Next?

[JimC]

This is a proof of concept for something I might have a go at next...

[fender3x]

Looks like the start of something very interesting. Please continue!

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[JimC]

That's probably going to be all for a month or two since I live about 60 miles from my woodworking shop...

[fender3x]

I was looking at this on my phone before, and did not really get it. This is going to be a hollow body (or semi?) Tele? That will be super cool. How did you bend the wood? Did you wet/steam it? What sort of wood are you using?

[JimC]

Its 2mm boat building ply which means its three fairly even layers. I have a spare sheet.

The mould is laser cut MDF done at Shepperton studios no less!

The wood was bent dry. I made an improvised bending iron by putting a piece of polished copper pipe in a vice and pointing a hot air paint stripper at it! I thought I'd have to thin down the sharp bend where the top bout meets the neck, and I did in the proof of concept piece, but in the end I got away with it. The Tele shape is mostly pretty even curves, well within the capabilities of my plywood, its only the cutaway and the top bout by the neck that need treatment. I cut potential ribs that were way overlength and started at the neck end, so when it went wrong and broke I just sliced off the end and moved down a bit. I had 3 or 4 breaks in all, including the concept proof. Any proper skilled luthier reading this will be falling about laughing!

The top will be proper spruce, not plywood, I bought a piece. The back may well be ply, my piece has some interesting figuring. It will be a centre block semi, the whole bracing and other sophistication of a proper acoustic guitar is about five miles off from my comfort zone. If this one works out it will be a replacement body for my #2. If it ends up at something I consider acceptable and I enjoy doing it then it may be followed by a second Telecaster body based semi which might be a bass and a lot more radical, but because of my workshop situation that's liable to be a year plus away if it happens at all.

[fender3x]

I am impressed with your sourcing. Also that you workshop is, evidently, the prop department i. A major movie studio!


I didn't even know there was ply that thin. Will you have just one layer...or is it stiff enough as is.

In any case this should be really interesting.

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[fender3x]

Auto type on my phone is clearly not my friend

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[JimC]

Ah, I seem to have created confusion. The mdf was cut by a company at Shepperton studios that specialise in that, its not my workshop. I just produced the Cad drawing.

My workshop was my father's hence its at my mother's house.

2mm ply is not that unusual. If you consider a standard .8mm veneer that makes for 1.5mm 3 ply plywood.

AIUI a lot of instruments have wood in the 2mm-3mm range. I believe the ribs of classical violins, cellos and the like are usually nearer 1mm than 2mm. Of course this plywood is a good bit stronger than solid wood as used in high quality instruments. So, yes, its plenty strong enough for the sides, and back too. My #2 is also 2mm ply ribs and back, and about 3mm solid spruce soundboard, and it seems plenty strong enough to knock about.