Cutaway

[Ben-Had]

OK, I'm contemplating doing my first cutaway (OM). What do I need to know that is different in the construction than a non-cutaway? I mean like bracing, how to attach the cutaway side, binding, etc.

[tippie53]

The only real thing to be aware of is that the neck block gets trimmed to match the fretboard taper. If you are doing standard Martin X bracing, the popsicle gets a little trim or moved back. Also the kerfing in the cutaway area may need a few extra kerfs.
That super flexible kerfing from Ryan's guitars may be just the ticket .

[Ben-Had]

Are the sides by the cutaway just butted up against one another and then flush cut/trimmed off?

[tippie53]

you can miter them. I like to butt them and then run a mating piece of binding on the exposed side.

[Darryl Young]

I'm guessing you are considering a Florentine cutaway? The binding/purfling miters and how the sides are treated along the point seem to be the complex areas to consider. Well, and how the cutaway matches up to the neck......which looks nice and plays nice. I've seen cutaways that don't do this but it doesn't seem the right way.

Are the sides by the cutaway just butted up against one another and then flush cut/trimmed off?

[Ben-Had]

A Martin style bend, that's what I have the equipment for.