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,...
Custom guitars
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...
Alone in the workshop – part 6 – Assembly 2
Today we will mostly be.....gluing the back on...... The back should fit like a glove. There is a satisfying 'thunk' as the lid goes on, almost like closing a jewellery box, as the brace ends tuck into the notches on the lining. This...
Alone in the workshop – part 5 – Assembly 1
So far so good.... The tail block and heel block are both glued and clamped in the same way, then the sides can be glued down. There is a bit of work in fitting the sides- The kerfed lining is removed where it touches the bracing, and...
Alone in the workshop – part 4 – The black art of tap tuning
A functional work of art - 'scalloped' bracing brings out the tone of the guitar It's a shame that most of the really important work on an acoustic guitar is never seen, as it is on the inside.....The braces are carved roughly first, then graduated to weaken them and...
Alone in the workshop – part 3 – Evil magician visits workshop!
Bending the Sides - Uri Geller? Eat your heart out mate! Thought I'd update you on progress of the four guitars I started last week. The side bending went well - as you can see they are all roughly guitar shaped. It is a great feeling...
Win a Bailey Guitar at the Darvel Music Festival
Celebrating 10 years of the Darvel Music Festival................ Bailey Guitars have donated one of our custom R1's for a raffle to raise money for the event. The guitar has been airbrushed with a unique design by local artist John...