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Well I am working on another conversion this is a 1961 D 28 that was in bad shape. I just completed the 1st step in routing in the channel and setting the binding and purfling.
Note the miter at the tail piece , this is being done to a 1937 spec. There are a lot of pieces to wrestle with. Top pearl will be .065 side and back pearl is .050
top has b/w/b pearl b/w/b
sides are binding b/w/b pearl / b/w

back is binding b/w/b pearl /b/w tomorrow I will set the neck and do the extension , once all that is compete I will do the pearl work

John, what do you use for the side pearl? If not zipflex, how do you fit those bouts and waist curves?

Kevin

Very cool to see the conversion process.

Rick Gunn

I never used zipflex, This is a 1937 conversion and the pearl will break in the curves. With solid shell you have a lot of fudge room and it is a lot more durable. You will see that process in a few days. I just got the neck set and will now do the heel and fretboard extension.
There is a lot more craftsmanship in using solid shell and on this kind of a project it is worth the time investment. This is a $10,000 to $15,000 guitar.
Enjoy the process

Great work John

Thanks for the thread

I've got to see how you get that shell around the curves on the sides....

Kevin

It is very simple
In fact the more you break it the better it looks

but going around the tight waist and over the bout curves, how does the shell lay flat with tight joints?

Shameless plug for John's DVD, but he explains the process on the Style 40 purfling DVD.

Glenn

of the 161 gutiars I have built and sold there are about 50 pearled examples , There is a certain look to natural pearl and abalam. To me the zipflex is to perfect. Real pearl has an appearance. It is less costly than zipflex and abalam snaps and breaks very easy. The more it snaps in the better it looks. The joints are irregular and hide.
On older examples of pearled guitars you can see the voids and imperfections of the natural material. The more you work pearl the more comfortable you will become. If I am doing inlay with the border pearl I like having the same pearl for color match.
Also on solid pearl you don't have to worry about sand through. Also on abalam there is a .030 top veneer of pearl to allow finish sanding.