Building an Archtop Guitar

**lindydanny** · 03-10-2011, 10:12 AM

I know this is way outside of the point, but is that a water wheel I see out the window?

~DB

P.S.: She's beautiful! Love how it turned out.

**billkath** · 03-10-2011, 10:16 AM

Fantastic! Man-it turned out just beautifully.

**Meggy** · 03-10-2011, 02:30 PM

It really is a knockout! The finish is just perfect for me, along with the beautiful colours in the wood from the UV. I imagine it is pretty nice to play as well! Plus I think the way the pickup and electronics are incorporated is excellent - the 2 small holes in the top seem perfectly fine to me as part of the overall design. This is a guitar designed to be played amplified as well as acoustically after all.

What a guitar though, I love how it looks "all of a piece" - i.e. stylistically consistent somehow, no matter what bit you look at. Part of what you get with a handmade custom instrument I guess, but there is definitely some design flair with this one.

Thanks again for this great thread, and more pictures please!

**wwwilkie** · 03-11-2011, 02:10 AM

Originally Posted by Meggy

It really is a knockout! The finish is just perfect for me, along with the beautiful colours in the wood from the UV. I imagine it is pretty nice to play as well! Plus I think the way the pickup and electronics are incorporated is excellent - the 2 small holes in the top seem perfectly fine to me as part of the overall design. This is a guitar designed to be played amplified as well as acoustically after all.

What a guitar though, I love how it looks "all of a piece" - i.e. stylistically consistent somehow, no matter what bit you look at. Part of what you get with a handmade custom instrument I guess, but there is definitely some design flair with this one.

Thanks again for this great thread, and more pictures please!

Thanks, I'm very happy with the end result. We had talked about making it a purely acoustic instrument but I thought why not make it more versatile? Very glad we did that.
It's been a bit of an adventure, posting as I build. I had no idea there would be so much interest and I'm very thankful to everyone who has read along and participated in the discussions.
Eric- I'll see you in Montreal very soon.
DaveS- Thanks very much for your kind words and encouragement. I have a feeling we'll run into each other at some point.
DB-Sure that's a water wheel, how do you think I power my bandsaw? Well, it's actually just a decoration, but wouldn't that be great?
billkath- thanks!
Will post some good photos in a few days. Till then,
Wyatt

**lindydanny** · 03-11-2011, 10:12 AM

Totally. There is a theme park here in Missouri called "Silver Dollar City" that is based on living in the 1890s. They have a belt powered workshop designed originally to be powered by water. Unfortunately, I don't think it does anymore. I'm pretty sure there is a large engine somewhere moving the pulleys. It's fascinating to watch the craftsman work it, though!

You can see some of the shop in this vid:

~DB

**Meggy** · 03-13-2011, 03:43 PM

Wyatt, one thing I'd like to ask when you have a moment - how is the pickup and fingerboard assembly mounted in place? Apologies if you have already answered this elsewhere, cheers!

**AZanshin** · 03-13-2011, 04:48 PM

That Guitar is beautiful ! :P

**wwwilkie** · 03-15-2011, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Meggy

Wyatt, one thing I'd like to ask when you have a moment - how is the pickup and fingerboard assembly mounted in place? Apologies if you have already answered this elsewhere, cheers!

The pickup is attached to the finger rest, which is attached to the fingerboard extension using 2 screws, so the whole thing is suspended above the guitar top.
Sorry for the delay, I've been out of town for a few days. I got some good photos taken of the guitar but haven't received them yet.
Thanks!

**blackwingchai** · 03-16-2011, 04:22 AM

Originally Posted by wwwilkie

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.

drool

**Meggy** · 03-16-2011, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by wwwilkie

The pickup is attached to the finger rest, which is attached to the fingerboard extension using 2 screws, so the whole thing is suspended above the guitar top.
Sorry for the delay, I've been out of town for a few days. I got some good photos taken of the guitar but haven't received them yet.
Thanks!

Cheers for that, the fingerboard extension is not visible in the pictures, so I was wondering how you did it. A small point anyway I know, but sounds like a great way do do the job with a minimum of fuss, and keeps a very clean look for the guitar which I like a lot. Still looking forward to a few more photos!

**wwwilkie** · 03-23-2011, 05:49 PM

A few shots of the finished guitar taken in my shop before delivery.
I guess that's it from my end. Thanks to everyone involved and I hope to see some of you in Montreal.
Wyatt

**Jazzaluk** · 03-23-2011, 06:33 PM

Fantastic guitar. I'd love to give it a try. Thanks for a brilliant thread.

**Scotto** · 03-23-2011, 07:10 PM

What an absolutely beautiful instrument. Thanks for taking us along the journey... when do we start the next one.!

**wizard3739** · 03-23-2011, 07:26 PM

Beautiful instrument!! Have you made a 7-string yet?

wiz

**clem_gael** · 03-23-2011, 08:47 PM

Can't wait for the Montréal guitar show!!!!

Once again, NICE JOB!!!

**mangotango** · 03-24-2011, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by clem_gael

Once again, NICE JOB!!!

