How To Build An Acoustic Guitar Episode 13 (Gluing on the soundboard)

[@allanredlich8365]

I'm not a guitar builder and I'm not planning to become one, but I just can't stop watching this channel. Such a great vibe and beautiful work. Love it!!!

[@superlockers]

Lol..... same here...

[@estebanmalopenaherrera8786]

x2

[@SkyscraperGuitars]

Cool to see it coming together... BTW, the best way to crowdsource an answer to a question is not to pose the question to the crowd... Instead, answer the question yourself incorrectly. That is like a dog whistle to the experts and they will flock to the comments to correct you!!! :D

[@hacgarimman9660]

Cunninghams law

[@grfinewoodworks4175]

I’ve just started my third acoustic build and this series has been an outstanding resource for learning new techniques!

[@ericcarpenter3263]

The cracking on the test fits drives me nuts, like “oh no!!! It’s gonna explode into toothpicks” but I’m sure the way it feels, makes it seem like it’s nothing. It just gives me the shivers. Lol. Great job as always, guys. This series is so epic.

[@alexwoolridge94aw]

The amount of things that could go wrong is crazy. So much skill being showcased in these videos. Cool stuff man

[@larscw74]

I had not seen a build series in which the builder put in an arm bevel, so this makes it very interesting. Of course the regular banter that you guys put in there is great entertainment value.

[@larrymacaluso9051]

If any body had a difficult time a couple of weeks ago, describing what determines "handmade", they simply need to watch this video. Excellent workmanship and attention to detail, thanks for sharing and teaching others, it's the only way this kind of craftsmanship will survive. I am really impressed with the use of your templates and fixturing and how well they're made.

[@1001Bull]

I am an electric guitar builder primarily, and do not yet know enough about building acoustics, so would like to express sincere gratitude for this video series, attention to details and just great work!

[@aaronparker8499]

This is so entertaining to watch! My first time watching a pro build a guitar. Nice banter too. Lol

[@abulonukulele1736]

I'm glad this is not over yet - I look forward to watching it. I do have to say - your channel inspires and educates. It gets me fired up for my ukelele builds as well as my first acoustic guitar build.

[@bldallas]

Your modified transverse brace makes so much more sense now. Such a tight fit; really amazing.

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

Glad it’s coming together for people.

[@wanderingfirbolg6738]

I've no intention of building an acoustic but that does not stop me from learning with your amazing videos. Still rebuilding one of my basses from barebones.

[@BrianODonohue]

Amazing to watch the process! Very cool. Makes me wish I was a luthier. :)

[@nickhewett8815]

Love the vibe of this series. I can almost smell the sawdust.

[@MichaelBuilds]

I can’t tell you how hard I feel you when you say, “look at this guy…” in the comments LOL 😂. I Just love how commenters like to, as you say… “keep you honest” LOL 😆 LOVE THIS CHANNELS GUYS!!!

[@justinlaughter6494]

I'm a new subscriber/viewer. I'm engrossed in this series. Love the videos and the teaching content. I can't believe how nervous I was every time you were taking the top off and on the index pins.

[@samuelschmidt6914]

I love your videos. Have learned a lot from them. I am one semester away from being an industrial tech teacher at a high school. One of the first things I want to do when I get access to my own shop is build an acoustic guitar. I never even thought of this before this video series. Keep up the good work!

[@Hated_Sien]

I dont even know how to play guitar, but i love watching exquisite craftsmanship.

[@msPaulaA1]

Great insight and instructions. Seeing how your transverse brace gets locked into the sides and ties into the fingerboard extension made a believer outa me. Looks rock solid.

[@karljshaw]

As always, another well done, detailed instruction with explanations where valid. Great job!!

[@dalgguitars]

When I start building acoustic guitars, hopefully soon, I just don't think I can do an arm bevel. That part where you take a beautifully symmetrical top and chop it down with a band saw...... I just don't think I've got the balls for that. And with a 3000 yr old spruce top. You da man! Thank you guys so much for these videos!! Really. thank you, thank you, thank you! You are so generous.

[@bryantcochran5065]

Brilliant!! Thanks for the alignment pin tip Chris

[@jipes]

Very nice process, now I'm looking forward to see how you cut out the arm bevel to make a nice and smooth transition

[@scottakam]

Thanks gentlemen. Great info as usual. You can always count on the internet to correct you if you say even the most inconsequential thing wrong!

[@louloriente7726]

Hi Chris,. i'm absolutely loving this series. Really looking forwards to see how to do the binding to the arm bevel. Best of all you guys are having loads of fun and injecting lots of humor to your videos. Cheers from Melbourne, Australia

[@CMRWoodworks]

Learning something in every video. Thanks for the knowledge share!

