Building a Weissenborn Style 4 Guitar

This was a gift which is why there was nothing here until it was done.

The plan was to build a pretty much classic Weissenborn, a style 4 which has the most ornamentation and all Koa wood. The only bits not Koa are the bracing (Mahogany & Sitka Spruce) , the bindings (Mahogany & Maple) and the majority of the peghead (Mahogany). The bridge is also Rosewood veneered with Koa..

This was my first try at making rope bindings it was "interesting" and a bit challenging especially incorporating them into the rosette..

Step One - Make a Form

I like this style because it can be adjusted

In many ways the build was simpler than a "regular" acoustic guitar but it did require a bit of thinking about the order of steps which is a bit different and the rope binding & rosette was challenging ...

Making the binding

Strips of mahogany & maple glued up on a 45deg angle

After the first glue up

Then cut along the 45deg angle into strips

Strips are glued to a purfling for both looks and support.. Lots of clamps

Bindings ready for a final sizing and sanding

Fretboard inlay

Filled with Timbermate harded with ca glue

Rosette

Try #3.. ended up inserting it 3 or 4 segments @ a time

All the rest

Fall Guitar Building

Summer is done and vacation is over so time to get back to guitar building. I've got several projects on the go right now.

A couple of six string ideas a Uke and a Harp all in various stages of work. Should keep me busy over the fall and into retirement from the IT business..

Looking forward to the opportunity to devote more time to Lutherie.

O'Brien Guitars Steel String Voicing Course

I just completed this 2 day workshop at O'Brien Guitars and while I did know the process and the steps involved in voicing a top for a steel string guitar it was great to be able to do that process with a master luthier and see and hear just how things should progress through the process...

Crossover Nylon String Finished

Well it took a bit longer than I hope and had it's challenges but the Crossover is finished..

Sounds decent I think.

Despite the issues getting it finished I think I might end up doing another at some point.

Just Need Some Strings

Feels good to be finally ready for setup and strings on this guitar. I'm very curious to see how it sounds as it is my first excursion int the classical/nylon sting world.

It is a basic classical body shape but with a narrower  and radiused fretboard. Bracing is based on a Flamenco guitar plan but modified to hopefully give back some sustain. ( Sorry Paco)..

FINALLY.. a Polished Finish!

Well that took a couple of do overs and a bit of cursing but finally go the finish on the Crossover Guitar done.. Used Royal Lac Post Catalyzed finish.. Works nice once I sorted out all my issues..

Now I need to finish the bridge, do the fret ends and glue on the bridge...

Making Rosettes

I've changed my process for making rosettes (at least segmented wood rosettes) So I now use a CNC set up to cut the rosette pieces and then route the rosette channel and glue in the pieces.

Since I am going to a guitar top voicing course the first weekend in June I needed to prepare 3 guitar tops to take to the course so that gave me some practice with this new technique..

Top #1

Pieces cut on CNC ready to install

Dry run pre cutting the rosette slot

Cutting the rosette slot

Completed Slot

Ready to be glued in

All glued in

Leveled ready for the slots to be routed for outer & inner purfling

Completed rosette

Closeup

Top #2

Top #3