Dave's Acoustic Corner 😱

[crazydave911]

Well I always knew this day would come, maybe . I originally started this journey in the acoustic realm. The main product designed by me and ALL for sale. That ended in nervous breakdown and divorce.
This however is a happy occasion. Working the Redemption Build the last few weeks the more I bump it and get tap tones I just couldn't take it anymore lol
The first candidate is a guitar my foster son Eric got drunk one night and fell into it (he's a full blown alcoholic in the US Navy). It's a Yamaha he basically asked how, took the back off and throwed in a closet.
From the front not so bad

The back however is a different story

 

[guitarbuilder]

I guess that's a Y brace.

 

[crazydave911]

Well first, let's take inventory. We have an F-335 Yamaha made in Indonesia. That means all (very good) plywood, tone bars of sapwood though the X braces were quite nice. The bridge plate was 3 ply mahogany plywood, ugh. I planned a desert eucalyptus bridge plate, slightly smaller but as with most Australian woods, hard as iron so unlike with say Gibson, smaller shouldn't matter. The X brace, the handy thing I have is tiger stripe eastern cedar. Good enough for Cherokee bows, good enough for me

 

[crazydave911]

Now I heated the bridge plate to remove it but like a bridge you seldom get out clean. Prying with a sharp chisel I got into the plywood beneath it so had to glue it back. Along the bottom little cuts the full length and on the top three pieces of various sizes.

First the little chips along the bottom, and yes I used the new bridge plate before thinning as a clamping caul, very strong

Then set the pieces along the top
Then glue them down

Last but not least reglue one of the soundhole supports

 

[crazydave911]

No pictures of the drudgery (cleaning the gauze off the X brace, dressing the cedar repair extension and thinning the bridge plate)

 

[crazydave911]

I hate to disappoint but it seems I didn't make any progress pics, just the finished product

The X brace glued in with a slight arch to match the treble side.
Then glued in the bridge plate. No, it's not crooked, the bridge is straight but all the braces on the back side are slightly skewed, all to the right and it was either go with the flow or tear them ALL out and reglue , nope not enough days in the week lol.
And last, since I obviously have access to gauze, a brand new X patch

 

[crazydave911]

Now, to clean out and off the body and back and see what I have and maybe rest?

 

[crazydave911]

Sorry, found a pic right before the patch, also right above that loose soundhole brace the top was cracked slightly. I repaired with CA. I'll show when I can, sorry I forgot

 

[envirodat]

I am having fun following this. Thanks for sharing. What exactly does the gauze do? I see it in the guitars but I have not found a simple explanation on why it is used.

 

[guitarbuilder]

I am having fun following this. Thanks for sharing. What exactly does the gauze do? I see it in the guitars but I have not found a simple explanation on why it is used.

It's an extra bond to the lap joint at the X. It probably fills in gaps and adds an extra layer of fastening but personally I don't subscribe to using it on my own acoustic builds. Martin did it, so maybe it was a throwback to the Euro methodology.

 

[crazydave911]

It's an extra bond to the lap joint at the X. It probably fills in gaps and adds an extra layer of fastening but personally I don't subscribe to using it on my own acoustic builds. Martin did it, so maybe it was a throwback to the Euro methodology.

I however do, especially in a brace that has broken completely in to. But viva la differenc'

All that leads to this

Before anybody asks, I have NO idea what kinda action this thing has before a drunk teen took a nosedive into it so I'm leaving myself an out to do a "cheater's neck reset" lol . I'll explain later

 

[crazydave911]

I have the neck angle worked out so need the time to patiently glue up

 

[Freeman Keller]

It's an extra bond to the lap joint at the X. It probably fills in gaps and adds an extra layer of fastening but personally I don't subscribe to using it on my own acoustic builds. Martin did it, so maybe it was a throwback to the Euro methodology.

The two braces in the X are notched where they cross. The little linen patch in theory strengthens the crossing point. Martin did it, Gibson I believe does not. I did it on my first couple of guitars using gun cleaning patches, on recent ones I have glued a little spruce piece across the crossing

 

[crazydave911]

The two braces in the X are notched where they cross. The little linen patch in theory strengthens the crossing point. Martin did it, Gibson I believe does not. I did it on my first couple of guitars using gun cleaning patches, on recent ones I have glued a little spruce piece across the crossing

View attachment 993366

View attachment 993367

I learned most of stuff from a guy who ran the 1833 Workshop (back when it was) who was on the line 20 years. I learned everything about using solid steel truss/reinforcement rods and how to use frets for relief purposes. I guess I'm a little stuck in the old days but probably won't change until it quits working lol

 

[crazydave911]

Well I'm completely glued up. The upper treble bout kinked being glued up. Gonna saw it back and reglue then route for the binding

 

[crazydave911]

Sorry to let so many of my threads languish, I have been literally under the weather. The heat has me down and I'm getting little done.
I've done little to this due to effort required. I did get the upper bout cut but right now haven't the strength to massage the kink but am radiusing the fretboard of the next contestant here as well as the "Birch". I'm also getting the two BB fretted. Just a tiring drudge ATM

 

[crazydave911]

Finally got the treble bout cut and figured how to clamp the kink . Also just got my rosewood bridge pins

 

[crazydave911]

Got it glued up

Looking it over I'll have to adapt on the binding. Originally had black.030 binding but I'm gonna have a few bigger gaps, almost.060. Well I just happen to have.030 in black and white lol. So this cheapie Yamaha may get purfling and binding, who knew lmao

 

[Swingcat]

Well I always knew this day would come, maybe . I originally started this journey in the acoustic realm. The main product designed by me and ALL for sale. That ended in nervous breakdown and divorce.
This however is a happy occasion. Working the Redemption Build the last few weeks the more I bump it and get tap tones I just couldn't take it anymore lol
The first candidate is a guitar my foster son Eric got drunk one night and fell into it (he's a full blown alcoholic in the US Navy). It's a Yamaha he basically asked how, took the back off and throwed in a closet.
From the front not so bad

The back however is a different story

Not quite understanding your point here.

 

[crazydave911]

Not quite understanding your point here.

Uh, I started building guitars on acoustics then went to electric. Pretty plain I think, I also gave some reasons. Those that know me are aware