Pics of Guitar

[JoelM]

I put some pics of the last guitar that I built quite a while back in my gallery. What is sort of unique about it is the one and a half inch rise in the back.It's not carved but rather soaked in baking soda solution, steamed, and pressed in a two part mold. As far I know, I'm the only one crazy enough to try this. It involved a lot of failure and shattered wood, and a long list of separate processes. I gave that hobby up in 1994.

 

[ptt49er]

That looks COOL! If only I knew how to play one, I might want to try building one!

 

[Trent Mason]

Very nice Joel!!! :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:headbang:

Trent

 

[JimmyC]

That's pretty outrageous looking Joel, how does it sound ?

Jimmy

 

[CarvedTones]

Very nice! :icon_thum:icon_thum:icon_thum

You probably know this, but pressing versus carving is pretty hotly debated in luthery circles. There is some science that supports the notion that pressed tops (which is usually what the debate is about, but the same points apply to backs) are sonically superior because they have less grain runout. My backs are carved partly for authenticity and mostly because that's what I like to do.

What are the woods used?

 

[jsjordan]

Joel - Awesome work! I like the way you sculpt the cutaway to flow into the body line. :icon_thum

I also build guitars (solid body electrics at present) and am also named Joel so when I first saw your post I thought "I dont remember posting any guitar pictures lately." :icon_scra :rolf:

Would love to hear a sound sample so perhaps you could send an MP3 at some point? Great Job! :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap

 

[JoelM]

From what I've read, most arched tops and backs on commercial guitars are laminated and pressed with the grain slightly rotated in each llamination. To me it's still plywood. Mine is one layer.

The wood I used ......western bigleaf maple (back and sides), neck is rock maple, top is western red cedar, bridge is walnut, pickguard and peghead
is rosewood.

Pressing without lamination required devising clamps on the ends of the less than eighth inch wood to keep it from splitting. I tried doing this in mahogany, but even with the clamps it shattered into toothpicks.

What doesn't show very well in the pics is the black dye on the maple. The grain shows through quite well.

 

[TracyP]

Very nice work Joel. I like the design.
:eusa_danc:eusa_danc

 

[Kyle]

That is a nice guitar.

Ryan Navey in Midland does arch backs but carves them out of solid wood and they are works of art.