Joe G’s PSH-1 First Build Diary

[Joe Garfield]

It looks like most of the guitars I admire are going to a solid tailpiece mount - bent steel as opposed to a hinge. I feel like the angle of the bracket becomes critical when it’s not a hinge. If the springs are pulling ‘up’ on the bridge, the metal will want to bend/flex. It should equal out to some fixed position, but essentially you now have a spring holding the strings on, and to me, that sounds like asking for issues with tuning stability.

[Joe Garfield]

I don’t know how much of this stuff you guys want to see. Some people show major steps only. But maybe some people like to see everything. Do people care to see all the little details?

This one at least is definitely worth sharing . Inside the F-holes was a mess. I made this little tool to sand the bottom. Then I realized I could also use it for the underside of the top! It’s just a scrap wood block, with a hole drilled at an angle and a down stuck in it. I then put double-sided tape on the bottom to adhere sandpaper, then ended up doing the same to the top.

[jugglindan]

I like the details. More opportunity to learn something, like your F-hole sanding tool.

[Joe Garfield]

I like the details. More opportunity to learn something, like your F-hole sanding tool.

Thanks! Knowing at least 1 person cares to read this stuff makes it all worth it. Especially when it’s someone I enjoy talking to and learning from

[jugglindan]

Thanks! Knowing at least 1 person cares to read this stuff makes it all worth it. Especially when it’s someone I enjoy talking to and learning from

Aww shucks

[Joe Garfield]

I believe tear-out is a fear when enlarging controls holes. I used a stepped reamer and tried it by hand - as in literally holding and turning the bit by hand. Since I didn’t keep the bit perfectly straight the holes aren’t perfectly round, but there is no tear out, the pot fits well, and the hole is well within the diameter of the nut.

When I say it’s not perfectly round, I mean that the hole isn’t as perfect as would be on an expensive guitar. Most people would never notice and it’s probably better than 90% of paid luthiers would do. So it didn’t come out bad. I used to be a custom cabinet maker so I have very high expectations of myself. That being said I went back and hit the edges with some sandpaper to blend the imperfection. It came out pretty good in the end.

[jugglindan]

Plus, it should only be noticeable when the pots are removed which is not that often.

[Joe Garfield]

Plus, it should only be noticeable when the pots are removed which is not that often.

Exactly. Mostly I wanted to mention in case someone wanted to try doing it the same way. I think next time I would mount the bit in a chuck or something to hold it straight, but still turn it by hand.

I think a drill press is the next power tool on my list

Edit: I got lucky. I was 1/32” small on the hole size. It looks better now.

[Joe Garfield]

Another little tool that worked really well. The binding was a little high in some places. I ran the tool along the surface of the guitar, made a few strokes and checked the sand paper. It was obvious it was only picking up PVC. I could easily feel when I started to touch wood, and if you see wood dust on the sand paper you’re done.

[Joe Garfield]

I’m sensing a theme here (besides the crooked photos.). First I used the little 150 grit at the end to take down some binding. Then used the 220 to sand the wood and binding together. Working in the sides is less ‘exciting’ than working on the veneer.