How To Build An Acoustic Guitar Episode 15 (Bracing the Back)

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In this video, Chris glues the braces on the back of the 3,000 year old guitar.
List of tools used in the video:
Digital Calipers: stewmac.sjv.io...
Chisels: stewmac.sjv.io...
Go-Bar Deck: stewmac.sjv.io...
Veritas Gents Saw: www.woodworkin...
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[@tomp538]

Really enjoy this build; I find watching craftsmen doing what they do fascinating.

[@andsoistopped]

Wheyyyydaminitte!! There’s S style bodies in the background.

[@ChrisH-qf7oi]

Guys, I love this series. I’m learning so much and enjoy the humor. I’m an amateur looking to take things to the next level, so this is perfect. I have a cnc and had already begun a scheme to make/incorporate templates with pins when I discovered your channel, so very excited to see how you’ve done that. I’ve noticed your struggles to hold pieces in place with the cnc-thinking you might explore using your vacuum pump for clamping.

[@ClaytonwFirth]

Those S styles in shot when Chris was working at the go bar deck have got me curious!

[@jennifer6833]

I’m just as curious as you! They mentioned a few months ago maybe releasing a new model, so it might be coming to fruition ☺️ Hope that they do another build series of at least part of the process!

[@poorboyman5565]

Can't wait to hear this terrific guitar.

[@SkyscraperGuitars]

Still enjoying every video. You're 100% correct about templates and jigs... Every minute spent on them saves an hour down the road.

[@ryanminyard4446]

Hi guys love every video :) would you ever consider in the future a hands on weekend or week long class for guitar building? And or are your jigs or cnc files for purchase ? I’m a father of four little ones and have limited time, good templates would save a lot of time. Thanks

[@batbeardscs]

It’s okay Matt, the missed spots on the radius dish bugged me too!

[@AlexanderElse]

That tip about arranging the cut lines together and doing it all at once is so forehead-slappingly obvious I can't believe how many opportunities I've missed to do it on my projects. Big thumbs up.

[@lotusblossomclinic]

I am not a guitar builder and watching this series has convinced me that I should never try it. However, I am a guitar buyer and it is very interesting learning about what goes into a custom guitar. I love the series. If i win the lottery I will be placing an order.

[@bldallas]

You truly have the coolest jigs and templates; your designs are well thought-out, for a tight fit and function, and they look very professional, too.

[@hitnorcal]

14K gets you amazing attention to detail. Love these videos. Sharing your experience in well edited video is so handy and great to watch. I don't build, I just love to learn.

[@0whitestone]

Way ahead of you Matt! My thoughts exactly before you even said it!

[@jannephicautibar2079]

I really enjoy watching this....waiting for the next episode...

[@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

[@dalgguitars]

6:32 "I build guitars so I can buy tools." He says, right next to that big honkin' Wilton vice. Nice! (thank you for these videos!)

[@stevedimebag]

I pretend to my wife that I build guitars, just so I can buy tools

[@garyhendrick4391]

"Welcome to ep.462........." Its like watching an Alec Steele series

[@boleslawszemplinski2549]

A man of culture

[@xdoctorblindx]

Or Project Binky...

[@blinknlites1493]

The quality of these videos, and the amount of information freely given is truly significant. Thank you! Incredible! Will you make to sell any jigs?

[@Lonnie.Macs.Garage]

Excellent man! As usual. Can't wait to see this thing finished, and the inlay work I know you are going to do! A 3000 year old guitar needs a little bit of "Peace Of Stage" wood in the inlay too! gotta have some scraps laying around!

[@emptyeff]

I have a couple suggestions; always clamp from inside out to provide the best material and glue flow (think about how you apply a sticker), and painting both surfaces with glue before joining them provides a better joint

[@karljshaw]

Another great video... very instructive, good explanations. Keep 'em coming!

[@iansmeath8674]

Marmite is from England like me!! Vegemite is from Australia!

