Building an Archtop Guitar

**lofl** · 02-09-2011, 01:08 PM

Excellent set of posts, very nice looking guitar, how does it sound?

**Meggy** · 02-09-2011, 03:49 PM

Must say your tailpiece design is extremely elegant. On the subject of the bridge design, do you have any strong opinions as to what makes for the best sound? For example, I see some archtops with bridges where the base has feet at either end, and thus does not contact the top of the guitar in the middle - this might allow the top to resonate a bit more freely maybe? Other designs seem to go for continuous contact with the guitar top along the full length of the base - perhaps this makes for better transmission of string vibration to the top? Or maybe it's just not all that important

. Anyway, what do I know? and apologies if my question is a bit clumsy, but would be interested to have your views. Still can't wait to see the completed guitar!

**wwwilkie** · 02-10-2011, 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by Meggy

Must say your tailpiece design is extremely elegant. On the subject of the bridge design, do you have any strong opinions as to what makes for the best sound? For example, I see some archtops with bridges where the base has feet at either end, and thus does not contact the top of the guitar in the middle - this might allow the top to resonate a bit more freely maybe? Other designs seem to go for continuous contact with the guitar top along the full length of the base - perhaps this makes for better transmission of string vibration to the top? Or maybe it's just not all that important

. Anyway, what do I know? and apologies if my question is a bit clumsy, but would be interested to have your views. Still can't wait to see the completed guitar!

Thanks! Personally I like to have full contact with the bridge base to guitar top. It just feels right to me. For years I built mandolins with two-footed bridges which is pretty standard but one day I decided to build them with no gap in between, just continuous contact. I liked the results and have just stuck with it. I think you're right about better energy transfer from strings to top but I don't really have strong opinions about things like that. I won't say that "this way" is better than "that" way because there are so many factors involved, I only end up doing what makes sense to me, what feels right considering the materials I'm using. For example I prefer Bigleaf maple over European maple. I might be the only one on the planet who feels this way about Bigleaf but it's not because I think it's better, I just enjoy working with it more, I love how it looks and feels so it really works out for me (also it grows all around me).
Always good quesions, I just never seem to answer them!

**lindydanny** · 02-10-2011, 09:36 AM

I'm all for local woods. I was lucky enough to get 100 bf of local walnut a while back free (was taking up space in a friend's garage). I've not worked a whole lot with it, but what I have done has been a pleasure.

That brings up a question for you: Approximately how many board feet of wood did this guitar take up? (Sorry, nerdy question.)

~DB

**wwwilkie** · 02-10-2011, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by lindydanny

I'm all for local woods. I was lucky enough to get 100 bf of local walnut a while back free (was taking up space in a friend's garage). I've not worked a whole lot with it, but what I have done has been a pleasure.

That brings up a question for you: Approximately how many board feet of wood did this guitar take up? (Sorry, nerdy question.)

~DB

Yeah, that's a nerdy question alright, but it's funny you mention it because it's something I need to calculate because of the Lacey Act.
I figure a guitar back or top starts out at about 3 board feet each before carving, ending up at less than .75 bf. The sides together add up to about .25 bf and the neck.........let's say .5 bf. So I guess that adds up to about 2 1/4 board feet total, probably a bit less. That's considering a board foot is 12"X12" X1" thick.
I've worked with black walnut quite a bit and it carves like butter. A real pleasure to work with.

**SamBooka** · 02-10-2011, 11:32 PM

I picked up a 60s archtop this week. The guys at work were impressed with the rosewood used for the finger board. I said I wasnt sure if it was Brazillian or not. Then had to explain the Lacey act to them (Do we have a Canadian equivalent?).

On another note if you read Ingrams L5 history he mentions the first L5s had a single foot for the bridge. Later models had a two foot bridge because that was quicker and easier to fit to the top.

Take with as many grains of salt as your doctor will allow

**tonedeaf** · 02-10-2011, 11:34 PM

I have to say: I think this is one of the the most outstanding threads I have read on this forum. It has just been a sheer joy for me to follow.

Many thanks for keeping this up and providing such interesting details.

**lindydanny** · 02-11-2011, 12:35 PM

Darn that Lacey Act!!!

~DB

**Meggy** · 02-11-2011, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by wwwilkie

Thanks! Personally I like to have full contact with the bridge base to guitar top. It just feels right to me. For years I built mandolins with two-footed bridges which is pretty standard but one day I decided to build them with no gap in between, just continuous contact. I liked the results and have just stuck with it. I think you're right about better energy transfer from strings to top but I don't really have strong opinions about things like that. I won't say that "this way" is better than "that" way because there are so many factors involved, I only end up doing what makes sense to me, what feels right considering the materials I'm using. For example I prefer Bigleaf maple over European maple. I might be the only one on the planet who feels this way about Bigleaf but it's not because I think it's better, I just enjoy working with it more, I love how it looks and feels so it really works out for me (also it grows all around me).
Always good quesions, I just never seem to answer them!

