Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Opens April 1st!
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

Hi Samuel, sorry it took so long to get back to you on the binding jig. I have been extra busy at work ( 2 board meetings, the Survivor final, the American Idol final, and two new pilots), I was able to work on my projects at night, and a little last weekend, but haven't posted anything this week. The binding jig is very simple (maybe too simple), but it works if I pay attention to what I am doing. Look at the picture below. I have marked one surface as "A". The key is to keep "A" flush against the sides of the guitar as you route. The jig is just some oak I had. with a tongue and groove routed into it length wise so it will slide forward, and lock down with the bolts and wing nuts. The depth is set with the router. I cut an angle in the bottom piece so the angle of the top won't be a problem. It is simple but it works. The trick is to set it up right, and KEEP "A" flush with the guitar sides. I always route a test on some scrap, and check the fit before I route the guitar.
Attachments
4binding.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

Here is another shot of the jig (close up).
Attachments
4bindingjig2.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

OK, back to my projects. I routed the dovetail mortise on both the travel guitars using another jig I made from plywood.
Attachments
4mortisejig.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

A view from the top.
Attachments
4mortise.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

The dove tail mortise.
Attachments
4mortise2.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

Next I cut the peghead angle (14 degrees) from the neck block, and prepared it for the glue up.
Attachments
4neckscarf.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

Here I am gluing the scarf joint .
Attachments
4neckglue.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

After gluing up the neck heel, I route the dovetail tenon using another jig from plywood. I try to get a close fit but leave it a little too large so I can fine tune it to fit.
Attachments
4tenonjig.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

At this point I fine tune the fit, being carful to check the neck angles, both right to left, and back and forth, making sure the action will be right.
Attachments
4joint.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

I glued wings onto the neck for the peghead.
Attachments
4wings.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

Next I shaped the neck, using mostly rasps and sandpaer.
Attachments
4neckcarve.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

Here is a shot of the neck fit from the back.
Attachments
4back.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

My local hardwood dealer gets fretboard "rejects" from Fender, and sells them, 5 for $20.00. I use them to make all sorts of things, bridges, trim, and in this case I found three that had enough "good" area to use for these fretboards.
Attachments
4neckblanks.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

I cut binging for the steel string fretboard from some scrap maple I had. I think I will not put binding on the nylon fretboard (I have to decide that this weekend). Here is a shot of the steel string travel guitar with the neck in place, and the fretboard taped on.
Attachments
4front.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

For the last couple of weeks I have been working on a dulcimer for my boss of 38 years. (who is retiring in two weeks) I also had two board meetings, and sat on a scholarship committee, so I havent posted any updates. In between everything, I did get some work done on my challenge projects. I am happy with the way they are turning out so far. After checking the fit, I glued on the necks.
Attachments
clasneck.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

I decided not to bind the nylon string neck. Using a fret mitre box, I cut fret slots in the two fretboards.
Attachments
5oakfretb.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

I double checked the fretboards for angle and string action, making sure the action will be right. I then glued on the two fretboards.
Attachments
5clasfret.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

Here is a shot of the peghead on the nylon string travel guitar.
Attachments
5claspeg.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

Last weekend I was able to glue in position markers on the steel string guitar,glue in side markers on both guitars, put a radius of 16" on the steel string guitar, finish sand, and spray 7 coats of Mohawk vinyl sealer, and 5 coats of Mohawk gloss instrument lacquer on both the travel guitars, and the tenor uke. Here are a few shots of the travel guitars as they are now.
Attachments
5clasfront.jpg
User avatar
Patrick DeGreve
Posts: 308
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 2:19 pm

Re: Patrick DeGreve's travel guitar

Post by Patrick DeGreve »

This is the nylon string from the side. It seems to have a deeper tap tone than the steel string. I think this one is going to have a nice voice.
Attachments
5classide.jpg
Post Reply

Return to “The "Reclaimed Materials" Challenge (closed)”