[@heymrguitarman7637]

I'm no acoustic Luthier but I do build electric guitars. Your philosophy seems to me around making the sides and back as stiff as makes sense to do so. I'm guessing (could be wrong) this brings out more of the piano like sound your guitars tend to display. On that basis it feels to me that less stiffness might in turn create a warmer and spongier tone. I happen to lean towards the piano.like tones more on acoustic as I am a fingerstyle player. All of the above could be nonsense it's just guess work from me 🙂

[@scottkidwell3601]

Interesting how its all coming together. Looking forward to each episode in this series. Bonus points for puppers video!

[@jparker1823]

Of course another great video from you guys. Entertaining and educational. Looking forward to the voicing video.

[@msPaulaA1]

Well done. Alrighty Chris do you just vacuum poorly to get out of doing the floors? 🤔 Love this series. Thanks for taking us along for the build.

[@gooddirtclasses8933]

just curious if it could be important to sand each brace over the portion of the radius dish where it will attach? Seems like the curve would be slightly different for the central braces versus the ones near the ends. Maybe too slight to matter?

[@mikebell3396]

How ya getting on boys, so I am planning on making templates for my next build , but I'm curious....how do you clean up the squeeze out with the template on after clamping??

[@Mike-kl1qc]

In your opinion, is a CNc the only option to build templates? After watching the series I learned there value.

[@jerrylee087]

Love all your videos on this build series!🤘💯😊 very nice!

[@michaelarthurmusic307]

Another great video. More Charlie would make them even better.

[@JSeviii]

Great Channel!

[@Sammywhat]

Seems like you were rather impressed with the Taylor's laminate back and the fact it didn't need bracing. Any chance of seeing you do that in the future? BTW, S - shaped bodies in the background were definitely an attention getter!! 🎸👀

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

No, I’ll stick with my solid backs for now. We’re gonna fill everyone in on the Strats soon.

[@viktortulbya2107]

Hi guys love your videos. But i love the guitars more:) quick question, whats all the strat bodies in the backround about?

[@robkennard1867]

Loving this series Chris! Marmiite wins every time!

[@PERRYS_PROPS]

Im with you Matt, vacuum up all that dust, no half stepping : )

[@fongy200]

Forgive me. I haven't watched the other episodes but i was wondering how you aged the timber? Dendrochronology or carbon or something other than those? How old is Earth oldest living tree? The Methusala tree i think it's called not sure. Great stuff though and fascinating, thank you.

[@Tzuau78]

Vacuum spots 😰… with you there Matt, but you lost me betting against Vegemite 🤣

[@kennygee83]

Marmite for life!

[@-NT-]

Just an Aussie here repping for the Vegemite! (Have you tried the Tim Tams though?!?!)

[@andri712]

Looking forward to the next episode ! :)

[@PERRYS_PROPS]

great video as usual, thanks

[@marekbage]

12:02 "...and there's not a lot of thought involved here" Now you're talking my language!!

[@FourT6and22]

Maybe I missed it, but why notch the backstrap instead of the cross bars? Does it make a difference either way?

[@1001Bull]

One day when I will be building my first acoustic, I will be watching this video and following along :)

[@philgallagher1]

Marmite is SO divisive in the UK that it has become part of the language! If a person, film, TV show, etc splits people into two distinct groups (those who LOVE it versus those who HATE it), they are known as MARMITE people / things!

[@jparker1823]

Chris, what's your 2 cents regarding vacuum tables vs go-bar clamps when it comes to bracing the front and backs?

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

I’d prefer a vacuum system, but just don’t have the space at the moment. A go bar deck is more versatile though.

[@jparker1823]

@@DriftwoodGuitars Thanks so much for your expertise. I like the idea of even distribution on the braces with a vacuum table, but I'm guessing the squeeze out might be a little harder to clean up.

[@jennifer6833]

@@DriftwoodGuitars is the amp build series coming back? I miss seeing Matt and you chatting while he was working on the amp.

[@jimsound7888]

marmite is british, made in Burton-on-Trent since 1902.

[@ErnieB]

Chris, your vacuuming sucks! lol All kidding aside, I am thoroughly enjoying this saga. Thanks.