Well, you have certainly answered mine extremely well, and thank you. As ever, you explain your position on things very clearly. I guess what you are partly saying is that the way you do things is the best way for you, and since a guitar like this is an individual creation, that makes absolute sense to me. Cheers again, I have to agree with the others saying that is one of the top threads to appear on this forum - I am very much the wiser for reading it.

**wwwilkie** · 02-11-2011, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

I picked up a 60s archtop this week. The guys at work were impressed with the rosewood used for the finger board. I said I wasnt sure if it was Brazillian or not. Then had to explain the Lacey act to them (Do we have a Canadian equivalent?).

On another note if you read Ingrams L5 history he mentions the first L5s had a single foot for the bridge. Later models had a two foot bridge because that was quicker and easier to fit to the top.

Take with as many grains of salt as your doctor will allow

That makes perfect sense in a factory setting, make it as easy as possible.
I don't think we have anything like the Lacey act here in Canada but I need to comply when shipping instruments to the US which is where most of them go.
They need a list of every piece of wood that goes into the instrument including the Latin name, the amount of wood in board feet, and the weight of each. I guess if it all serves some purpose......great.

tonedeaf- Thanks, very nice of you to say. It hasn't always been easy keeping up and I've missed some crucial steps but I think it's not a bad general overview of the whole process.

**clem_gael** · 03-02-2011, 11:41 AM

Can't wait to see that guitar completed!

**wwwilkie** · 03-02-2011, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by clem_gael

Can't wait to see that guitar completed!

I'm hoping to get some good photos taken this weekend. www

**uburoibob** · 03-03-2011, 09:22 AM

Here is a little site I put together when Steve Andersen was building my guitar back in 2000:

MyAndersenGuitarIR

Bob

**Meggy** · 03-03-2011, 01:23 PM

Now we are nearly at the completed stage, I find the anticipation is pretty palpable! It seems a lot like a journey to me, and it has been great to be able to tag along for the ride!

**lindydanny** · 03-03-2011, 03:40 PM

Yeah, really. I don't think there is a member of this message board who doesn't want to take a test run on that fretboard!

~DB

**mangotango** · 03-03-2011, 07:38 PM

Where do I join the queue?

**wwwilkie** · 03-03-2011, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by uburoibob

Here is a little site I put together when Steve Andersen was building my guitar back in 2000:

MyAndersenGuitarIR

Bob

Thanks everyone, and thanks for the link to the great photos. Steve Andersen has always been a big inspiration to me, going back to the years I worked at Calton Cases where I got to know Steve's guitars through building cases for them. What a beautiful guitar the Emerald City is. It must be a real pleasure to play!

**TheCaffeinatedOne** · 03-05-2011, 04:13 PM

This is a delicious thread...

**uburoibob** · 03-05-2011, 06:59 PM

Wyatt,

Sorry for just dropping that Steve Andersen link in the middle of your build site. I did it before I'd even read what this thread was about, based on the title alone. I certainly didn't mean to hijack the thread...

I've just read my way through all seven pages. Your guitar is just gorgeous and I'd love to get to play one. Perhaps at the Montreal show? I am planning on heading up there and would love to meet you.

Thanks for being understanding of a boorish move on my part.

Bob

**clem_gael** · 03-05-2011, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by uburoibob

Wyatt,

Perhaps at the Montreal show? I am planning on heading up there and would love to meet you.

Bob

No, me first!!!!

**uburoibob** · 03-05-2011, 10:48 PM

And I would like to meet you, too, Clem!

Bob

**wwwilkie** · 03-05-2011, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by uburoibob

Wyatt,

Sorry for just dropping that Steve Andersen link in the middle of your build site. I did it before I'd even read what this thread was about, based on the title alone. I certainly didn't mean to hijack the thread...

I've just read my way through all seven pages. Your guitar is just gorgeous and I'd love to get to play one. Perhaps at the Montreal show? I am planning on heading up there and would love to meet you.

Thanks for being understanding of a boorish move on my part.

Bob

Not at all Bob, I was really glad to see the photos.
I'll see you in a few months.

**wwwilkie** · 03-09-2011, 09:19 PM

I'm going to get some good studio shots in a few days but thought I would post these first.
If you'll remember I ran a ground wire to the strings which you can see coming out through a hole in the top of the guitar near the tailpiece. The pickup as well goes into the body through a drilled hole. It was painful but necessary to drill these holes.
The second photo is the completed guitar.
I'll be hand delivering the guitar to Steve Rowe down in Seattle in a few days and hopefully he can eventually get some recordings to post here.
I'll be back with some better photos.