A "Norman Blake" style OM

[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.

[John J]

Kerfed linings in. Tamarind rosette installed and top bracing going in.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

That Cherry is beautiful, it's really going to look great under a finish, color and grain will POP!

[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.

[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.

[John J]

More pics.