[@ryanminyard4446]

Love every video can’t wait for the next one!:)

[@markcooper8561]

Great vid. The next episode can't come soon enough.

[@rottalmusik6563]

This attention to detail is awesome💜 thanks for showing it🤘

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

We now sell hand selected and resawn Tonewoods on our website! Each piece was found by Chris Alvarado, and almost always has a story to go along with it. Go check out the selection at www.driftwoodguitars.com/tonewood

[@twohandsguitarcompany]

I’ve played one guitar built with Ancient Sitka, and it was a wonderful guitar. I purchased four sets years ago when ASW first started selling them, but haven’t yet built with one. Random question Chris…have you used Redwood for a soundboard yet? If not, you should consider giving it a try…especially Tunnel-14 Redwood. I absolutely love Sitka (and I get mine from Brent and Annette, just like you)…it’s my “go-to”…but I can’t say enough about the tonal qualities of Redwood. Thanks for the video fun, guys…it’s cool watching the similarities and differences between our building processes. Joel

[@xdoctorblindx]

It would be cool if they featured other builders (like you) to have conversations about different aspect of the building process. I'd watch that for sure!

[@johnsarlon9n]

Are you pleased with the new transverse brace design? It is very interesting.

[@gaknisguitars]

Great job guys!! Pls do a video on how you keep that chisels sharp

[@elisalazar3064]

Outstanding Work!!

[@davidedwards7172]

I was thinking about the soundboard stiffness and attachment. The closest thing I can think of is a speaker cone. You want it firmly attached to the edges, some flexibility, then some stiffness. Just my way of thinking of it.

[@ShaneDavisDFTBA]

Loved this video

[@malcolmjames1866]

Thanks. Learning loads again.

[@timduran2629]

Hi Chris is there a reason why the dowel rods are so long to keep the top in place? Thanks Tim

[@kennethloomis639]

What wood did Chris use for the bridge plate?

[@PavlenkoM]

It”s perfect project! One question please. What type of guitar top springs do you use for guitars to be used in countries with low humidity? Thank you!

[@jeremyandelisha]

Quick question? Why not glue up the full top to the sides and then cut/plane the arm bevel all at once?

[@stevecaton5876]

Scoring a line with a marking gauge both inside and out to avoid going to deep and to mitigate chip out. Also, a Dremel makes quick work of this operation.

[@davidhurry1964]

what size do you make your bridge plate i have a guitar that doesnt have a bridge plate in it and im trying to figure out how to make one and get put in

[@liliansaelens3026]

Hmm if the transverse brace is so important for the front strength, wouldnt it be logic to cut them as the X braces trrough the kerfing+side?

[@Aurelian76]

Hey there Chris...how long are those go-bars you use? Say, if I go to Lowe's and buy some of those fiberglass rods, what is the length I should cut them? And how important is the length vs. how much pressure/force they should. Cheers

[@robOntario]

Does the arm bevel take away from the sound of the guitar? Especially with a 3000 year old piece of wood? Just wondering? Great videos!

[@myeyesarewaiting]

why scallop the transverse brace in the middle? If it is a structural brace, why not leave it full thickness the entire length?

[@xdoctorblindx]

I can't remember the precise context, but you mentioned inp a previous video that no part of the guitar should be in tension or compression (i.e., everything should be tightly in place, but free to vibrate). Does that mean that you wouldn't want the fit to be too tight between the top bracing and sides? Wouldn't that create some tension? Thanks!

[@DatBoyGuru]

10:28 i hope your attention to detail meant you also trimmed a little radius on the brace so it sits flush to the sides. my OCD sees a hairline gap there😁

[@penjagahatye6699]

Please make one from lignum vitae wood as back or neck.. I never see that wood in guitar

[@newpatch36]

There's probably a reason you've never seen Lignum Vitae in a guitar. It's the densest wood in the world - would make for a very heavy guitar, and probably wouldn't vibrate very well to create sound waves leading to a dull sound.

[@thebigswede1736]

I sure would have been tempted to sand a microskosh off off of each side of the transverse brace so that it was still snug but not super tight. Would that have been a bad idea?

[@MrPab1lb]

Damn I love this series. I would like to buy one of your t-shirts, but don't see a link anywhere for it. Only the one for Patreon. I live in Sydney Australia...is this possible?

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

We need to add an International option. Let me get On that for you. Thanks for the interest!

