Closed the box on #4 today.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hi Gang,
I got the top glued on last night, and all edges trimmed and rims sanded today. Sealed the rosette with super glue.
I also cut out an end wedge from the red part of the macawood, and I radiused the fretboard.
It is always a good feeling to get the guitar body to this point, and I'm anxious to put the bloodwood binding in place.

Kevin

[Woody OKeefe]

Wow Kevin That's pretty!!

I know what you mean about closing the box. It is very satisfying. I'll let you know what happens with mine..

[tippie53]

that is more bridge plate than you need . work does look clean.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

John,
Ya know, I agree. I am following the Scott Antes plan that LMI sells, but I've noticed it is much larger than what Martin does. However....the guitars I've made with this same bridge plate size/design have sounded pretty good. I guess I'll have to try a smaller one and see if it sounds even better!
Thanks for the comments guys, not as clean and neat as I'd like it to be. I need to work more on that.
I'm anxious to open up the mortise in the neck block and start fitting the neck and fretboard to the end of the cutaway so I can see how I did with the fit there. I'm trying for a flush fit.

Kevin

[tippie53]

Those Antes plan are for wrapping fish , and they don't do that well. Yes you are overbuilt . They are ok for a reference . In the future use about 1/2 the plate and on the braces .300 by .600 is a good start for the main braces

[Ken Hundley]

Lookin good, Kev! Keep it up!

[Kevin Sjostrand]

John,
The x braces are actually 3/8" by 1/2" tall (except at the cross).
The tone bars and fingers are 5/16" wide. Probably still a little heavy, but this guitar is going to live in a very humid part of India, so like the last guitar I built, I built it a little heavy to hopefully hold up better when the humidity goes up.
I am anxious to build one lighter!!!!

Kevin

[Ken C]

Some nice progress there, Kevin!

I have Antes plans for an OM. I never really followed them as I felt the result would be Indestructo-Guitar! Everything was way overbuilt in my opinion.

Ken

[tippie53]

I like to build the guitar in the RH range it will go to. You can make it lighter just build it in a higher RH condition.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

I hear you John, but my problem has been that the humidity in the area in India is upwards of 65%, I could not get my shop that high, but I was able to stay around 50% with most of the build.

Kevin