[@acdclexu6296]

what would intrest me 3 guitars one only of mapple, one only of mahogany and one wood of your choice how diffeent its gonna sound

[@joeguammusic]

What’s with the strat builds in the background?!!

[@rhino2104]

Do we spy a new addition to go with the Tidalcaster hanging in the background?

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

No, just a side project we’re doing for a big upcoming video series.

[@hawaiithomson]

Why not notch the ladder braces so that you don’t have to cut the center brace? And then cut the ends to length?

[@ericgiova1663]

Personally I think it's great that you take your time to explain step by step how to build your instruments. Watching other tutorials, there are always questions that remain: how to go from step 1 to 3? What happened? With each video, I take notes. By the way, I have a question: is mdf an adequate material for a template?

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

It is

[@geocha2881]

Strat bodies hanging in the back?

[@VAXHeadroom]

Do you sell your acrylic templates? It's a brilliant system!

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

I don’t, but I’ve gotten a lot of requests to make them, so I may do that in the future.

[@nickhewett8815]

Damnit Chris are those dust spots still on there? How am I supposed to sleep?! Marmite all the way BTW. 😉

[@AboutTheCloud]

Those strats in the background? 🤔

[@denism575]

Nice!

[@williamnichols6253]

This is all so inspiring. If I had $150k to tool a shop, and 1000 hours to custom build jigs and patterns, and 10 years to learn how to intuit the voicings... Then I could build my own guitar in a few short months. Awesome!

[@playsgibsons]

Marmite represent!

[@AMCKINGDOM]

Comment 100...Chris is bad at vacuuming and Matt needs to get the camera focused n keep it on the project more often than on Chris. We can listen to Chris n watch his detailed work! Good luck on the focusing 👍

[@redbed1604]

Since the back is laminated, why brace it?

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

The back isn’t laminated. Just the sides.

[@davidedwards7172]

We got Charlie-casters now?????

[@brutalbrutusTV]

Anybody else waiting for the 3000yr old workbench concert?...

[@mattfleming2287]

I see double cut solid bodies….new model?

[@raynoller6225]

Got to be MARMITE!!!!

[@makikogi]

I wonder how much glue has accumulated on the underside of those work tables over the years 😄

[@DriftwoodGuitars]

It looks like the underside of an elementary school desk. Full of boogers

[@jayfluegel7401]

@@DriftwoodGuitars You really should. It's a brilliant system.

[@chrishartz2397]

Templates facilitate repeatability… good practice!

[@ianfrensemeier346]

I see stratocasters hanging in the background!!

[@russeldavies1203]

The spots bug me too! Chris you are bad at vacuuming and you should feel bad.

[@monkeysweeperguitar]

Holy dog $#%t, I love these videos!

[@Runoratsu]

„The 3000 year long guitar build“ 😁

[@Theonlyshaun]

I was literally ‘complaining’ in my mind before Matt mentioned the dust spots. Also, Vegemite > Marmite

[@Tbone1952]

Bugged me too haha!!!

[@erpringle]

What happened to the amp build??? You burn it up?

[@gavinhutton8455]

Am i the only one seeing a strat body behind or is it the tidalcaster?

[@cassioa]

Best vacuum.. lol

[@oldmantwofour5561]

Hidden picture time... what's with the "S type" electric bodies hanging behind you? Inquiring minds want to know.

[@andrewmundenandcadfellmast4624]

Vegemite and marmite are both made from brewers yeast, left over from beer making. So, basically, they are like healthy, edible, beer. Doesnt get much better than that. Of course vegemite is better, as it is the newer improved version 😁👍

[@boleslawszemplinski2549]

Chriss you are bad at vacuuming 😥

[@garyhendrick4391]

Marmite > Vegemite

[@taylormoon3561]

Not cool to just casually have a bunch of strat bodies in the background and not mention them. Is the tidalcaster getting a sibling?

[@scaira60]

Very cool channel, I just started trying to build a couple parlor guitars for my sons, I have been building furniture for 40yrs. Man guitar building is Amazing & Very complicated but Iam totally addicted 🇺🇸🇺🇸🎸👨🏻‍🦯👨🏻‍🦯