Thread: Weissenborn Guitar

Hi Alan,
I been thinking about you the last few days , with all that rain I hope you are still there and if so , still got power and access. This 1 is very bad and anyone south of the border is going to have a lot on their hands.
You would be very close to finishing if you got no set backs from the dump- rain !
I got more photos coming maybe tomorrow. So far it's been more thinking than anything else, that would not surprise you I'm sure - plan before you do. !
Hope all is well up there.
Cheers Waza

Originally Posted by ozziebluesman

G'day Waza,

No day light savings here so it is only 9 45pm! The clouds are rolling in as I type. The low forming up north is going to be a beauty and keep us wet for a week or more!

For your first go it's up to you how much you want to differ from the plan. I think if you build to the plan you have a refrence point and then your next build, change to improve. As I say building to the MIMF plan the instrument is going to sound good even following the bracing dimensions exactly.

I'm on holidays so I will be looking in tomorrow to see how you are going. It is better if you take in all information and then make up your own mind on how your going to go about profiling the sides.

Cheers

Alan

G'day Waza,

It has been wet here but nothing like around Rocky and Brisbane. The Monsoon has been very active here and we seem to get most of our rain at night. 30 mm last night! The humidity has been through the roof.

I have finished the french polishing process on the weissenborn copy. After filling the pores, I have spent 25 hours french polishing usually two hours in the morning and a further two hours in the afternoon. Each new day I sanded with 400 grit sandpaper and some drops of olive oil. I also spirited off a few times between sessions with just metho and olive oil but it's very labour intensive and hard on my tennis elbow. Anyway, I'm happy with the finish and I think there is enough product on the guitar. Hard to gauge how much is enough! I will wait for a few weeks and then bring out my satin finish. I may apply a final wax coat as well!

All I have to do now is glue on the bridge and we will be making music.

I have a parlour guitar on the go at the moment as well and it is almost ready for the shellac process. It is a blackwood B/S and a WR cedar top. I have used a parbolic brace design and this is a fingerpicking style guitar. I tried to make the top as responsive as possible without going too thin with the braces. I will post some pictures of it later when it is finished. I thought the weissenborn build would be an interesting process for members to watch evolve!

Your guitar is coming along nicely Waza.

Cheers

Alan

Yesterday I sanded back with 400 grit sandpaper. The shellac finish is still green so it needs to dry for a few weeks. I couldn't help myself and glued the bridge on yesterday. This morning I strung it up and I still have a smile on my face.
Here are a few pictures and thanks for your interest. A sound file will be along shortly!






Cheers
Alan

Very pretty Alan. Im sure you have a smile, well done.

Looks great Alan,
Cheers Bob

Hi Alan,

Very clean silky look. A very neat job with no frills but should sound bright with lots of tone depth. I have been deciding whether to do edge bindings , but after seeing yours and being the 1st , think I'll not worry about it.
Well done pal.
Cheers Waza

Top job Alan. Looks great mate

Here are the latest shots of the build to date, showing the top & back withe bracing complete. The sides have the butt back block & kerfed lining for the back at this time. The headstock I made from an off-cut of Blackwood from the body cut-outs, and is laminated to a piece of Tasmanian Sassafras giving a neat contrast.
The bridge back blocking is also Blackwood with opposing grain. It's just slightly different to Alan's and can't see why it won't work either.I went a bit too close with some bracing around the sound hole, so I faired them down without losing lateral stiffness .
Cheers Waza
I tried uploading the photos but the system has some kind of security issue which won't allow it. Will try tomorrow .

Hi All,
Maybe this time the photos will go !
Sorry , no go. I have tried and tried to upload photos but no good . I get a message saying photos cannot be processed , there is a security item missing , contact the Administrator .
So , I will try to send the photos to someone as an attached email and see if that works as an experiment.
Cheers Waza

Hi Waza, Photos received so I will see if I can upload the photos and leave you to explain the build, Cheers, Bob

Attachment 159791

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Attachment 159793

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Attachment 159795

Attachment 159796

Attachment 159797

Thanks to Bob who helped out with relaying the photos to the forum, you are all now able to see something.
Photo 1. The back showing face side.
2. Back showing braces , I used Tasmanian Sassafras
3. The Top with bracing, the bridge back block is Blackwood with opposing
diagonal grain.
4. My son Winston pointing out, stick to the plan Dad !
5. Sides held to profile , kerfed lining for back only .
6 & 7. Same view again.

Cheers Waza

Hi Alan,
I wandered if you're still there in 1 piece. This weather is way off the scale hey. I don't believe what you guys have had, here in Melbourne sticking hot 40 c , and Bob in Hobart has a nice overcast sky and good workable temperature.
I truly hope all is well.
I will be assembling the back & top to the sides very soon , just waiting for the weather to settle a bit.
Cheers
Waza

Originally Posted by ozziebluesman

Yesterday I sanded back with 400 grit sandpaper. The shellac finish is still green so it needs to dry for a few weeks. I couldn't help myself and glued the bridge on yesterday. This morning I strung it up and I still have a smile on my face.
Here are a few pictures and thanks for your interest. A sound file will be along shortly!






Cheers
Alan

G'day Waza,

Yep, it's been one hell of an experience the past few days.

The electricity has just been reconnected a few hours ago. It went off 8pm wednesday evening when the cyclone hit north queensland. Townsville received high winds felling many trees which created chaos with the electricity infrastructure. Our home was undamaged but next doors front veranda jumped the fence into our place! Heaps of green waiste in the yard! We received 200 ml of rain and the flora and fauna has been devistated.

We are safe and thats all that matters.

Thanks for your concern!

Cheers

Alan

hello im a fellow first time guitar builder but i cant get my hands on some plans do u have any u could email me