We come in peace.....with jazz... I finally made a start on Steve's custom archtop....This is a long term custom build. Steve sends a small amount each month by direct debit. It's a great way to commision a guitar - in 2 or 3 years he...
Acoustic guitars
Alone in the Workshop – Part 13 – Fretting and Going Dotty
or 'Putting in the dots and the frets.......' Putting the dots in is easy just drill a hole the same diameter as the dot (size for size) and glue them in. I Used 3mm Mother of pearl for the front dots - I think they look really...
Alone in the Workshop – Part 14 – My name in lights
How to inlay a mother of pearl shape I get the logo's made by Mike Reid at Small Wonder. Sometimes I make them myself but it does gets a bit boring after you have done a few and sometimes I need them in a hurry. He is the UK inlay...
Alone in the Workshop – Part 11 – more neck stuff
Not long to go now! I decided to carry the binding through to the headstock becuase it just looks great! And I love doing the fiddly bits. It is easier to do this before the fretboard is glued on so that was the plan. The headstock...
Alone in the Workshop – Part 12 – Pink gripper mat invades bench
Doesn't it look lovely? And the guitar too.... I got a bit carried away today and forgot to take any pics while I was carving the neck - not to worry I'll do a post on neck carving one day......something for Kenny to look forward to...
Alone in the Workshop – Part 9 – The Angle of the Dangle
Using a router to make the headstock and neck angle's...... I've been cracking on with the neck for the ziricote guitar - I want to get the fretboard glued on tomorrow so there is lots to do. I cut the headstock angle very roughly on the bandsaw,...
Alone in the Workshop – Part 10 – Trussed Up and Bent.
Making the truss rod - obviously! The truss rod is there to counteract the bending effect of the strings under tension. There are loads of different types of truss rod but I make my own like this. The threaded part of the rod goes through the...
Alone in the Workshop – Part 8 – Neck ‘n’ Neck
OK..... just Neck........ The neck is laminated to make it strongerer. For this guitar I used strips of Mahogany for the outside and Jarrah for the centre strip. I also used a black veneer (pressure dyed maple) for a pinstripe either...
Alone in the Workshop – Part 7 – Gagged and Bound
.......OK, I lied about the gagged part....... .......I have just finished binding the body though which is quite exciting. I have been concentrating on the ziricote guitar because that one has a deadline - it's for a birthday present...
Bailey Custom Handmade Bouzouki – ‘little big mouth’
A Blast from the past This is a very special custom acoustic I made a few years ago for a good friend of mine 'Duffy'. It has always remained a favourite as it's so different from anything else I have built - a mixture of gypsy guitar...