...not just the building of such a beautiful instrument....but also, the guided tour of the process. A very enlightening thread. Well done.

**aoskayak** · 03-24-2011, 01:47 PM

Wyatt built this guitar for me. I thought it would be appropriate, as this thread is coming to an end, to say something about my experience working with Wyatt.

I hired him to build me a guitar based upon the esthetics I saw in his mandolins. From the start he was supportive, creative and enthused about the project. There were many points at which tough design decisions had to be made. He was always right on target with the best answer while maintaining a excellent balance between a clients fears and desires and the right choices that needed to be made. I would build another guitar in a heart beat with Wyatt.

The guitar itself is easily the best guitar I own across any metric. His workmanship was outstanding, detail was perfect. I was surprised at how lustrous (only word I could think of) the French polish turned out. The guitar is simple, clean and focused upon making music. It’s like the Ferrari of Archtops. At the same time it is complex, deep and expansive. It has a very mellow sound. It is highly responsive to the touch, almost alive. It has a surprisingly deep and resonant base. Access to the full fretboard is excellent. You feel guilty how good it is. A full description would go on forever, so I will stop now.

Steve Rowe

**Dookychase** · 03-24-2011, 03:09 PM

Steve, congratulations. That's an incredible guitar. I'm glad it plays and sounds as good as it looks.

**aoskayak** · 03-24-2011, 06:59 PM

I have a couple of mp3's of Wyatt's guitar being played by my teacher. I tried to post these using the advanced option and uploading the files but I kept getting an upload failed notice. Can anyone tell me how to do this. They are around 3 meg each.

**Meggy** · 03-25-2011, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by aoskayak

Wyatt built this guitar for me. I thought it would be appropriate, as this thread is coming to an end, to say something about my experience working with Wyatt.

I hired him to build me a guitar based upon the esthetics I saw in his mandolins. From the start he was supportive, creative and enthused about the project. There were many points at which tough design decisions had to be made. He was always right on target with the best answer while maintaining a excellent balance between a clients fears and desires and the right choices that needed to be made. I would build another guitar in a heart beat with Wyatt.

The guitar itself is easily the best guitar I own across any metric. His workmanship was outstanding, detail was perfect. I was surprised at how lustrous (only word I could think of) the French polish turned out. The guitar is simple, clean and focused upon making music. It’s like the Ferrari of Archtops. At the same time it is complex, deep and expansive. It has a very mellow sound. It is highly responsive to the touch, almost alive. It has a surprisingly deep and resonant base. Access to the full fretboard is excellent. You feel guilty how good it is. A full description would go on forever, so I will stop now.

Steve Rowe

I already had a really major case of GAS from reading this thread, reviews like this only make it worse! One day, when funds allow, I will treat myself to a guitar like this.

I've said it before, but it really does look stunning. Thank you for such a great thread, sad to see it ending, but please do another one if you are making an interesting guitar in the future.

**wwwilkie** · 03-31-2011, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by wizard3739

Beautiful instrument!! Have you made a 7-string yet?

wiz

Hi, thanks very much. I had the opportunity to build several 7-strings during my time with Bob Benedetto. I have yet to add one to my own list of models but it's only a matter of time.

Meggy- Thanks again and I was thinking I could keep adding to this thread as interesting projects arise. Currently working on several archtop guitars so there is plenty to show if you would like. I'll try to fill in the gaps I left during the building of the last one.
I had a request to show the grounding of the strings. I inlaid a wire in the underside of the tailpiece and soldered it to a brass plate which touches the ball-ends of the strings. The wire then runs to the endpin jack through a hole drilled in the top of the guitar.
Steve and I both tried to upload recordings of the guitar without success. I'll add them to my website before long.

**DaveS** · 03-31-2011, 04:11 PM

Wyatt, would it be feasable to bare the tailgut wire (where it contacts the switchjack) to establish ground, then wire to the strings from it rather than drill a hole in the top??

**wwwilkie** · 03-31-2011, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by DaveS

Wyatt, would it be feasable to bare the tailgut wire (where it contacts the switchjack) to establish ground, then wire to the strings from it rather than drill a hole in the top??

Hi Dave,
I guess that would work, wouldn't it? I do think that either way is just as much work. Personally I don't really mind drilling the hole considering it's placement just a few millimeters from the tailblock, under the tailpiece and hidden from view. I do think it's nice to have a black covering on the tailpiece strap which keeps it from really digging into the ebony or bone saddle, and I think looks better black.

**DaveS** · 03-31-2011, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by wwwilkie

Hi Dave,
I do think it's nice to have a black covering on the tailpiece strap which keeps it from really digging into the ebony or bone saddle, and I think looks better black.

Oh I agree..... I just meant the 1/2" or so where it contacted the switchjack. I hate the idea of drilling the top (which may be a bit silly considering the gorgeous Benedettos with pots mounted to top plates {8^) )

**wwwilkie** · 06-28-2011, 04:32 PM

Hey there everyone, just wanted to post my new Strathcona 17" in Honey Blonde as well as a set of Northern Flyers.
I'll have these with me at the Montreal Guitar Show in a few days.
Wyatt