Thread: Cumpiano and cork sheet

Originally Posted by Different

What is a "Solera"


Ross

A solera is the guitar shaped workboard on which a guitar is built using the "Spanish method". The solera usually has a shallow dished out surface over the lower bout area so the guitar top (lying face down on solera during construtcion) ends up with a slight dome in it. A slight arching of the top adds strength and improves sound of the instrument.

The spanish method is largely used for building classical guitars but it can be used for steel strings also. The only down side is resetting of the neck requires removal of the guitar's back and shimming or trimming of the spanish foot. See Jim Williams book for building a steel guitar using the spanish method. My first build was a flat topped OM constructed largely following Jim's method. The instrument is 4 years old and the neck hasnt moved at all.

Originally Posted by Different

How long do you think it is going to take.
If I had all the bits and pieces and tools I would have something that looked like a guitar in a week or two.

Ross

Not counting the actual time working on my guitar,
I reckon if I added the time up I've spent researching, pondering, scratching my head trying to work out how to do what I need to do with what I have, reading all the pro's and cons of each process/ procedure and trying to find the way to achieve the sort of result and sound I'm looking for,....well I reckon that would be a year worth of my time right there just staring at it.

I think you may be surprised how much time goes into building acoustic guitars. You'll spend at least as much time building jigs as you will spend actually hands on guitar work..

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

I built my first guitar as part of a building course in NZ a few years back. In a class of 12 students with two tutors it took us 3 weeks working 5 days a week and at least 8 hours a day. Thats about 120 hours.

At the moment Im spending about 200 hours on my guitars but theyre very vanilla flavoured guitars. If youre doing any fancy inlays etc you can end up spening alot more time on your instruments. My last instrument had a hand made paua rosette which alone took me a day and a half to get cut up and laid out. Because I build as a hobby and spend at least half the year away working my work pace is probablly a bit slower than someone who is able to spend every day working on an instrument.

Anyway if its your first guitar then how long it takes to build the thing shoildnt be your highest priority. Youre going to make stuff ups and youre on a steep learning curve so expect things to go slow. Above all dont push the pace just to get the instrument finished...thats when youll make the big stuff ups.

Cheers Martin

I wasnt planning on rushing it at all just not messing around either.
Thought today I got sidetracked into prototyping a couple of Spool clamps and tomorrow probably some hand screws.


Ross

Dont spend too much time prototyping clamps and stuff. There are plenty of plans around for spool clamps. Check out violin making sites and Sloane's book. You'll need a few clamps with deeper reach as well.

I use mainly cam clamps....bought from Stewmac and not the cheapest clamps around but I like the way they work. You can get by with a few cheap clamps from Mitre 10 or Bunnings. For clamping in linings etc clothes pegs are the cheapest option or spring clamps...the latter can often be bought in bulk lots at Bunnings.

The first thing you need to work out is what sort of guitar youre going to build and what construction method youre going to follow (external mold or Spanish method). I use external moulds now for my steel strings but Ive also built them using the same work board I use for my classicals.

If you dont have the dosh for a guitar making course then the next best thing is one or two of the guitar making books that are around. Campiano's book is good even if its a bit dated in parts. Kinkaid's book is also good. For classicals I recommend Campiano or Bogdanovich's book.

Cheers Martin

I use these for kerfing ....plus clothes pegs
can't remember the actual size but this is what they look like. and they worked great and you get a pile of them in a box for a few bucks.

http://www.officeworks.com.au/office...12FB32MM.shtml

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

Dont spend too much time prototyping clamps and stuff. There are plenty of plans around for spool clamps. Check out violin making sites and Sloane's book. You'll need a few clamps with deeper reach as well.

I use mainly cam clamps....bought from Stewmac and not the cheapest clamps around but I like the way they work. You can get by with a few cheap clamps from Mitre 10 or Bunnings. For clamping in linings etc clothes pegs are the cheapest option or spring clamps...the latter can often be bought in bulk lots at Bunnings.

The first thing you need to work out is what sort of guitar youre going to build and what construction method youre going to follow (external mold or Spanish method). I use external moulds now for my steel strings but Ive also built them using the same work board I use for my classicals.

If you dont have the dosh for a guitar making course then the next best thing is one or two of the guitar making books that are around. Campiano's book is good even if its a bit dated in parts. Kinkaid's book is also good. For classicals I recommend Campiano or Bogdanovich's book.

Cheers Martin

Not spending much time on it at all whipped up one in short order and a batch will follow if it works well. Have always wanted a bunch of hand screws they just make you look so much more like a woodworker that a bunch of chinese clamps from bunnies !

I can see the advantages of the exterior mould but not for me because like my furniture making I dont intend to make the same guitar twice I have lots of ideas that I want to try so flexibility is the most important thing for me.

Ross