Sugar SG1 acoustic guitar build part 52: The dummy bridge

[@theRandy712]

Hi Susan! Is everything okay? I noticed it's been quite a long time since this last chapter in the guitar build project! EDIT - She's okay! She updated her Facebook page that she's just on lockdown but no health issues. Whew!

[@robm129]

I just spent two days binge watching this. LOVE IT!!!! So inspiring. My ocd however won’t let me live on.....where is the rest??? Pleeeeeeeeeeease!!!

[@DanJL37]

did the exact same thing now im asking the same questions is she ok and wheres the rest

[@loquayrocks]

Me too... Very sudden stop

[@gregvondare]

Hey Sue, I was worried too. I had been following your personal journey as well as the enormously complex and precise build of your guitar. I hope you are well and happy somewhere in the UK. I am not anything like a luthier but I always enjoyed your videos and the sunny attitude you brought to them.

[@pcpjames]

Susie you’re doing great boo This is one fantastically amazing mamma jamma of an acoustic guitar build playlist you’ve got going on here. Just keep doing what you’re doing and take however much time you need, no one will think less of you and if they do they aren’t worth your time and energy sweetie. Thank you for sharing so much. That bridge looks awesome btw!

[@jonathanoakey4745]

Something you said early in the video resonated with me, because I'm trying to get myself into the mindset that "good enough" isn't good enough, and only "perfect" is good enough. My skills are not yet developed enough to put that into practice, sadly, but I'm working on it.

[@josephattard9250]

I admire your patience

[@daniellericard8123]

SuGar u r the best i hope u make more videos soon luv u lots 4 ever

[@adriangliddon795]

You are brilliant where have you gone

[@georgetempest9627]

eagerly awaiting this masterpiece!

[@TheFatstrat79]

Whats happened Susan? Everything ok? No posts in a while. Jim x

[@barryducret1052]

I still haven't managed to find part 53 of your sg1 acoustic guitar build, so when oh when are you going to make it since I am getting bored with looking at repeats of the part 52. So will you please ,please, PLEASE let me know when you have made it. From a passed favourite fan of your marathon guitar build.

[@peatbogfaierie]

'A bit Fussy' ..cracking looking Bridge never the less !

[@paintbox48]

Hi Suzie - said it before...really love your methods and skills. Though I'm afraid I don't like the bridge design ...looks a bit too blobby for me....but of course if you like it, and it works, that's your choice. Looking forward to the guitar's conclusion, and hearing what you think of the result. There seems to have been so many decisions to make, based on various scientific factors, I wonder if you will be able to pick out what made the most difference. Anyway keep up the good work.

[@SusanGardener]

Is it the plan shape that bothers you? I wondered if I should make the edges a little crisper will keeping the plan shape

[@paintbox48]

@@SusanGardener Hi suzie thanks for getting back. Sorry I haven't responded earlier, had problems this end and only just seen your reply. Re the bridge - it's difficult to explain, but firstly it's the irregularity of the outline - nothing is parallel with anything else - neither of the outer edges, or with the bridge pins. Obviously it's not symetrical, but then neither is the guitar or maybe you are purposely trying to avoid symetry. The main thing is the overall softness of the edges in combination with the wood pattern - you can't pick out any clear form on the surface structure of the bridge. I don't know, maybe I'm too tied to convention!

[@tomahoks]

Yaaay, A Suzie movie!

[@barryducret1052]

Hi there sue, have you finished making the guitar yet, because I have given up looking for part 53 of your marathon guitar build. I have had all manner of health problems, that included a ruptured aorta which meant that I spent 5 months in hospital last year together with having the symptoms af parkinsons disease which has meant that I can't complete the last guitar that I was in the middle of making before I went into hospital. So please PLEASE tell me if you have finished it and how did it turn out.

[@barryducret1052]

Hi there again Susie, I was wondering if you had recieved my last communication where I offered to let you Finnish a guitar that I had started before having to go into hospital for 5 months last year with a ruptured Aorta which has left me with the inability to get upstairs to my workshop. The guitar is in a semi complete state having the neck and the body joined but still requiring binding and the fretboard and bridge not glued on as yet. The guitar is fairly revolutionary having the grain on the front radiating from the bridge made up of 30 triangular pieces of cedar that are supported by two struts that travel from the neck to the lower bout with a piece of cedar reinforcing the bridge area going from the sound hole to the lower bout. It is that I just want to hear it played and find out if my idea is correct. I have made guitars for 58 years and have always tried to make my guitars different from the norm, which is why I have chosen you to take on this task, since you don't do things the easy way either. I feel that you are a kindred spirits and if I knew how to attach a picture of this and other guitars that I have made then I would do so, however I don't see any way that I can, unfortunately. So please get back to me and perhaps you might like to see my workshop before I finally go to the guitar workshop in the sky.

[@mojorocketman]

Hey I hope all is well, what happened to the rest of the build?

[@ERIC-65]

We all wonder what happened! Where is the guitar? 🤔🧐😕😟🙁☹😮😯😲🥺

[@jasonb4350]

52 videos ? good god and this is looking like the sander video.

