Official Luthiers Forum!

hiya...
do you guys use a cutaway insert in your molds? I mean the little curved corner part that you screw to it when adding a cutaway? I've seen several pictures lately where the cutaway is bent... and then the side is just put in the mold as usual without trying to tightly wrap it on that insert.

thoughts?

I did on the first one I built with a cutaway but basically found it more in the way than helpful or beneficial. Probably a dozen cutaways since and don’t miss it. That’s my experience anyway.

No insert for me. I haven't found any need for one.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

For a Florentine yes, Venetian no.

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

I don't have one, but I wish I did. It would make getting things aligned for glue-ups and layout lot more efficient.

Yes I do. Since my bending of the cutaway area is a bit hit and miss the side doesn't conform too well to the comma. However it is useful when glueing in the head block where the side does need to conform.

Cheers Dave

I use one, helps to define the curves and fit it to the headblock.
I made it for my widest neck, and shim to fit if a narrower one is needed.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.