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The '30 day' Ditson from KMG is still not back from the sensitive artiste genius who is waiting for a personal appearance by the archangel Gabriel to give her a vision of what to paint, so I have time to start a new project.

Another Ditson but this time - gulp - with a cutaway. Ken Cierp did not bend the cutaway, at my request, so I will be doing that part of it and the appurtenances thereto.
The kit got here today, I attach a pic of the 3 piece back, dry, nothing wiped on it, just out of the box. It is glorious in person, but the mahogany center piece is washed out in the pic. But there will be more.

I've also attached a pic of the guitar that inspired me a few years ago; in fact, it was that guitar that I have been aiming at through this whole learning experience. It's a Bourgeois Martin Simpson slope dred cutaway, designed for fingerstyle. I owned one for awhile and loved it. Mine will be eir/mahogany with a sitka top, mahogany bindings and end wedge etc. It will be a fun challenge :-)
Dave

A link to the photobucket album for the Ditson cutaway build so far.
Back is braced; the top bracing is shaped and ready for gluing; the rosette is installed; the cutaway is being glued to the headstock.
I did buy a cheap vacuum press on approval - it works just fine, keeps the vacuum for at least 24 hours, easy to use and set up. Has a manual hand pump - I use my shop vac to get the bulk of the air out and then hand pump for 30 seconds or so and Bob's my uncle.
I'm using 1/4" braces a la D-35's, they are very light and I enjoy working with them.
I used CA for the rosette, Titebond original for everything else so far.
I am having a good time! :-)

http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad22 ... 20cutaway/

Hey Dave, nice looking rosette. I've only used abalone once but it sure ads sparkle.
Nice looking braces on the back too.

Kevin

I can't wait to see how this guitar looks, sounds really nice.

Kevin Sjostrand wrote:Hey Dave, nice looking rosette. I've only used abalone once but it sure ads sparkle.
Nice looking braces on the back too.

Kevin

Where is the pic of the rosette?

On his Photo bucket

sorry dave and kevin, I didn't see the link.

I just tried the provided link and the rosette is there. I'll attach it here too.

edit: the innermost ring is green fiber purfling, I wanted to try it and though the pic does not do it justice, it looks dang good.

Catching up on a few pix. These first three are just the method I used to get the correct angle for the cutaway block. They are of course in reverse order because I'm dense.

A few pix of today's work , all went well.
More pix at : http://s938.photobucket.com/albums/ad22 ... %20cutaway

Dave,
That is a cool cutaway, sort of ala Breedlove? Looks alot easy to make the bends too.
Very nice.

Kevin