[@barryducret1052]

When oh when are you going to make episode no. 53, or perhaps there is something wrong with my tablet, because I haven't managed to get it, for some reason. Since it has been some 3 months since your last episode and you always made one every week before. Either you have been doing other gigs, in which case I am pleased for you. I sincerely hope you are well and not suffering from some deadly disease hoping to hear from you in the not too distant future from an admirer and 75 year old Guitar maker.

[@David-uq2uk]

My guess Suzie does have a family and commitments . It's hard to do vids on demand and there's not enough hours in a day . But she will get there.

[@pcpjames]

Barry so sorry to hear of your wife’s passing. My condolences 😔❤️

[@plexibreath]

My drill press has the same wobbly issue, it's frustrating to see it shift as it starts it's cut. If you find a solution, or a better press, I'm interested in what solution you've found works.

[@mikeoravec6785]

What has happened to Sue??? Nothing for a very long time.

[@2old4u]

Excellent!

[@waltersguitars3336]

What happened? Where is the guitar you were building ol

[@scottreeves6932]

Great episode. Many good techniques. 1. I like the thickness sander method to shape the wings. I'd have to remove a feed roller, but.... 2. Any thoughts about making the treble end of the saddle area of the bridge a bit lower to accommodate the normally lower height of the treble end of the saddle? 3. If anyone can engineer a better way to make an underside-of-the-bridge sanding dome, you can. And a safer method to hold onto the bridge. 4. Finally, how many pints does it take to make a radius dish with your technique?

[@SusanGardener]

Taking a mm off the treble side would be a good thing I reckon. Apart from the extra weight saving, you’d get a more consistent string break angle. The only down side I can think of is the saddle slot would be shallower and the saddle less firmly connected? I don’t understand ‘pints’ for the radius dish

[@barryducret1052]

As a 75 year old Guitar maker, I am not that good at figuring out how to use this tablet and haven't managed to find any more episodes of your sg1 Guitar build. So perhaps it is down to me and my lack of knowledge of the search engine. So perhaps you could let me know if you have finished the guitar yet and if so how does it sound?.

[@barryducret1052]

When I make guitar bridges I mark the spacing of the holes on the back stop and not on the bridge itself but Mark a line in the middle of the bridge and move it along the back stop to the individual positions thus doing away with the possible error of miss judging the centre of the drill.

[@barryducret1052]

Why can't I find part no. 53 of your making a guitar sg1

[@barryducret1052]

Hi there again Susy, I hope you have been able to get your new home ready with a workshop, and will be able to complete the Sg1 Guitar build, which I see you have not been able to complete as yet, I would love to hear it and see it in a complete state. I still haven't managed to get up into my workshop due to my suffering from parkinsons and as such haven't managed to finish my latest guitar, which as I said has the grain on the front radiating from the bridge to the outside of the guitar, with the struts going from the neck to the lower bout either side of the sound hole. If it interests you then I hope you will be able to visit me at some time and see the guitar which I hope you will be interested in finishing it, as I said, it only interests me to hear it played, what happens to it after then doesn't matter to me. It can be yours if you want it to have as you please or sell if you want to. Looking forward to hearing from you, bye bye from Barry Ducret.

[@barryducret1052]

Why did you put the stop on the top of the bridge, surely it would have been better to but a stop on the bed of the thickness sander , or even a stop on a piece of board that the bridge could be slid on, thereby doing away with the need to remove the stop on the top of the bridge each time you put it under the thicknesser.

[@pipercub45]

Another use for the drum sander. Thanks for that! By the way, have you had to retrue your sanding drum?

[@SusanGardener]

I haven’t - it seems quite well behaved since I cut slots in it

[@shawncharton9416]

So, are you ever gonna finish this project??

[@SusanGardener]

Yes

[@johnpicton4306]

What happened to the rest of videos to completion of SG1, can't believe you've not finished it, your a star, you should finish them. English people don't just give up.

[@barryducret1052]

Hi there Sue, I thought that you might be interested in a guitar that I made some 50 years ago, on the www. It shows the grain on the front of the guitar going diagonally across. This is a design that I came up with shortly after doing the grain going straight across the front. So if you would like to see it then go to "guitar maker Barry Ducret" and scroll down until you come to a guitar with the grain going diagonally. All the best with your guitar build as always from Barry Ducret

[@drumgerry]

Just a few obs - hope you don't mind Susan. Weight looks good. I'm aiming for about 20g with a walnut/carbon fibre laminated bridge for my Gore style build. Currently at 24g before the saddle slot is cut. Your wings look REALLY thick so you could shift a couple of grams there I'm sure. I think your bridge design might look better with an elegant curve on the wings coming up to the central portion - like you had it straight from the thickness sander but with thinner wings. Just my opinion and of course feel free to ignore! Never worked with Wenge and if it's a lightweight, less dense wood maybe it would benefit from a layer of carbon fibre per the Gore books. My CF layer is about 3mm down and will reinforce the saddle slot. Also sanding your bridge underside into a 28 foot radius presumes your top has an exact radius of that amount. In real life it might be a bit out so I sand my bridge on the top - shellac seal the top first, 220 grit stikit sandpaper (from Stewmac) and sand away with as little downwards pressure as poss till the pencil is removed. Can't say as I've ever noticed the bridge tipping during the process. The result is a perfect fit. Oh and I might not bevel the bridge in front of the saddle just to make it easy to set the neck angle but again that's a design choice one makes. Cheers!

