Making an Archtop Guitar: Part 4 - Carving the Top

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In this video, I am carving the top of an archtop guitar and attaching it to the sides that were made in part 2.
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[@mattier3030]

Oh love the washer contour trick for bracing

[@stephentool1316]

When carving the "face" part of the top, why not use a router, the way a Les Paul Standard top is carved? Not criticizing, I'm just wondering. Best top carving video I've seen. Very detailed.

[@michellek5789]

Amazing. Thank you for sharing. I wondered what plane you are using. Thanks

[@CranmerGuitars]

Hi! The planes that I use in the video are a number 5 1/2 veritas low angle Jack plane, and for carving the top I used two D'angelico planes from LMI. Thanks for commenting!

[@mattier3030]

@@CranmerGuitars I have the veritas low angle jack plane and it’s one of my all time favorites! The ease of adjustment and big fat handle. Nice video.

[@mattier3030]

@@CranmerGuitars is that a LN scraper plane? Great idea for hogging out top waist

[@JasonQuackenbushonGoogle]

why don’t you join the top before planing the corner flat? is it to help with the clamping?

[@lewiskay7184]

What thickness do you aim for with ur tops?

[@warner631]

At 12:55 he has a little tool he clamps to the drill press so he can make the press stop for an even mark for carving. Does anyone know what that is?

[@CranmerGuitars]

It's just the end of a broom handle. The drill's depth stop is set to ~7mm above the tip of the handle (which is how the drill appears to follow the contour.) Hope that helps!

[@warner631]

@@CranmerGuitars ahhhhhhh. That's super smart. I am a hack guitar maker. I make solid body electrics. You are amazing with your work. I am going to attempt a carve top. You've inspired me. Thanks for the super fast answer

[@MrBruneaux]

Great work! I am always amazed about the rcafting skills involved in making a guitar. I am not a luthier and do not have any experience in such work at all, but to me it looks lik you are performing many of these tasks manually with less advanced equipment I have seen in comparable videos on youtube. One question particularly to carving the top: Did you use any kind of template available from existing archtop guitars to shape the top accordingly. It looks, as if you were doing it simply by gut feel or experience. Thanks and looking forward to upcoming videos about the Archtop. Greetings from Austria

[@CranmerGuitars]

Thank you for the kind words! To answer your question, I tend not to use templates when carving the tops and backs. I believe that by carving 'freehand,' each guitar will be more unique and have a more authentic, handmade feel. This also happens to be the first time I have made this design, so it is definitely uncharted territory as far as carving is concerned.

[@timbeaton5045]

@@CranmerGuitars Wow. I was about to ask the same question. If, as an amateur I was to approach it, I guess I'd use the "pillar drilling on contour lines" principle, to approximate the depth along those lines. But freehand? I guess it helps when you have much experience,... your hands will sort of feel the right shape in the wood, so to speak. Binge watching this build, BTW!

[@timbeaton5045]

I guess, also that templates are usually found for established models so if you want to, as Fleetwood Mac once so eloquently put it, Go Your Own Way, then not needed. I would have thought the main reason for templates, or making them yourself, is if you are going to make multiple instruments to the same plan. If it's a one off, then I doesn't matter that you won't get repeatability.

[@timbeaton5045]

Those little hand planes are fantastic. Must need sharpening all the time!!

[@lzrt281]

now i know why archtop is expensive

[@thisisdumbfor5]

Another otherwise fantastic video largely ruined by loud, intrusive, and unnecessary music.