Thread: Ozzie Built 17" Archtop

Nice job there Alan!
As a previous archtop builder (photo's on here somewhere) from the same book, I can relate to the sheer amount of hard work and trepidation involved in building one of these.
You've done a fantastic job and deserve to be proud of it! Well done

Thanks Malibu for your comments.

There is a lot to consider before embarking on building an archtop. I researched the subject thoroughly but there where still a few daunting stages to get through. At present I am having issues with the tailpiece. I am waiting on a new ebony piece from Stew Mac to have another go at making this part. The book tells you buggar all and it is a very important part of the instrument. They are expensive to buy pre made and I know why. I think I have the problem sorted so you should see some more pics very shortly.

Cheers

Alan

Alan,
I should have done like you and researched a bit more, but I tend to be one of these people that jump in and figure out the details later. Most of my building was doing something... then wonder how I was gonna fix THAT mess-up before going onto the NEXT mess-up!

I understand about the tailpiece!
It's been a few years since I made mine, but I know the tail piece was a fiddly thing that rocketed off when the strap broke the first time I strung it all up. I know I spent something like 10 hours just for the tail, not including my inlay work....

Because the book is a little light on some of the finer details at times, I actually bought a tailpiece from e-bay and used that as a sample because I wasn't sure how the shape was meant to be, or how to stand it off the sound-board. I also used it as a reference for doing the inlay on my guitar and it was a tremendous insight into the 'how' of it all. Once I got the idea of it all, I worked on my own tail-piece/inlay.

Working with ebony is a bit like trying to carve granite, but in the end, it's a magnificent timber for it's finishing properties and with the right grit paper, it'll come up like glass.

I look forward to seeing more of your progress!

PS: I had a chuckle to myself at the picture with the bucket of shavings! How much timber is wasted doing an archtop? I had BOXES of the stuff around the place

Finally got the tailpiece sorted. Strung the guitar up again today so we will see if it hold on this time.
Here are a few pics:



I want to let the guitar settle for a little and then the recurve will be scraped. I did a temperory wiring job and soldered an input jack on the pickup so I could have a little listen. The sustain is great and the tone, warm and woody.
Thanks for looking
Alan

Just to keep you up to date with the archie the re-curve has been scraped. Well I should say sanded as I had lots of trouble trying to scrape across the grain using a scraper blade. I'd never used one before either so my technique could have been a bit ordinary. In the end after lots of frustration I actually made a shaped sanding stick to do the job. I had not much of an idea on how I was going to achieve this recurve so it was fly by the seat of your pants stuff. The process took many hours sanding small amounts of material off, tapping the box as I went to achieve an even vibration around the recurve area. The box dropped a tone in pitch after the recurve was cut. It was also much more responsive so time will tell how she will turn out. I have a good feeling about it!

The French Polish process was finalised two weeks ago. It took five, four hour sessions to complete where I managed to go around the box four times each session. Before each session I would sand the guitar lightly with 400 grit. It needs a month to dry now and then it will be final sand and setup time.

Here are a few pictures. The first is to show the recurve area and the others the french polish. Thanks for looking.




Cheers
Alan

Lots of thumbs up for this one, fantastic.

Very nice Alan, Excellant finish.
Cheers Bob

Great job so far Alan,and cheers for sharing progress pics,It really gives guitar builders more insight and understanding of what work and how much work goes in to building arch-tops not to mention tutorial benefits if they wanna attempt it,Cant wait to see it finished cheers Alan

The archie is finally finished having started this one in January this year. It has been a great learning experience and I will be starting another very shortly. Thanks to the forum member friends here who have helped me out with some questions along the way. In the end, just use your gut instinct and go for it.
Lutz Spruce
Back and sides: Queensland Maple
Tailpiece fingerboard and pickguard: Ebony
Headplate and endgraft: Tasmanian Tiger Myrtle
Machine heads: Black Schallers
Pickup: Benedetto S-6 Humbucker
Neck: One piece figured Queensland Maple
Strings: D'addario Chromes
Here are a few pics





Thank you for looking
Cheers
Alan

Nice job
gotta love some french polishing

Nice job Alan. Came up a treat! It even brought Andrew out of hibernation lol

Absolutely fabulous

Thanks Andrew, Floddy and Alistair for your comments.

I think the french polish is great finish.

It has the mojo i reckon.

Cheers

Alan

I'm also a (recent) convert to FP.

It does focus you on your finiting tho'.

Nothing like it for highlighting every blemish in your piece.

regards