260908
Friday 26th September ’08
various fingerboards were glued on yesterday.. ready for work..
the excess is removed with the bandsaw from each fretboard
the edges and radius are then planed in by hand
..note Giles in his corner.. he’s moved accross the room because he’s had enough of being stood on!!!
as we go along straight edges and back-light from the window are used to check the trueness of each fretboard..
..Giles being eaten by his offspring!!!
fret slots marked out and cut
and it’s on to prepping for the inlays.. the trapezoid inlays are drawn out and stuck to some plastic sheeting..
each one is cut out and is now a permanent template..
sheets of abalone.. the shells are cut into slices and laminated together to give us a big enough surface to work from..
each slab is too thin though so needs to be laminated to another veneer
while we’re waiting for that to dry I move on to Andrews custom 8 string guitar.. the scale lengths (not a typo!!) are marked on each edge of the fingerboard
and the fanned fret system cut out..
it is very very important to wear protection during some jobs.. and equaly important to look cool at the same time!!
the binding channels are routed out
Giles fell asleep on a stray piece of masking tape.. note the quiff.. Elvis lives!!!
the inlays cut and glued in place..
the heavily flamed maple binding is going to be cut out of this strip.. the edges are planed flat and prepared..
the strips are glued to the fingerboard and held in place with masking tape..
while that is drying more coats of lacquer are applied to Fabio’s seven string and Fred’s custom Slimline..
and eventually the excess wood is planed off..
and she is ready for frets.. because of the binding part of the tang is removed so the edge of the fret overlaps the maple…
each fret is glued in place..
the, very very sharp, edges are filed flush and rounded over.
she is waxed and polished..
and ready for a body..
the other part of the job is keeping this site updated.. and here are a few more pages.. the Touchguitar..
45rpm
the paf vine (patent applied for.. named after the Gibson/Paul Reed Smith lawsuit)
and finally the vanquish..
All my best to you and yours..
Ben
Crimson Bespoke Guitars