[@charltonwang]

Chris, when you set your template down to mark the exit locations of the X-brace, I think the template should have been flipped around so that the text is backwards, correct? In your case, if the X-brace is perfectly symmetrical then you're probably okay, but if there are variances then I think it would be off.

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

You’re correct. I did flip it with the words backwards.

[@johnvcougar]

Damn, forgot to Like two of the previous episodes… just hafta watch ‘‘em again!

[@davidodle782]

Why aren’t you cutting out that Bandsaw cut with the CNC mill in the first step you guys do in episode one

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

Way too many slightly changing variables on every guitar to pre cut it on the CNC it’s best to make each one custom to the individual guitar.

[@j.p.mosoff1783]

Love the series on the three thousand year old guitar, but extremely frustrated that there is no continuity on you tube to follow the series. !

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

Trying to run a business and make KZbin videos can be hard man. My customers come first, especially around the holidays, with orders stacking up. We’ll post something soon, I promise.

[@j.p.mosoff1783]

Thanks kindly for your rapid reply! I did find a way to fast forward and get to episode #20. Thaanks again! Fantastic series!!

[@stephen3073]

I find it easier and more accurate to mark the sides for the X brace pockets with an Exacto knife (#11). You can get into tight spots with it, and press a little nick in there to mark the brace end pockets. I've lost count of how many arm and rib bevels I've made, but I STILL get about 50 foot-lbs of torque cranked into my anal sphyncter when I cut off the extra flash on the bandsaw. Serious pucker factor! I'm glad you guys use that same term.

[@hawaiithomson]

Why not drop the 30’ radius dish on top and use that as a caul rather than use the go bars when gluing the top on? Same as the back, seems that you could do a big dish sandwich since the kerfs were radiused.

[@walterrider9600]

thank you

[@terryjohinke8065]

Love this stuff but I'm too conservative for an arm bevel . Great work though and I appreciate acoustic builds ( having done a few) over electrics. Terry from Downunder.

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

Yeah it’s certainly not for everyone.

[@josephdelaurentis379]

How did you learn to build guitars? Are you self taught....any teachers etc? Any suggestions?

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

I’m totally self taught.

[@geamax1]

G'job mr's

[@Mike-kl1qc]

Can I purchase a mold and top template? I bet you could make a killing selling them! Maybe, please? Well just consider it at least. Think of the intro video, we have tone wood, even Brazilian, and sell a mold and top plate to follow along. For the million dollar idea I request 50% off

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

We’re working on making them available

[@Mike-kl1qc]

@@DriftwoodGuitars well shiz there goes my discount

[@just_a_guy_and_his_tacos]

this part with no guide rods.... was the least fun part of building for me. and everyone else. you try using tape, or anything to keep the alignment and it all fails.

[@ronbryant2282]

I have gouged the top more than once sliding it around on the rims or table without some kind of protection. You make me cringe a little the way you are sliding that top around finish side down... Beautiful work though, appreciate the detail around the arm bevel..

[@0whitestone]

I know you like to dump on hide glue, but I think the real benefit is not in sound but to the owner and the repair luthier 30 or 40 years down the road. It makes repair much easier

[@aldenwilkins]

Anyone else have anxiety hit when that top for flipped in the air?!? 😂

[@micmacnz]

if you dont have sharp chisels... sharpen your chisels

[@chrishartz2397]

Q. What does Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Neil Young, Lighnin Hopkins, and Tommy Emmanuel have in common? A. None ever had or needed a bevel on top of the guitar. I love your channel, your website, and guitars, but the bevels, their complexity, and costs are a bit over the top..

[@marksteilen]

Dear God, Chris… My soul senses that arm bevels are the devil’s work. Beautiful, comfortable, inviting, and yet … so wrong.

[@christophkowalski2920]

Big fan and I'm admiring your great craftmanship,, BUT: glueing in your braces that tight to the sides means taking a big risk in the long run. Wood shrinks. Time will pull your sides even closer around the braces. You can see the result in many old (more than 30 years) guitars: the tips of the braces push through the binding, ruining it. It's really not that uncommon. It can be easily avoided by just cutting the tips of the braces about 2mm short before touching the sides (contact between the sides of the braces and the lining in order to guarantee a good fit is of course something you still want). No offense, just concerned and hoping your guitars will be around for centurys.

[@tomp538]

Dampening: make damp or moist, wetting Damping: restraining of vibratory motion, such as mechanical oscillations, noise... Sorry I come from automotive/motorcycle background; the two words do not interchange.... again sorry.

[@nickhewett8815]

Gotta keep these guys honest. 😄

[@ferdberffle]

Since you reference Bob Ross, Wouldn't it be happy little braces ?

[@davidedwards7172]

First