May 2020 – This hollow body guitar will be made from a mix of native timbers and some exotic. Intending to use the following exotic timbers:
Mahogany – back (old wood from demolished dressing table)
Ebony – bindings
Native timbers:
Norfolk pine – top (strictly speaking this is not a native from New Zealand)
Kohe kohe – sides and neck (also known as New Zealand Mahogany)
Fretboard – Puriri
Starting with a large slab of timber from a 130+ year old Norfolk Pine.
Small section taken from the slab ready to be ‘thicknessed’ with a sled router setup.
Timber is held onto tray with double sided tape. First pass completed…
Router Sled Thicknesser in action…
Both sides done…
Nice thicknessed plank of about 18mm thick
Sawn in half to create book matched two piece top.And the same process was followed for the Mahogany back.The guitar top to be came from the bottom section of the slab.700mm long, thin strips (1.5mm) of Kohekohe wood were bent into shape and then glued together to form the sides of a guitar. 700mm long, thin strips (1.5mm) of Kohekohe wood were bent into shape and then glued together to form the sides of a guitar.
Gluing two strips of New Zealand Kohekohe wood together for the guitar sides. 700mm long, thin strips (1.5mm) of Kohekohe wood were bent into shape and then glued together to form the sides of a guitar. Here they are drying out in front of the wood fire.
700mm long, thin strips (1.5mm) of Kohekohe wood were bent into shape and then glued together to form the sides of a guitar. Here they are drying out in front of the wood fire.Kohekohe sides glued on to the mahogany back. Still needs kerf lining though.Making the kerf lining with a simple sliding tool. Note the bit of metal next to the band saw which allows for perfect spacing and cut depth. Making the kerf lining with a simple sliding tool. Note the bit of metal next to the band saw which allows for perfect spacing. Kohekohe sides glued on to the mahogany back with kerf liningHollow body guitar with Mahogany back and Kohekohe sides. Tail and neck blocks are also kohekohe.Kerf lining glued in for the Norfolk pine topNeck and tail block glued in. Mahogany and sides sealed with one coat of varnish. Trestle structure for hollow body guitarTrestle structure inside hollow body completeBook matched Norfolk pine top glued together and now positioning the F holes for the correct bridge location
September 2020 – Continuing below with the routing of the body for the pickup openings and the neck pocket.
Ready for routing the neck pocket with the help of a template stuck to the top with double sided tape
Before routing the pickup openings, I want to be sure all the parts are correctly positioned, so mockup time.
Placing the pickup cover, bridge and pots on the top to determine final locations prior to routing and drilling.Routing the pickup openings for TV Jones Classics with the use of a template. The making of the template took quite a bit longer than the actual routing of the pickup openings.Routing for TV Jones Classics completeBody routing complete, pickup cover fits nicely. Next up neck fretting and then shaping it.
October 2020 – Finishing the body with a reddish stain and then applying multiple coats of oil.
Applying a reddish stain to the Duovette – almost there and then finishing it with lots of coats of oilDuovette body nearly done, one more coat of oil, then buffing. Neck still needs zero fret, shaping and oiling.
