day-dreamed about do one but never had the nerves to tackle it.

Very interested in the project.

[Niels J. Larsen]

How do you know when the pipe is hot enough?

When it's red hot or..?

If I understand correctly you soak the sides in water for 10 minutes and THEN you bend them on the pipe..?

You also write that you spray them with water afterwards - when in the process is this exactly?

[Barry Richardson]

Thanks for sharing your process! Making a guitar is on my bucket list for sure! I've never heard of cherry used as a tonewood, not sure why, seems like a good choice; medium density, fine grained, stable, attractive, similar to the attributes of mahogany. Thanks for letting us follow along!

[Alan Frazier]

How do you know when the pipe is hot enough?

When it's red hot or..?

If I understand correctly you soak the sides in water for 10 minutes and THEN you bend them on the pipe..?

You also write that you spray them with water afterwards - when in the process is this exactly?
It's hot enough when if you spray some water on it will dance around for a few seconds and turn to steam, it shouldn't get to the point where it turns to steam right away when that happens I take the torch out for a minute or two. Yeah I soak the wood for 10 minutes and then spray it when it starts to dry out in places.


Thanks for sharing your process! Making a guitar is on my bucket list for sure! I've never heard of cherry used as a tonewood, not sure why, seems like a good choice; medium density, fine grained, stable, attractive, similar to the attributes of mahogany. Thanks for letting us follow along!
Yeah, from what I've heard is it's a very under rated tonewood it's spposed to sound similar to maple.

[Paul Steiner]

I would really like to try this. I have looked at the guitar kits in the grizzly catalog, but they just don't seem like much of a project. After seeing your work I am definitely going to try this.

[Alan Frazier]

I would really like to try this. I have looked at the guitar kits in the grizzly catalog, but they just don't seem like much of a project. After seeing your work I am definitely going to try this.
I did one of the acoustics from grizzly before, there's not much to it at all the hardest part is probably gluing the bridge in the right position. Stewmac sells kits too that allow you to do much more of the work, a lot closer to building from scratch.

[Leigh Betsch]

Do you have to know how to play the guitar to build a good one? I'm a listener not a player, but I would still like to build one someday. My son-on-law can play it but I wouldn't want to make him something that wasn't very good sounding.

[Alan Frazier]

Do you have to know how to play the guitar to build a good one? I'm a listener not a player, but I would still like to build one someday. My son-on-law can play it but I wouldn't want to make him something that wasn't very good sounding.
I don't think you would need to play guitar to make a good one. As far as making it sound good that mostly involves tap tuning which involves shaping the braces on the top and back so there's a good tone when you tap it and still enough bracing for structural support. Playing guitar shouldn't make any difference for that. The two parts that could present a slight problem are shaping the neck which shouldn't be too big of a difference your just not as familiar with them and setting the string height which guitar building books provide good information about especially William Cumpiano's Guitarmaking Tradition and Technology. Both of those are small differences that playing guitar would probably just give you a preference to the shape of the neck or the height of the strings.

[Leigh Betsch]

So there is hope then. I'm going to put it on my list.

[Westley Rosenbaum]

Alan, that looks really great so far. I've just started studying on building an electric guitar, but this seems like it requires much more skill. What a great project to work on. Love the pics so far. Do those rosettes come pre-made? Everything looks great

[Alan Frazier]

Alan, that looks really great so far. I've just started studying on building an electric guitar, but this seems like it requires much more skill. What a great project to work on. Love the pics so far. Do those rosettes come pre-made? Everything looks great
Thanks, good luck with your guitar.
Yes, they do come pre-made.


All I've done in the past two days is rough cut the braces and sand a curve into them. Toady I got a lot done. I unclamped the sides from the mold, trimmed off the overhang, got them fitting right in the mold, sanded the back, glued all the braces on to the back, made head and tail blocks, and made all the kerfed lining. Tomorrow I will glue the head and tail block to the sides, shape the back braces and start gluing the soundboard ones.

Back cut out:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2945.jpg

Gluing on first brace:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2946.jpg

Cutting the kerfed lining:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2947.jpg

Kerfed lining done:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2948.jpg

Cutting slots for the other braces after shaping the first one:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2949.jpg

Rest of the bracing glued on:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2950.jpg

Sides in mold:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2952.jpg

[Andrew Gibson]

looks great, I have always wondered how to make the fret board (how to space the frets) and how to attach the neck to the body... keep us posted.

