Ok.. so.. I promised….. a Strat build….. I’ll try to drag out the Day it would normally take me to get the first filler coats on it, so a few more can absorb the project…
First, my apologies to someone that did a Spruce Strat a few months ago, and to the Spruce Caster of recent history to, This isn’t a shot at up-staging y’all, it’s just that this happens to be the next Strat I received an order for.
Sitka Spruce is the lumber used for the sound board, (top) on Martin’s finest, as well as Gibson and about anyone else making high quality Acoustic Guitars, It is also used exclusively by Steinway & Sons for the sound boards in their finest Pianos, yep even the Concert Grand “D”. Everyone else making a serious piano uses it too. Further it is found in quality Violins, Harps, and just about any musical instrument where resonant acoustic qualities are paramount to the overall quality of the voice of the instrument. I can’t wait to hear this baby.
First we cut the lumber to the appropriate length, and check the growth rings…
Note that I have marked the angle of the rings where the two pieces will be joined. I want to joint the lumber at the same angle. This dramatically reduces the appearance of the joint as seen in the end grain.
I adjust the guide on the jointer to approximately the same angle as the growth rings in the Spruce, then joint both pieces…
I’m going to interject the Finished blank so you can seem or not see as the case may be, the joint….
and on . . .
Ron Kirn