Custom Guitars UK

My latest acoustic build – progress

As satisfying as it is to build a guitar, there are certain moments that really stand out.  The obvious one comes at the end: when you string it up, and hear the first notes from the newly-made instrument.  Another great moment is when you apply the first coats of finish; at that moment, you get a glimpse of what the final guitar will look like.

Today I enjoyed another one of my favourite moments: finishing the box.  When you get the top and back glued to the sides, you can get an inkling of the guitar’s voice and tone.

With some judicious tapping, I was able to ascertain that this guitar has a good even response across its top, and that the back is vibrating well.  Then I blew compressed air over the soundhole, like blowing across the top of a milk bottle at a certain angle, so that the box began making a noise.  When this happened I felt the top vibrating, and I made douby sure that there were no inactive areas of the spruce top.

The back and sides of this guitar are made from a great piece of Mango.  When I found this piece of wood, the flame in the wood took my breath away. I also like the wide variety of colours accross this particular piece.  When it is finished, this guitar is going to be easy on the eye.

I have used a non-traditional bracing structure for this guitar, on both the top and back.  In this picture, the asterisk bracing on the back has been glued in, but not yet carved.  I have finished the inside of the guitar with shellac (French polish), to provide protection against the environment.