Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Take us through building your guitar step by step. Post pictures and tell us what you're doing.
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tippie53
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Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by tippie53 »

Be very careful of notching through the sides. I never did that but I know some that had and the notch exceeded the size of the binding. I only notch into the kerfing. Looks nice and you should have a great result.
John Hall
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Diane Kauffmds
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Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

I've always notched through the sides too. I didn't know that you could stop within the kerfing. That would take some of the worry out of routing the binding channel. You definitely have to take into consideration the thickness of the top as well as the depth needed for the braces, or you'll end up with a notch that's deeper than what the binding will cover.

Of course, I've NEVER made this particular mistake...(I also have ocean front property for sale in Arizona if you're interested...)
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
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rcnewcomb
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Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:04 pm
Location: San Jose, CA, USA

Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by rcnewcomb »

Thanks for the warning about the binding. I wonder how the guitar would look if I used a 2x4 from the lumber yard for binding. That might be big enough to cover the multitude of errors that I'm making. <grin>

I now have a better understanding of WHY Kathy would have me do certain tasks when I built the first instrument. Based on what I am learning from build #2 I will know a few more things to watch out for in build #3.
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out - another good day in the shop
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Isn't it funny that we start talking about the next build half way through our current build?

A 2 x 4 would be overkill. I'm sure a 1x2" board would work fine:)
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
rcnewcomb
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Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:04 pm
Location: San Jose, CA, USA

Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by rcnewcomb »

Fitting and gluing the side reinforcing strips
SideStrips01.jpg
SideStrips02.jpg
SideStrips03.jpg
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- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out - another good day in the shop
rcnewcomb
Posts: 359
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:04 pm
Location: San Jose, CA, USA

Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by rcnewcomb »

I was able to use the go-bar deck when I glued the top on #1
ktopglued.jpg
but the StewMac Dreadnought form was too wide to fit in my current go-bar deck. The top is now glued, but I will cut away some excess material from the StewMac form before I need it again.
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- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out - another good day in the shop
Diane Kauffmds
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Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

You're moving right along. It looks good.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
rcnewcomb
Posts: 359
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:04 pm
Location: San Jose, CA, USA

Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by rcnewcomb »

Redwood top glued to the sides
TopGlued01.jpg
TopGLuesd02.jpg
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- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out - another good day in the shop
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Wow, it's a guitar! You're doing a good job.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
rcnewcomb
Posts: 359
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2015 9:04 pm
Location: San Jose, CA, USA

Re: Build #2: StewMac Mahogany Dreadnought

Post by rcnewcomb »

Laying up a few layers of mahogany veneer to reinforce the area where the side port will go.

Note the black stains on the redwood top. This was caused by using TiteBond II glue rather than TiteBond Original. Fortunately they do not appear on the face of the soundboard, only the braced side.
SidePortVeneer.jpg
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- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out - another good day in the shop
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