Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag 160 - Making a Solera

Luthier and Instructor invites Spanish Luthier, Paco Chorobo to show how to make a traditional Solera.
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[@caramillo-andy]

This is an excellent explanation. I used to make my Soleras from 18mm ply but switched to MDF some years ago a it is much quicker and easier to shape them. One has to be carful though as the portion which supports the neck can be very flexible. I like to stiffen mine by gluing and screwing it to some pieces of soft wood or similar. One up the neck support and one or two across the solera.

[@jpb5385]

Excellent, excellent, excellent!!!

[@johngeddes7894]

It’s even easier than I thought. Thank you!

[@biff5963]

Excellent video gentleman…thank you.

[@warloshernandez]

I am glad you post this video, I bought the Flamenco guitar course and I was stuck on the solera part.

[@OBrienGuitars]

Glad you found the video useful. Happy Building !

[@BobStCyr]

Great demo - and not only does Paco speak Spanish and English but inches and millimeters as well - I also glue a stiffener on the back which keeps that mdf board flat but gives me something to clamp in a vice to hold the solera while working - lately I added a post mounted, height adjustable stand with a vice on top so I can work 360 degrees around the solera - (copied from the Stewmac and Proper ideas).

[@curbowman]

Here in Venezuela, Solera is a very fine brand of beer so... cheers!!🍻

[@OBrienGuitars]

Saludos desde Colorado.

[@densomerglad8421]

Thanks a lot, simply ingenious.

[@llanedeyrn5]

Great video, perfectly explained. Many thanks. When making the solera would you make any attempt to try to create a flatter area in the centre of the dome to accept the bridge later on?

[@OBrienGuitars]

No, just keep it domed.

[@57ffjjimenez]

Gracias Paco, una pregunta esta solera vale tanbien para guitarra acustica ( flat top guitar ) o hay que hacer otra me refiero al rebaje Un saludo

[@OBrienGuitars]

Hola Fernando! No te recomiendo usar una solera para construir una guitarra acústica. La solera es responsable de parte del carácter sonoro de la guitarra española. De igual modo, la guitarra acústica se construye sin solera, ya que forma parte de la tradición en la forma de construir ese instrumento. Aunque vayas a construir una guitarra acústica de tapa plana (sea totalmente plana o no, mucho cuidado con la traducción del término flat top) , te animo a que la construyas a la forma tradicional europea (que es de donde nace la americana), cuerpo por un lado, mástil por otro. Si es una acústica digamos "normal", necesitarás un disco de radio que es lo comúnmente utilizado, entre 15 y 30 pies de radio. Si realmente te refieres a tapa plana en el sentido estricto, entonces no necesitas ni solera, ni disco de radio ni nada! En la primera lección de mis cursos presenciales hablamos de los 4 elementos que marcan el sonido de una guitarra, y uno de ellos es el método constructivo. Por ello, si quieres hacer una acústica, usa un molde externo, contrafajas en tapa y fondo, construyendo con discos de radio para la tapa y el fondo. Y para el mástil me voy a mojar y te voy a recomendar un mástil de tipo bolt-on. Y por último, mi mejor consejo: echa un vistazo al curso de construcción de guitarra acústica de Robbie O'Brien en lutherieacademy.com Yo me hice guitarrero viendo sus vídeos en KZbin... e incluso aprendí inglés! Así que imagínate los resultados con uno de sus cursos! ¡Un fuerte saludo desde Úbeda!

[@martinodesales5074]

Hi, my name is Martino, I followed with interest your method for creating the Solera of the classical guitar, not understanding English I helped myself with the translator and I would like you to remove a doubt for me: at the moment I will create the curvature between 2.5/ 3 mm at the highest point, i.e. the bridge, does this camber have to reach just below the mother chain? or should the radius of curvature also reach towards the hole? Unfortunately, this detail is not well understood on the internet and I hope you can remove this doubt, thank you

[@OBrienGuitars]

The curvature is the deepest at the bridge location and tapers to just below the lower transverse brace. Happy building.

[@martinodesales5074]

@@OBrienGuitars thank you 🙏

[@robertgunning9667]

2° from the 12th fret to the 1st fret? Or the nut?

[@OBrienGuitars]

To the nut.

[@settebello28]

hola, ¿entonces no lleva radio la 2da barra armónica, la que está junto al abanico? he visto soleras con esa bóveda tipo en forma de gota y hace que tenga un poco de bóveda hasta media boca y por eso la 2da barra armónica se le da la curvatura de la bóveda y la 1a queda plana, saludos

[@OBrienGuitars]

Yes, I put a 30 foot radius on the lower transvers brace. This helps the top structurally.

[@settebello28]

@@OBrienGuitars gracias