10 String Build

[DSewell]

I have been intrested in tapping instruments since seeing street musician Eliah Levi performing with a Chapman Stick in London back in 2003. Shortly after that I discovered Tappistry. org and have been a regular visitor to the site. I really enjoyed the building threads and was inspired by Brendas build and the Tapper build off. Prior to those threads I knew nothing about luthierie. In 2009 I started building acoustic instruments and have finally decided to build a 10 string tapper.

I have selected African mahogony for the neck and body, santos roswood for the fretboard,bridge and head plate. I am consdering using bloodwood binding on the fret board. I built a half scale model to verify size and appearance. I will be using a acoustic style bridge and saddle to accomidate the string spacing and will be using EMG select bass and guitar pickups.

I started prepping the wood yesterday and wanted to share the progress with those who might be interested. I welcome your feedback.

These photo's are of the wood selecion and scale model.

Doug

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-x9jsOryt_kI/TpNYCcFZASI/AAAAAAAAAAs/Ts2wkRxGutw/s400/Touch%252520style%252520guitar%252520003.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lkVt_Zh-GrQ/TpNYJpAuSSI/AAAAAAAAAA0/V2Nd2mv0mnU/s400/Touch%252520style%252520guitar%252520005.JPG

[DSewell]

I have made little progress on the guitar and the ordered parts have been coming in.

This is a jig I use for cutting a 15 degree scarf joint on acoustic guitars. I will had to shim it to make make the angle I wanted. On the model I used a 10 degree but decided to go with about 12 degrees.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_4b-pVfOndg/TpNX98pBZVI/AAAAAAAAABs/N7rkQ0iS3IE/s400/Touch%252520style%252520guitar%252520002.JPG

Cutting the joint.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8LByLKlo0wQ/TpNX5y7At6I/AAAAAAAAAAk/OH8LcaR3hH8/s400/Touch%252520style%252520guitar%252520001.JPG


Gluing up the scarf joint with a half dozen harbor freight clamps.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Qk-fFsdOG4w/TpNYbvO-ZbI/AAAAAAAAABw/CzvX5SbzAPk/s400/Touch%252520style%252520guitar%252520009.JPG

Here are some of the parts. Gotoh tunners, dual one way truss rods, concentric pots, and a stero jack that I plan to wire with a mono switch.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aN0ObUdm5a0/TpZVCwyrh_I/AAAAAAAAAB4/I4sIqG_Ul1U/s400/Touch%252520style%252520Guitar%2525202%252520007.J PG

Should see the pickups in a day or two. No excuses now just need to get to work.

[DSewell]

Still plugging away. Today I sotted the fretboard and made a template for the head stock.

Thicknessing the fretboard.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z6zso2Kh5GA/TpNYRlbA5HI/AAAAAAAAACU/GJK1LLPbGOk/s400/Touch%252520style%252520guitar%252520007.JPG

Slotting the fretboard with a jig on my tablesaw.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-0Nj2RPrtbdo/Tpe7-K7M_-I/AAAAAAAAACI/EA78wY2d8QA/s400/Touch%252520Style%252520guitar%2525203%252520002.J PG

Here is the slotted fingerboard with the bloodwood binding.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1rQIfS8uMzo/Tpe8K5gwl0I/AAAAAAAAACQ/1oRcs9OobH4/s400/Touch%252520Style%252520guitar%2525203%252520008.J PG

Here is the template and headplate material. I will sandwich the bloodwood between the rosewood and mahogany.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-NO6ELy0B7bU/Tpe8GLaIpfI/AAAAAAAAACM/S8b-ewxXe1o/s400/Touch%252520Style%252520guitar%2525203%252520007.J PG

That's it for today.

[rjgoos]

Great work! I like the scale model, too.

[DSewell]

Thanks RJ.

I have found the model has helped quite a bit, but have been making changes as I go. Still, it helped think through the process.

I have enjoyed your posts on the tap ladder and your music videos. You get great tone in your recordings.

Here is what I have acomplished the past couple of days.

