Spalted Tamarind Custom Guitar Back

Spalted Tamarind Custom Jumbo Acoustic with a Cutaway

Byadmin

Interior guitar bracingHere is one of the latest guitars I’m working on. The back and sides of the guitar are spalted tamarind.

Spalted Tamarind Custom Guitar Back
The back and sides will be Tamarind, an unusual highly figured wood.

Here is a side that has been bent and placed in the form.
Here is a side that has been bent and placed in the form.

After I have sanded all the wood to the proper thickness, it's time to bend the sides. I use a heated bending form along with moisture to bend the sides to shape.
After I have sanded all the wood to the proper thickness, it’s time to bend the sides. I use a heated bending form along with moisture to bend the sides to shape.

After bending the two sides I bend the cutaway portion by hand using a hot pipe and water. All the pieces are in the form ready to glue together.
After bending the two sides I bend the cutaway portion by hand using a hot pipe and water. All the pieces are in the form ready to glue together.

The linings are glued in around the top and back to provide more gluing area. I use clothespins as clamps while the glue dries.
The linings are glued in around the top and back to provide more gluing area. I use clothespins as clamps while the glue dries.
The rim assembly. My cat looks over the quality of the workmanship and gives it his approval.
The rim assembly. My cat looks over the quality of the workmanship and gives it his approval.
The previous back wood warped up due to the crazy grain so RC Tonewoods was kind enough to send me this back set which has stayed flat. http://rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store/
The previous back wood warped up due to the crazy grain so RC Tonewoods was kind enough to send me this back set which has stayed flat.
http://rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store/
Here I am cutting a piece of amboyna burl wood to make the rosette. I use a circle cutter to cut out a ring of wood.
Here I am cutting a piece of amboyna burl wood to make the rosette. I use a circle cutter to cut out a ring of wood.
The ring of amboyna is inlaid into a channel in the top and sanded flush.
The ring of amboyna is inlaid into a channel in the top and sanded flush.
I start with a slab of sitka spruce and cut it into thin pieces, then shape the pieces to make the bracing wood for the top. These will be glued to the underside of the top to reinforce it.
I start with a slab of sitka spruce and cut it into thin pieces, then shape the pieces to make the bracing wood for the top. These will be glued to the underside of the top to reinforce it.
All of the internal bracing has been glued in and the top has been glued to the rim. Now the back can be glued on to complete the box.
All of the internal bracing has been glued in and the top has been glued to the rim. Now the back can be glued on to complete the box.
I am using the table saw to cut the scarf joint where the peghead joins the neck.
I am using the table saw to cut the scarf joint where the peghead joins the neck.

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