Official Luthiers Forum!

Here's a shot of my end wedge jig and the resulting wedge. I made it in about 30 minutes out of scrap. It was really just meant to be a one time jig, but I've used it now on my last 4 guitars. It's not adjustable, but I think I can make it adjustable pretty easily. I set it up to work with my dremel and a 1/4" bit. You'll see I've marked it that way to remind myself.



The resulting wedge:



Now a purfling question. I'm thinking of using rope purfling with a single black border on the outside. Binding will be ebony with maple side purfling. I know LMI sells rope binding, any other sources? Here's a shot of the guitar it's going on. Any other suggestions?

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

Yea Jimmy that guitar Just aint going to cut it..send to me I will dipose of it properly


I love the contrasting top. What is that Redwood/Sitka?

i'm rather taken with your end graft design. it's a refreshing change from the rectangular and straight sided wedges generally in use. i'm going to have to try that soon.

Jimmy cool jig. That said,I have to object. I am highly disappointed at the guitar. It is not made right. There is not a proper soundhole and therefore can't work. The two different tops won't work either. The end wedge well all of the guitar just isn't what it is supposed to look right, and therefore not playable. To make guitars that will be playable, you can't do it this way. I suggest going back to the drawing board, buy some wood and do it right. When you have, then you can post pics and say you built a guitar. Please don't insult the playing community with this kind of stuff guys, there is one way and look for a guitar to be right and this ain't it. Right Lance? How come you didn't edit the photo's? This just can't be!!

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

You're right Stan. Maybe I can make a planter out of it.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

So how does this work? does your dremel base reference first on one side, then on the other to cut the outer most channels then you rout out the stuff between the channels?

I have seen something similar at Dennis Scannell's site and been intrigued with this end graft design, but I am not enirely sure about how this is working.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Brock,

I use my StewMac base and just place the base inside the curved guides on each side. Since it's an outside curve the base just slides along the guides. I route each side, then the middle. It's idiot-proof (well, so far, anyway). It's designed for the base to sit sideways in the jig. That is the v in the jig points to the side, not the top or bottom, although you could build it the other way. The opening would be wider to accommodate the wider dimension of the base. If this doesn't make sense, I'll send you a picture with the Dremel in the jig.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

Nope, that makes perfect sense.

Then to cut the graft that fits in the channel, do you cut it with the same method only changing the size of your bit to get the two pieces to fit correctly (with purfling).

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I made a template from plywood and double stick tape it to my blank, then to the router table.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

Ok. Thanks. Sorry for the 30 questions.   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Michael,

It's redwood/sitka. Redwood from Dave Maize. Sitka I bought in 1983 from Lane Moller. It's got some nice bearclaw, but it doesn't show up in the photo.

Brock,

Re: The questions....What goes around, comes around. If you decide to try it, post some pics.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

Jimmy: I'd reccomend going direct to LMI's source, namely Gurian instruments. They've got a 200 buck minimum order, but that's fairly easily filled with some rope, some herringbone, maybe a bit of binding and other purfling/backstrips. I got some not too far back, quality is top notch..

at gurian that order can also grow with some ivory bridge pins thrown in just to make up the numbers.