Glued up the headplate material, Santos rosewood and bloodwood.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GeG1Gju3lzM/TpusK56yHAI/AAAAAAAAACg/FdqgS6Fdgyk/s400/Tough%252520Style%2525204%252520001.JPG


Clamped on my go bar deck.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-LTpFCUZOSIs/TpusLTDQM-I/AAAAAAAAACk/OEvKcNrTGqw/s400/Tough%252520Style%2525204%252520003.JPG

Routed the truss rod channels.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8mFEeOUYWz0/TpusMHicdzI/AAAAAAAAACo/7LJFyoJkdAc/s400/Tough%252520Style%2525204%252520004.JPG


Laminated body and added wings for pickups.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7Zb5Uv-nC5U/TpusOTbmq2I/AAAAAAAAAC8/oP9WekhNhuw/s400/Tough%252520Style%2525204%252520009.JPG


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MCr8kAh_gbY/TpusPOVrAUI/AAAAAAAAADE/VFgkp7lcAJM/s400/Tough%252520Style%2525204%252520011.JPG

Progress will likely slow down a little now. I took a few days off, but go back to work tomorrow. I'll post more as it progresses.


Doug

[DSewell]

I have a few more pictures to post. I havn't accomplished alot this week but keep plugging along.

I had to glue ears on the head stock, which was couple of pieces of the african mahogany. Then I glued on the head plate. Lots of clamps.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YLkASno3kRI/TqS7pvUBOGI/AAAAAAAAAEg/pUQHyEWLVXo/s400/Touch%252520style%2525205%252520007.JPG

Then I cut out the headstock and refined the shape with a oscilating spindle sander and a belt sander. It was quite the workout trying to keep square and level while sanding. A lot more work than a standard guitar neck, being twice the size.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-NgF_tz_Y1s4/TqS7ePre6EI/AAAAAAAAAEI/liBvoxHqPJw/s400/Touch%252520style%2525205%252520010.JPG


I just ordered the pickgaurd material and need to route out the control cavity
so I made a acrylic template. I free handed the template with a laminate trimmer. Its not perfect but I think it will work. I secured it with double stick tape and will route it out in the next day or two.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-N5rn1e6pI3c/TqS7rk-L85I/AAAAAAAAAEo/DiGToIMA1vc/s400/Touch%252520style%2525205%252520011.JPG

Thats it for now. Hope to have the fretboard on by next weekend.

Doug

[DSewell]

Well I have decided to make a few changes tonight. I routed out the control cavity and tried to fit in the components and it is really tight for space.


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-96VNVynEN0M/TqY8n-st89I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/L2_06pbhGXo/s400/touch%252520style%2525206%252520001.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-xwXk6gdxvyw/TqY8c_Zfe2I/AAAAAAAAAE4/bC6uw5QTQf0/s400/touch%252520style%2525206%252520002.JPG

This is the configuration I has planned to use. A pot for the tone and volumn on each pickup and a toogle switch to switch from stero to mono on the jack. I don't like the pot on the treble side. If I were to try to stum or pick the strings that would get in the way for sure.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Nc4Y2edwJko/TqY8lI7vm5I/AAAAAAAAAFA/9F3_MCAoK24/s400/touch%252520style%2525206%252520003.JPG

This is what I am thinking about now. Using one concentric pot as volumn for both pick ups and doing away with the tone controls. I figure I can use a EQ pedal or just EQ at the amps. I would switch the stero jack from the bass to the treble side of the guitar and leave the toogle switch on the bass side. I may also go to a belt hook. I had planned use a strap but there is not much wood left to screw the stap buttons in. Something I hadn't given any thought to at all.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lu0ZHNr6LSE/TqY8lqbQk8I/AAAAAAAAAFI/-HjWxSnrtA0/s400/touch%252520style%2525206%252520004.JPG

I am going to sleep on it a day or two before I decide. I am waiting on a few parts before I get much farther anyway. Any thoughts.


Doug

[mayowhip]

I'm jealous of you guys out there with them fancy wood working tools. Good job on your build though.