[Alan Frazier]

looks great, I have always wondered how to make the fret board (how to space the frets) and how to attach the neck to the body... keep us posted.

I buy mine pre-slottted because it doesn't cost much more but there's a mathematical formula to space all the frets there's also free fret caculators available online. Here's more info http://www.liutaiomottola.com/formulae/fret.htm/.
The neck is traditionally attached with a dovetail, I am using a joint that Irving sloane showed how to do in his book on guitarmaking in the end it's pretty close to a dovetail just simpler. They can also be bolted on with a mortise and tenon joint or the neck can be glued to the top and back and with slots for the sides to go into.

http://www.liutaiomottola.com/formulae/fret.htm/

Soundboard:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2954.jpg

Lines drawn for braces:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2953.jpg

Braces being glued on:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2955.jpg

Laying out neck:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2957.jpg

Gluing on head and tail blocks and kerfed lining:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2958.jpg

[Alan Frazier]

Gluing braces:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2959.jpg

Neck rough cut:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2960.jpg

Gluing the rest of the braces and bridge plate on:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2961.jpg

Gluing the kerfed lining after shaping the sides:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2963.jpg

[Alan Frazier]

Yesterday i shaped the braces on the top and back, today I cut the top races back for the lining, mortised the binding, and glued the top on. I routed the truss rod slot, thicknessed the back of the headstock, and glued on the veneers.

Shaping back braces:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2967.jpg

Done:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2968.jpg

Soundboard braces done:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2970.jpg

Gluing soundboard on:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2973.jpg

Thicknessing headstock:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2971.jpg

Gluing on headstock veneers:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2972.jpg

[Cary Falk]

Great Job Alan!!!! I made one in this forum about a year ago. This is bringing back memories. It is a very rewarding and challenging project. I look foward to seeing more pictures.

[John Thompson]

I can't add much here as I know didley-squat about musical instrument builds nor ask any questions for the same reason. Just wanted to let you know I read this thread yesterday as I got far behind "looking" through the gallery as I am up to my neck with my own project.

So.. with that said.. I am enjoying your transgression from start toward finish and will keep watching as you progress..

And to anyone I may have missed (I tried to go back and comment but very well may have missed someone).. I apoligize for not doing so as I try to comment on every project here. I just got way behind with the balancing act between looking and doing in my own shop.

Sarge..

[Alan Frazier]

I had to make a new back, I tried gluing it the same way as the soundboard but it didn't work to good so I made a new one and tried using the go bars and it worked great. I made a jig to rout the binding and purfling channels, routed them, routed out the mortise for the neck, made the end piece, chiseled out a spot for it, and glued in the binding, purfling, and end piece.

neck:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2974.jpg

gluing on back:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2977.jpg

drilling tuner holes:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2978.jpg

jig for routing binding and purfling:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2979.jpg

binding and purfling channels routed:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2980.jpg

slot for end piece:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2981.jpg

getting ready to start binding:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2982.jpg

all done:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2985.jpg

[Alan Frazier]

Getting the neck set wasn't very easy but it's done, I carved the neck, and I glued it on today. Should be able to start finishing this weekend.

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2987.jpg

[Alan Frazier]

Today I fretted and glued on the fingerboard.

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2994.jpg

Installing side dots:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2988.jpg

Fingerboard sanded and ready for frets:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2989.jpg

Pressing in frets:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2992.jpg

Frets filed and beveled:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2993.jpg

Fingerboard glued on:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_2996.jpg

[Alan Frazier]

I decided to use just shellac for the finish. I am on the third coat now.

before finishing:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3005.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3006.jpg

third coat:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3008.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3009.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3010.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3012.jpg

[Jim Becker]

Alan, it really would be better if you upload your pictures to SMC so that they stay with the content into the future. Hosting elsewhere, while easy, means that any issue (like the bandwidth one you're experiencing today) or discontinuing your account would mean that future viewers of this thread will not enjoy your pictorial work like they absolutely will if you upload them here.

Jim
SMC Moderator

[Alan Frazier]

I ended up getting the body sprayed after having trouble with the shellac. I leveled and dressed the frets beforehand and today polished it and got the bridge glued on.

Frets:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3013.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3014.jpg

Finish:

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3015.jpg

Bridge

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3019.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3020.jpg

[Alan Frazier]

I finished working on it today it sounds and plays great.

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3023.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3024.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3025.jpg

http://i490.photobucket.com/albums/rr266/guitar_builder/IMG_3026.jpg