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Another archtop.
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=15583		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Dave Stewart [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Another archtop.
Here's #5.
This one is englemann with euro maple B&S, Gotoh 510's, gold fretwire & Kent Armstrong smoothtop pickup. The finish is Target Ultima, with a slight toned sunburst and pigmented black USL over aniline dyed bare wood top.
As well as being a brand new design for me (it's a 16" x 3 3/8" and a bit different shape, rather than the previous 17"), it's my first attempt at a bolted neck, graphite reinforcement, & tone control.
Anyway, thanks for looking!
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Beautiful, Dave! Great work, and nice design. Clap Clap Clap Clap Clap
Author:  npalen [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
OK Dave, you can go back to your day job now. :D
Author:  Bob Long [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Wow!!! Positively Beautiful! And the photos of this one are even better then the last batch. Also, I love the black top!

long
Author:  Dave Taylor [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Hey Dave,

How did you handle the bolt on neck joint? I've been trying to figure
out how to do this for a Gretsch-like guitar I'm working on.
Author:  Dave Stewart [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Thanks guys.
:D Nelson, it evaporated a while back! (Actually, I'd like to bring it up to your level so maybe I could start selling them!)
re the bolt-on, after discussions and much good advice from Mark Blanchard, I went away from the dovetail and elected to go with barrel nuts in a standard M&T joint. (I think these are less of a problem given the inherent alignment difficulties drilling through the endpin hole.)
To summarize, I drill two pilot holes through the headblock, then drill them to final with a 1/4" x 24" bit from the endpin hole. After adjusting/fitting the neck exactly, I clamp it & use the headblock holes as "bushings" to drill the corresponding tenon holes (watch depth!) with the same bit. I made a quik jig to bush for a 10 mm cross hole in the tenon so I know the barrels will not be off relative to the 1/4" longitudinal (bolt) holes. Remove the neck, push in the barrels, insert bolts to align them, then attach the neck. I used KD furniture bolts (1/4" x 1 1/2", nice broad, flat head, allen socket). Oh, I made a long allen wrench by JBWELD'g a 2" cutoff into a thin steel pipe & attaching a handle.
I had the neck off & on about 20 times during construction, including for fine tuning and finishing the body & neck seperately (a big reason I went this route) & couldn't be happier with how well it worked! Won't go back!
Author:  SniderMike [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
That's a beauty!!!
Author:  Dave Taylor [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Wow. I never would have thought of going through the endpin hole. Great idea!

I had thought of doing something similar, but with the bolt going in through the heel.
Author:  JBreault [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Great job Dave!!!
Author:  Zach Ehley [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Those pics almost look like a ProE model. Are you sure thats real? :D
Author:  Dave Stewart [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Chris, the angles aren't negligible, which is why drilling in place, then using barrels, makes it kind of idiot-proof (good for me). Much harder I think to get threaded inserts seated at the right angles. You'd need machinists capabilities/accuracies, like Mark, to pull it off.
You have to hold the bolt through the f-hole with tweezers & plug it on the inserted wrench (which is why you want an allen socket!) It holds in place fine.
Author:  SteveCourtright [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
That is one of the most beautiful instruments I have ever seen. Just wonderful. The shape is indescribably lovely.
Author:  L. Presnall [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Dave, that's one awesome AT! (There used to be a "clapping" smiley...if I could find it, it'd be HERE!)
Author:  L. Presnall [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
And Joe, LOVE that avatar! :D
Author:  Anthony Z [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 6:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Dave,

Wow! I really like it! I especially like how the fingerrest tracks the shape of the "f" hole. Well done.

I gotta make my way out to Milton to see it.
Author:  Vincent Simokovich [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Stunning! Simply stunning.

Vince
Author:  Hesh [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Superb Dave and I agree with Steve that this is one of the most beautiful instruments that I have ever seen too.

You get the clap five times for this one........ :D
Author:  Dave Stewart [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Thanks for the very kind words guys. (Hesh, your avatar was one of the inspirations, way back when.)
Author:  Anthony Z [ Mon Jan 28, 2008 8:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Dave,

It would be great if you could do a "tutorial" or do an article for GuitarMaker on how you make a bolt on neck archtop.
Author:  Billy T [ Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Stunning Dave! Absolutely Stunning!

Love the "through the end pin" idea! I immediately thought how's he get that M&T neck off! Beautiful finish, Beautiful coloring( even if the top is black :D )

Is that avatar pic yours?
Author:  Dave White [ Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:33 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Dave,

Fabulous guitar - well done. Gorgeous shape and details.


As for the bolts via the endpin hole - you must have been a vet in a previous existence :D
Author:  Barry Dudley [ Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
WOW, beautiful!! I started out making classical guitars but moved to violins several years ago. The Archtop is something that is on my "got to do" list. It seems it would be similar to a violin in many ways just bigger. A cross between a steel sting and a violin!!
Author:  Dave Stewart [ Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:20 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Anthony, I'll try to put together a tutorial on my next one. (We'll talk about Guitarmaker when I see you).
Billy, the avatar is my last one, probably in the archives from Dec. (An interesting point- the avatar is much more "true colour" than the original shots. The blue backdrop & CFL lighting were confusing the hell out of my camera - daylight tunsten & white backdrop are MUCH better)
Barry, similarly, I built a violin first because I'd always wanted to! I got to the "...who the heck can play one of these things.." stage, & moved on to archtops.
Author:  Steve Walden [ Tue Jan 29, 2008 12:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
Dave White wrote:
Dave,

Fabulous guitar - well done. Gorgeous shape and details.

As for the bolts via the endpin hole - you must have been a vet in a previous existence :D


Dave, the keyboard on my computer was just shorted out by the spray of coffee...................! :oops:

That archtop is a masterpiece of craftmanship. I'm sure it sounds as gorgeous as it looks. Like a great looking woman.....
Author:  Jonas [ Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Another archtop.
absolutely beautiful! I'm always astounded by how great luthier made archtops look. They're all so cool.
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