[DSewell]

Thanks Mike. I've always enjoyed woodworking but only had general construction tools. I finally invested in a few bench tools (mostly sanders) when I got interested in guitar building. I read somewhere that lutherie is 60% sanding. I've found that to be very true.

It always amazes me how much time I end up spending building tools, jigs, patterns and templates. Here is an example.

I need to make a pickguard to house the pickups and contols. It is a odd shape and needs to be square and striaght with a beveled edge to reveal the 5 layer stripe on th edge of the pickguard. I want to use a router to cut the guard and openings for the pickups. So I need a template.

Here's a few photo's to show the process.

Cut shape and drill for pickups

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0x5eV4tWH08/Tq9pYYnm5xI/AAAAAAAAAFg/IUOo089P7Vg/s144/touch%252520style%2525208%252520001.JPG

Finish cutting with a coping saw

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i5qMTxp9DyA/Tq9piRuIeRI/AAAAAAAAAFs/fITaFbJrzTM/s400/touch%252520style%2525208%252520003.JPG

Sand with a dremel sanding drum

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D0mNfsyDBP8/Tq9p4mYIhiI/AAAAAAAAAGE/ZuZ4-ckCBKo/s400/touch%252520style%2525208%252520006.JPG

File to clean up the edges

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FSHFSsTj-S8/Tq9qAVUHyMI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/K_Pf6uyHGe4/s400/touch%252520style%2525208%252520007.JPG

The pickups fit pretty well

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KULBvH950Cc/Tq9qGJG7uqI/AAAAAAAAAGc/dL9XzTL024A/s400/touch%252520style%2525208%252520008.JPG

A little more cleanup and I'll attempt to use it to route the pickguard.

I was hoping to install the truss rods and glue up the fretboard this past weekend but work and soccer games ate up the weekend. Maybe this week.

Doug

[mayowhip]

You should show off some of your crazy jigs ;D. What kind of bridge are you going to use for this project?

[DSewell]

Here are a few jigs, molds and patterns fom other builds.

These are bending forms. The large one is a OM guitar and the smaller ones are for a cutaway tenor ukulele. The jig to the far right holds a laminate trimmer at the end of the parallel joint and is used for routing binding channels on acoustic guitars with radiused tops and backs. If you google Williams binding jig you find examples of how it is used.


https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qTL2fKMD3bE/TrX30MOuEtI/AAAAAAAAAGs/q4ihOGDvDoI/s400/halloween%252520027.JPG

Here are the outside molds to match the bending forms and a jig I use to route a tenon on the neck for my bolt on mortise and tenon joints. There are miscellaneous patterns on the wall behind. I usually make those out of masonite or acylic.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GWnAJAYkA30/TrX4GCJVeVI/AAAAAAAAAG4/JL0lFMFq2KA/s400/halloween%252520030.JPG

Back on the ten string, I am making little more progress. I epoxied the trusrods in place.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RmV9tKQWMdo/TrX-ZUpTZdI/AAAAAAAAAIU/WflNHjZXTfM/s400/halloween%252520031.JPG

I bound the fretboard and sanded the bindings flush with the fretboard.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OX13FKHY8po/TrX4NdzJXnI/AAAAAAAAAHE/lxdNC3lsecA/s400/halloween%252520018.JPG

I inlaid the abalone postion markers but forgot to take pictures before I clamped up the fretboard to the guitar. Here it is clamped up.


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VSDwlmGsFWo/TrYCaHK2SBI/AAAAAAAAAIs/b6cvzbJ6nI8/s400/halloween%252520035.JPG


Sorry for the mediocre pictures. I'll try to set up better lighting for future pic's. The next time it should be looking like a guitar. The Bidge will be a more like a acousic bridge and has been the trickiest part of the design. I have thought and re-thought it several times and think I have it figured out. It will be Santos rosewood with a black corian saddle and a piece of aluminum angle at the end to run the strings through. Hard to piture I know but hopefully I'll have photo's next week. I hope to be playing it by Thanksgiving.

