African Mahogany top

Wood fiber rosette

Sitka spruce X bracing for the top

Notching the X braces

The X braces have a small radius which gives the top a slight dome shape to add strength.

Clamped X braces. Hot hide glue

Mahogany neck and neck block

carbon fiber neck reinforcement

cuts are made on a table saw

Rough cut on the band saw. Then on to the belt sander then rasps.

Monkey Pod. Back and sides

Rough back bracing

Neck block

More top bracing in the clamp

Installing the end graft

Routing the end graft channel

Binding channels routed. Installing the wood fiber purfling around the top

Abalone shell for some bling

routing for the abalone fretboard markers

Installing the fretwire

tightening up the neck to the body with sandpaper

Filling the pores for a smoother finish

Pore filler on the top

Lots of shellac

Locating where to put the bridge. The 12th fret is half way between the nut and the saddle on the bridge. Add about 1/8" for intonation.

Taped off the top to remove the shellac finish from the bridge position for gluing.

Gently clamped bridge. The hot hide glue open-time is just a few minutes. The bridge is heated under a heat lamp to extend the open-time.
Hide glue shrinks as it dries and pulls the joint together. Full strength after only about 30 minutes.

After the bridge is attached. The frets are leveled with a steel sanding beam, then polished. Then a nut is made, tuners installed then some strings. Then a little fine tuning and she's ready to go.