How to make an acoustic guitar side bender. Part 1

This video is the first part of a mini-series from our workshop on how to make a custom acoustic guitar side bender.
Part 2: • How to make an acousti...
Part 3: • How to make an acousti...
Part 4: • How to make an acousti...
Part 5: • How to bend acoustic g...
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[@tomalexiou9573]

Mr.Stapletons design is very practical.

[@user-gu5bg4hx2d]

Nice music!

[@user-gu5bg4hx2d]

Do this way of bending avoid some of the distortion caused by the grain/figure on the wood? Thanks for the video

[@PercyJackson93]

Why did you make the mould with the internal section rather than the opposite with the guitar shape cut out of the middle and solid wood around the wood to be moulded? That seems to be the way ive seen everyone else do it or do you think ut matters at all?

[@nicholasgonzales7521]

What is the process of actually designing and drawing out a custom shape? I see a lot of pre existing designs being made into molds but where is the blueprint for coming up with your own shape? What is the geometric equation involved??? I can’t seem to find any info

[@StapletonGuitars]

This is a very interesting question, and here is my answer, there is no blueprint for the body shapes. Early days dozens of the body shapes was created, and just several have settled. The couple things I could recommend: work within the dimensions, and understand how upper bout, lover bout, waist and depth of the body affect the sound. Also, you could create your own body shape of cause.

[@tomalexiou9573]

Hello Stapleton Guitars.Can this be modified for a cutaway? Thank you great straight forward video!

[@StapletonGuitars]

It can be modified for a cutaway, you need to make the new template with a cutaway, and add the new press for it. Here is an example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6i6YYaIjJukiJo

[@tomalexiou9573]

Thank you for answering me.If I want to get a CNC machine what's the bare minimum size for guitar making? 36 by 36 or 48 by 48? Do you think I can get a CNC for less than $1000.00 Canadian dollars?

[@StapletonGuitars]

​@@tomalexiou9573 The working area of my CNC is 600 x 1200mm. I've build it specifically for my needs, and it cost me way less than 1000 CAD.

[@tomalexiou9573]

@@StapletonGuitars Thank you for taking the time to answer me Mr. Stapleton Guitars.

[@gipsyguitar3800]

Is there any drawings available for measurements

[@StapletonGuitars]

Hi, yes there is the dimensions in the video. Sorry no drawings. Cheers

[@jonheath7502]

Can I ask a silly question? Why didn’t you just cut all those curved pieces out on the CNC?

[@jonheath7502]

You could have added alignment holes with the CNC in it’s program.

[@StapletonGuitars]

The short answer is to reduce plywood wastage. My CNC has 400mm width so in this case I would have to prepare plywood sheets in the size of the CNC working area. But on the big plywood sheet that I had - I could just position the template at any angle, and as close to each other as possible. Another thing, when you are putting together nine CNC cut layers, you have to align them precisely; whereas if you're using just one template then aligning will be done by the router bit for you. I hope it makes sense.

[@simonguitarfunkel]

How to make an acoustic guitar side bender. Step one: buy a CNC machine 🤣

[@StapletonGuitars]

In the description how to make a template: "The main template could be cut by hand or using a CNC machine, but it has to be precise and accurate" 😂

[@simonguitarfunkel]

Too bad you can’t bend sides with a CNC machine…

[@simonguitarfunkel]

Don’t get me wrong. If I ever own a CNC machine I will be building the whole guitar with it 👍

[@StapletonGuitars]

You can actually, some guitar factories have automated side benders, the only thing you need to do is to prepare the wood properly. I would love to have one of those. Accuracy and time saving are the key factors here.@@simonguitarfunkel

[@StapletonGuitars]

@@simonguitarfunkel I wouldn't. Yes you can use CNC for some operations, but you need to feel the wood. Every single piece of the wood has different tonal characteristics, and quality is different too. And when we're talking about sound board voicing, not CNC aloved here at all.