[rjgoos]

What is the record for number of clamps? This is right up there...

[DSewell]

I was hoping to get close to the record on clamps so I added a few before I snapped the final shot.

Well, I said next time it should be looking more like guitar. I finished the pickguard and mounted the electronics to see how it looks. I just laid the bridge materials in their rough position so you can get an idea of what I have in mind. The rosewood will recess into the mahogany about a half inch and the aluminium angle will recess as low as I need it to for the ball end of the strings. I will cut the end off flush with the bottom of the angle. The object next to the guitar is what I am working on for the belt hook. Its made of bloodwood. The piece of bound rosewood at the end of the fretboard is the truss rod access. I wanted it to look like part of the fretboard.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uxzaZQ-LFOc/TrdrjYxnZ8I/AAAAAAAAAME/Ttmy0K642NM/s400/ST-10%2525202%252520001.JPG


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7aW5dnxj5GM/TrdrwKi_IQI/AAAAAAAAAMU/xK0MFHig92w/s400/ST-10%2525202%252520006.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VNSwY_YfnpQ/TrdrhBRi_lI/AAAAAAAAAL8/mDVo43Y2hCI/s400/ST-10%2525202%252520008.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8iidDuijl1A/TrdryUgV0KI/AAAAAAAAAMg/9-BGwEGFLv0/s400/ST-10%2525202%252520004.JPG

So far I'm pretty happy with how its coming together. This week will be neck carving and working on the bridge. Can't wait to string it up.

Doug

[Nico A.]

This looks beyond awesome.

[CraigPriceUK]

Looks fantastic!:)

[mayowhip]

ooh looks cool =D but how do you figure out the proper angle for the saddle on those acoustic bridges?

[DSewell]

Thank you for the positive feedback. I have not progressed much the last week or so due to a crazy work schedule. I have a little extra time over the holiday so I am still hoping to sring it up next week. I had a pretty good day yesterday.

Here's yesterdays progress.

Finished shaping the neck.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10Two004.jpg

Sanded to 600 grit.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10Two003-Copy.jpg

Drilled for the tuners.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10Two007.jpg


Trimmed the head plate to the nut.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10Two008.jpg

And installed the frets. I used super glue to install the frets so I covered the the fretboard with a thin coat wax to reduce cleanup.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10Two012.jpg

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10Two013.jpg:

As for the bridge installation, I have recessed the area that receives the bridge and will determine the height of the bridge with a straight edge with the guitar on the neck jig once I have leveled the frets. So I am adjusting he height of the bridge and not the neck angle.

Hope to post more next week.

Thanks again for the positive comments.

Doug

[peteg]

Impressive work!

[DSewell]

I was able to get the instrument strung up on Thanksgiving weekend but have not had a chance to get photos posted till now.


http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10six019.jpg

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10six018.jpg


http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10six016.jpg

I apologize fo the oversized photos but I have been having problems figuring out how to resize them.

I am pretty happy with the look and playability of the guitar and it sounds great. Not sure if I am going to stay with inverted fifths in the bass or not yet. I want to give it a fair shot before changing to parallel fourths which I think will be easier to to learn.

[DSewell]

I thought I would try to post some more photos. I have been frustrated trying to get pic's posted since Picasa made chages to thier site and I have not been able to embed photo's. I switched to photobucket but have not been able to size the pictues right. Hope this works.


http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10six022-1.jpg

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10six024-1.jpg


http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc393/tonecraftguitars/ST-10six020.jpg

Well they are still oversized but you can get a good look at the near finished product. I have ben playing it for a couple of weeks now and am very happy with how it plays and sounds. I still have to set the intonation but it is suprisingly close with a sraight saddle with .150 inch compensation. I wll end up spliting the saddle in two to get it adjusted correctly. I think I am going to stay with inverted fifths in the bass. The chord positions are comfortable and fourths and fifths relate well so the translation between the two is not as difficult as I thought it might be. If I build another one I think I will reduce the size of the headstock and I am still working on an idea for an adjustable bridge.

Thanks for following along.

Doug