First Acoustic Build!

I got antsy with my first electric kit being stuck in limbo between Australia and the US, so I thought I’d order an acoustic kit from the US and see which gets here sooner =) I’m just finishing the order process so not sure yet when it’s supposed to be here.

It’s coming from Blues Creek Guitars in Pennsylvania, USA.It’s similar a StewMac or Martin kit, but you get to make more customizations and get direct support from a really great luthier, for basically the exact same price as the other kits.

OM size 14 fret body (20 fret guitar, neck attaches to body at 14 fret)
Solid Indian Rosewood back and sides
Solid Sitka Spruce Top
Ebony bridge and fretboard
Pearloid Squares and Diamonds inlays
Tortoise binding
Tortoise / pearloid rosette
Tortoise / pearloid back strip (purfling)
Rosewood veneer headstock (oversize / cut to shape)
Gotoh nickel tuners
5/16” scalloped soundboard bracing
Dovetail Neck
Specified neck shape

$625 + shipping

http://www.bluescreekguitars.com/shop/

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My meager woodworking skills are challenged by an electric kit, so I am in awe of anyone that can build an acoustic. It looks great and I am very interested to watch your progress.

Also very interested to see your progress through this project.
I think it will be challenging in all sorts of areas.
Good luck Joe!

Has the top and back been pre curved? If not you're gonna have some work making a forming dish.

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Originally Posted by Tassieaxeman

Has the top and back been pre curved? If not you're gonna have some work making a forming dish.

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Yes, you can see them in the pictures.

However having the mould certainly makes it a bit easier to attach the back and sides to the top.

Will you be making your own go-bar arrangement?

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Will you be making your own go-bar arrangement?

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I think building an acoustic would require me to have a go-to-the-bar arrangement ;)

Thanks guys! Yeah, I’m really excited for this one - it should be challenging, fun, and really rewarding.

I posted a generic pic but ordered a custom kit. The top and back are not pre-curved, only the sides and binding are bent and still need to be trimmed. The back will arrive in 2 pieces with a purfling strip to install in between. I’m working on a jig to make the radius dishes (15 ft back, 28 ft top) and will build a go-bar deck. After some consideration I decided to just order the body mold from Blues Creek.

It will ship in about 2 weeks as there are a few other kits ahead of mine. Working with John has been really great so far, particularly in helping tie everything together (inlays, binding, purfling, rosette, etc.) I think this guitar is going to look amazing.

I got my invoice and shipment notification today! The kit should be here in a few day. The plan was to build it after I got my first PB guitar, but that’s been stuck in shipping for 4 weeks. So we’ll see what happens! I have the stock PSH-1 in shipment, and custom ordered another PSH-1. I was hoping to get the experience from the inexpensive stock PSH-1 first, and am also more keen to have an electric around to play. But, there’s a pandemic and I’m patient and grateful just to have any options at the moment.

I ended up with a Martin-based cutaway style guitar. I initially inquired about cutaway, but then hadn’t mentioned it again since most sites charge a bit of a fee for the difference. I was very happy today to see John included the cutaway in the quoted price! I ordered the mold and spreader, so that added a little to the cost and especially the shipping. But I’ll take my time and make it nice, so it will be well worth it.

Nice, it sounds like you have pretty good grasp of what your doing. You will be happy with the Martin cutaway dreadnought design. Martin designs have well and truly stood the test of time.
With your purfling strip on the back. I personally wouldn't glue it between the halves, I'd join it then rout a purfing channel, or better still order a decorative back strap.
Good luck, look forward to seeing your progress.

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Originally Posted by McCreed

I think building an acoustic would require me to have a go-to-the-bar arrangement ;)

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I'll buy the first round, mate.

The kit came. Everything looks good. I was mistaken about the back - it’s already joined. I’m going to let the wood acclimatize a little while. Also my non-PB electric shipped today so that should be here by the weekend.
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Nice kit. I see they've done quite a bit for you already, so it's easier than all the other ones I've seen to date.

It should give you confidence, so you can fully scratch-build the next one.

Yeah it looks really nice. And yes they did a lot more work than I was expecting. No complaints from me on that front! I’m sure there will be a second acoustic kit in my lifetime so I can choose to do more or less work to that one.

First pass at the go bar deck. I’ll need to clamp the bracing to the back of the guitar, and later will need to clamp the top to the back/sides. When clamping the top I’ll need to accommodate the height so there’s not too much clamping load. What I will do is lower the top of the go bar deck an amount equivalent to the width of the guitar sides, and adjust the length of the go bars to have 8-10 lbs (4.5kg?) clamping force. I’ll build the back of the guitar at this setting. When time comes to clamp the top I’ll raise the top of the go bar deck, and using the same bars will have the same clamping force. This saves needing different length go bars, but does limit height about 4.5 inches or so. I have pvc tubing to cover the all-thread to help prevent damage to the kits and my soft skin, lol. I just need to find the length first. I may also reinforce the top plywood, not sure yet.

I purchased the body mold. I thought it would be handy to have the center marked for radiusing, clamping in the radius dish, etc. So I marked the center of the go bar deck and marked the center of the mold. When I sand the sides of the guitar to the proper radius (using a dish) I’ll have a similar center Mark in the sanding table which I have yet to build.

It will make sense when I get pictures.

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This looks great! Keen to watch this come together. I've always wanted to have a crack at an acoustic but somehow never find the time

Radius dish is traditionally routed in MDF. To make that would require building a track with smooth radius then making then making tons of passes and even more dust. I sold all my tools and hopped a 1-way plane to paradise so I did it a little different.

Most of it is self explanatory. I used various common sized material to make spacers then “calculated” where to place them using CAD (since I have my work computer at home.) I later out the blocks and epoxied them down, then gave them a touch of silicon to bond to the MDF and hold them in place in case they split. Finally I screwed down the top, starting at the center of course.

I just did one because I’ve never done this and wanted to see if I would learn something to do different for the next one. But I will do it exactly the same.

(Sorry for the sideways pics!)

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Here’s the body mold on top of the radius dish inside the go bar deck. This allows the guitar back to be placed inside and the bracing pressed in following the radius contour. Then when the top is glued on it gives the guitar a “nest” so everything sits right.

I swear the pic is right side up in my iPhone!

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Originally Posted by Joe Garfield

Radius dish is traditionally routed in MDF. To make that would require building a track with smooth radius then making then making tons of passes

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You could always hang a router on a 15 foot length of rope. I can’t think of any possible downsides to that approach.