[@facundofontela316]

susan, what woods you use in this guitar? thanks

[@tomahoks]

I was like wtf, but then I read the description.

[@timbeaton5045]

When tuning up, in a band situation, say... I will get to a certain level of accuracy, and stop, with the age-old saying... "Close enough for Jazz" 😎

[@jacquesstrauss6975]

that end ...😂

[@mike194254]

Where has Susan gone......I have seen she has a Patreon channel but even that seems to be quite a bit out of date. Has Susan "given up" he video making or even her guitar building?

[@deanpenny8456]

I've been following this build from the start, and have been impressed by the detail. It strikes me as being a very mathematical approach to creating the "perfect" guitar. And that may be absolutely fine! The research is fantastic!! I do wonder what established luthiers would make of this. Maybe they've acquired their expertise by trial and error, research, or artisanship. Or perhaps handed-down arts. I will be absolutely fascinated to see how this turns out in terms of acoustics. Maths versus Artisanship. I have two luthier created classical guitars which are quite different, one very much an English guitar, one very much a Spanish guitar, albeit made by a well-known old Japanese luthier. They are very different, but both beautiful. I am very much looking forward to comparing science with art.

[@nobodyfromnowhere7823]

It seems like Susan was teleported - I hope she has not gone to Rura Penthe

[@niles006]

Loved the Star Trek reference. Lol ✌🏻

[@SusanGardener]

It’s not Star Trek - it’s just generic beaming up

[@David-uq2uk]

Just work out 52 parts of build work out the hours and would say 120 hours of build work so your roughly right as a pro guitar builder could spend 200 hours on one guitar. I seen others take 2 months . So your doing ok .

[@russellharris5072]

I am concerned that over time (quite a lot of time),the shape of the bridge plus string tension may cause uneven pull on the top.Or am i being picky?

[@barryducret1052]

Why oh why do you always use supper glue and masking tape when double sided tape would do just as well for this operation , since you aren't going to reuse the template then there was no need for using masking tape?.

[@petemclinc]

This is getting out of hand...

[@patbassman8251]

Your British so its called a Pillar drill only saying .

[@barryducret1052]

It is in fact called a drill press, I know that when we were children the woodwork teacher used to call it a pillar drill or a pedestal drill but since then it has changed its name. I just thought I would make this point since you can't buy a pillar drill these days only drill presses.

[@patbassman8251]

@@barryducret1052 The Americans call it a Drill Press , I have noticed a lot of British are adjusting for Americans ( gotten , Trash ) or using out dated imperial measurements.

[@barryducret1052]

If by outdated you mean the good old BRITISH measurement of feet and inches, then I have to be one of those men that was Bourne in that eara when we had just won the war, admittedly with some assistance from the colonies. When we ruled most of the world and feet and inches, a yard and a furlong plus a rod pole and a pearch were all measurements that were instilled into us by our teachers. Together with pounds a ten bob note shillings and pence half a crown and a tanner were all currencies that had value, before we were lead into the COMMON MARKET. Anyway I digress. What was I trying to say before I so rudely interrupted myself. Yes, I am old fashioned and proud of it. Rule Britania, Britania rules the waves and all that old rubbish. A veritable Alf Garnett. So there.

[@patbassman8251]

@@barryducret1052 Food for thought , Im a little younger than you so I remember the metric system being tough at school , the metric system you have to admit is easier than feet, inches, and ten of a thousands of an inch and can be a bit of a mouth full sometimes.

[@barryducret1052]

I don't know if I managed to make it clear but my last comment wasn't serious but was meant as a joke. Perhaps my sarcastic humour wasn't apparent, so I apologise if you took it seriously. Haha.

[@ColinWatters]

Be careful with super glue fumes as you can become sensitised. Symptoms are cold or hay fever like.

[@barryducret1052]

Although I am a fan of yours I have to say I am not a fan of your bridge design. It looks like a slug that is creeping across the Guitar front. It lacks definition and reminds me of amateur sculptors that round off everything because they think that it is in some way more polite to do so. I should apologise for my observation but this is the only way I can think of describing what I think.

[@SusanGardener]

I’d already had the same thoughts. I’ll try to get an angled bevel around the edge - tricky, but I have a jig in mind. I’ll keep the plan shape. Another reason for making a dummy bridge 😀👍

[@WryGrass100]

@@SusanGardener I've missed videos! I'm still subscribed, so I s'pose when you post, I'll get a notice. I hope you're well, and still making progress. It's a mighty scary time!