A new OM about to be born

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Drawn by Antes came from LMI I think. They are dated late 1980's to like 1993 I believe. I acquired them about 12 years ago.
Well I thought they were supposed to mimic the Martin. I suppose I'm wrong in that.

[tippie53]

that is a terrible print
it isn't even close to an actual martin
here is a much better one and it is free throw that antes out they are over braced I made one to that plan
it never impressed me these are pretty good
https://www.grellier.fr/en/downloads

[Diane Kauffmds]

The difference between a 000 vs OM is scale length? Are there differences, other than angle of the x-bracing to accomodate the bridge plate position, between an OM and 000?

I make "OM's" (technically 000) based on the old top that we have here on the forum. But, I prefer short scale, so I adjust the angle of the x-bracing to accommodate the bridge plate movement.

Are there other differences between an OM and 000?

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hey John I looked and I got that Antes print from another guy who got it from you (I have the mailing envelope) like back in 2005. How about that.

Anyway. I have that other plan your talking about, but I've used a plan from Kinkade before so I'll follow that one loosely. 25.4 scale too.

I've finally got started. Glued up a neck blank from a 36" Sapele blank I cut from a billet years ago. Actually got 4 neck blanks along with 4 guitar b & s sets from that one.
Also got a EIR fretboard blank ready for cutting fret slots.

And got the sides rough profiled and thinned down to .085" and ready for the bending machine.
I'm not going to do a cutaway on this guitar since I just don't want to risk breaking the fantastic curly Koa binding I got from Bob Gleason years ago.

More to report after tomorrow.

[Diane Kauffmds]

I really like those sides.

[tippie53]

yeah early I sold them till I discovered they are not anything close to martin
they are so overbraced

[phavriluk]

That was my reaction to that print, too. Way overbraced. Good for bar fights.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Moving right along.
Bent the sides and fit the mold well with a little "clamp coaxing".
I wrap my sides after sprtizing in kraft paper, then foil.
I start bending the waist at 250 degrees about 2/3s the way, and then begin the bouts. Lower first then upper.
Then I complete the waist. Start up of blanket to completed bend about 5 minutes tops. I heat with the blanket and light bulbs. I get heat below and above the wood this way. Works a treat!


I also joined the back plates with a center strip of Curly Koa and Holly/back fiber purfling on either side. The Koa wasn't thick enough so I CA glued it to maple strip. So Koa on the outside, maple on the inside, which will be covered with the inside back strip of cross grained spruce.

The binding (side puring), and end wedge will also be curly Koa with the same purfling scheme.

The top will be Abalone purfling with black lines.
The back I think will have the Holly and black purfling.

I hope to trim the sides and get the end blocks glued in, cut out the back and start gluing on back braces.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

My set up.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

And sides in the mold