www.KitGuitarsForum.com

Well I made a half template from plans and using basically scrap wood; pine board, particle board and some board made of laminated pine planks, I've made a building mold. It's a down and dirty mold for sure!

I used the cut out piece from the mold for my archtop guitar of stacked MDF and cut it up to make some spreaders.

I had one small sheet of MDF that I've cut into 3 pieces for a bending form. That's the next step, to complete that form.

J200 is on my bucket list. Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I haven’t strayed from Martin body styles yet. This and a j50 are on my wish list.

Got the bending form made!

I pulled down some wood I think I'll use for this one.
I resawed a billet of Birdseye maple about 8 years ago and built a classical from it for a friend. I got 4 sets from it.
I have one left and although it doest have many Birdseye it still has some figure so I'll use it.

I have a pretty nice AA grade Sitka top left from LMI that probably is an AAA grade by others standards so I'll use that.

I'm thinking Indian rosewood binding....I have to cut those up from cut offs from some other builds sides.

Nice Honduran Mahogany neck. Indian rosewood fretboard and bridge. Probably BWB purfling and BW side purfling with the EIR binding

Probably Nickel frets and chrome Gotoh tuners.

I think I'll use my standard headstock shape but maybe a new shape bridge??? Moosetach?

Stalled on this project last couple of weeks. Had a hanging on head cold and...
Going through Cataract surgeries....one eye done next this Tuesday
Hope to get started back on it soon.

Just saw this about your cataract surgeries, I sincerely wish you the best with your procedures. My wife and best friend both had successful surgeries and I hope yours goes a well as theirs did. Take care.

Thank you Kevin
I had the second eye done yesterday and it went really well. The first eye was 6 days ago. Had a follow up today and the surgeon said the second eye was already doing so well he couldn't tell which eye he just did yesterday.
I'm very pleased so far with results.

Hope to make a fret bender tomorrow or Friday if the wife doesn't yell at me. :)

Great to hear! Sounds like you have a fine surgeon. They have to get things right the first time! Keep “making sawdust”!

Glad to hear you are OK and still making guitars. I count on your expert advice on this forum.

I just got started yesterday. Thicknessed the maple sides and bent side #1. Today I bent side number two.
Both went great and fit the mold well. Bent at 280 degrees.

They have got cataract surgery figured out. Mine took about 15 minutes, I think. The worst part of
the surgery was after it was done, and I had to put in two kinds of eyedrops twice a day for a month.