Thread: First acoustic

Great work. That looks really nice. Got any pics of the side bender and other jigs? I've been meaning to try an acoustic but lack of a bender is stopping me

Here is another couple of pic's side bender and jig to hold side's in while I put blocks and kerfing in. I am using lights to bend not a heat blanket is a little slower but works fine if you are careful. You can use the hot pipe idea to bend sides I have not tried it myself as I think it will take a bit of practise to get it spot on and timber is not cheap.
Damo

Well done it looks great.
How does it sound, I mean to other OMs with different material for the top and sides.
What would you do now with the second build?
All the best
Kevin

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I have never played an OM until now so have nothing to compare it to I will have to go and play one. Sounds good mellow with quite a lot of bass not a thin tinny sound like a lot of the cheap guitars you buy. Had a couple of guys at the local music shop play it and they liked the sound. I have a Yamaha FG730S dread and I prefer the sound of the one I made over it. The Yamaha does not have a lot of bass and seems a lot brighter in tone. As for number two I am not sure what I will do with it I may sell it but how do you price something like this? I have enough timber here to make two more but I think they will be a long time in the making as with a new born on the way my spare time will all disappear.
Thanks Damon

Thanks Damon,
When asking about build number 2 I was meaning" would you do anything differently?_"

I must comment on the intricate handle on your side bending jig,I am a great believer in if it works why not.
Did you have to do practice bends first or was it slow and steady?

The handle works a treat I did do a couple of test bends first. The first one snapped as it was not getting hot enough so I move my light bulbs closer to the timber and it now works a treat. NGR is not as good to bend as Queensland maple on my new guitar I am using maple and it bent so easily was great no way near as much care needed. I still go slowly takes about 20mins to get 2 sides bent then I leave them in the bender for a few days/weeks you could take them out within a couple of hours but I don’t need to as am not trying to mass produce.
Damo

Sorry Kevjed for the slow reply and misinterpreting your last message I will keep the new one almost the same the only thing I am changing is timber on the back side and neck and I have curved the back and tapered the sides on this one. The last one I kept it simple, flat back and no taper on the sides as it was made more as a learning activity. If you want to make an acoustic the book that comes with a whole lot of plans which include side bender and steel and nylon string guitars is called A guitar makers Manual by Jim Williams and I also us build your own acoustic guitar by Jonathon Kinkead. Both of these books are a great source of information.
Damo