A "Norman Blake" style OM

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John J
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: Saint Paul, MN

A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by John J »

Number six for me. I was planning to use a black limba back and side set I had for this one, but scrapped that after my sides cracked across the grain while pre bending the waist. So this will be a cherry and Engleman spruce guitar. The cherry bends wonderfully, however I had a small goof in marking the waist when I bent the sides. I ended up with a gap at the neck block. I adjusted the mega mold and made the upper bout a little smaller. Overall length is shortened by 1/2". I decided to leave the bracing and sound hole as is and lengthen the bridge plate the 1/2". Rim is together and I'm working on the top bracing.
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Learning every day.
John J
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: Saint Paul, MN

Re: A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by John J »

Kerfed linings in. Tamarind rosette installed and top bracing going in.
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Learning every day.
johnnparchem
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Re: A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by johnnparchem »

Looking good now. You need to up-sell. I think you have a good solution for the short side. You now have a custom shaped OM. It will look great.
Diane Kauffmds
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Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

I had a problem with my binding jig that took off too much on the upper left shoulder of my cherry/spruce 00. I "unglued" the top/bottom and bent the sides in, which narrowed the upper bout width by 1/2", and shifted my dovetail block down 1/4". But, in the process I gained 1/2" on the lower bout width. The guitar has an incredible voice.

Sometimes boos work out better than the original plan.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
John J
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: Saint Paul, MN

Re: A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by John J »

I'm hoping the change will be positive.

Box is closed and it looks good. Only lost about a half an inch on the upper bout. Routed for the end wedge.
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Last edited by John J on Tue Jan 05, 2016 10:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Learning every day.
John J
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: Saint Paul, MN

Re: A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by John J »

Made a handle for my radius block. Much easier to sand the radius into the fingerboard. It's Katalox bound in cherry. Neck roughed out and body ready for binding.
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Learning every day.
Kevin Sjostrand
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Joined: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:06 pm
Location: Visalia, CA

Re: A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by Kevin Sjostrand »

That Cherry is beautiful, it's really going to look great under a finish, color and grain will POP!
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

I like that handle! (The guitar ain't half bad either. Lol). The grain on the guitar is killer. Can't wait to see it finished.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
John J
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: Saint Paul, MN

Re: A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by John J »

Bindings (leopardwood) done and body sanded to 180. Using gold mop for the inlays on this one. I'm getting more proficient with each inlay. I bought a foot switch for the dremel and it makes it so much easier. Not worried about jostling the bit when I turn the tool off. I used brown tinted epoxy on the Katalox board.
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Last edited by John J on Sat Jan 16, 2016 12:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Learning every day.
John J
Posts: 296
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 7:52 pm
Location: Saint Paul, MN

Re: A "Norman Blake" style OM

Post by John J »

More pics.
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Learning every day.
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