Official Luthiers Forum!

[QUOTE=Rick Cowan] What a beautiful instrument! Can anyone explain how Jim achieved the rosette design? Are those individual inlays, probably done with CNC?
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I'd bet on CNC, because it's the simplest answer and because it left its footprints on the design. The machine could cut the individual pieces so they fit together in the channel perfectly, and drawing them up in CAD would be fast. Drop in pieces, flood with CA, run through sander to level.

He did go the extra mile with the points on the little white pieces, though. They're too sharp for the mill (at least they look that way in the photo) so he would have had to either use some fill around the points or go in and sharpen the pockets manually.

Some days I wish I didn't know how all this stuff was done, the sense of wonder is dearly missed. On the other hand, technical points aside, that is a beautifully designed instrument in every way. Jim's sense of taste and aesthetics is much more amazing to me than the technical details! That one's a jaw dropper for all the right reasons (It's Jim's, so of course it sounds good, too).

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services