Ryan M's new ladder braced parlor

Ok Ryan, here we go. I have assembled a group of parts and will be getting started real soon. Watch here for updates in the coming weeks.

Ryan is getting a ladder braced parlor with an adirondack spruce top, mahogany back & sides and madagascar rosewood bridge, fingerboard and head-plate.


Some of the raw materials.


The sides all trimmed to length and marked out, ready to bend.


One of the sides is in the bender.


The Mahogany back being joined.


The top is joined and will be getting a rosette very soon.


The side in the mold with the block glued in ready for some side reinforcement tape.


the linings are going in

Some trim options for Shaun's XGC

Here are some options for your trim. If you wanted to use one of these maybe we could do the rosette with the rings and then just the herringbone with the matching color around the edge with the iveroid binding and then the same herringbone up the back strip. I could also substitute a colored strip for the white in the small rings but that may be too much color.
I know it looks a little strange to view the rosette with four different colors but hopefully it'll give you an idea. Let me know what you think and don't be afraid to say no if you don't like the ideas as that's all they are.





Blue



Green



Yellow



Red, as if you couldn't tell but I thought I needed to write something.


Sample rosette

Here are somesample backstrip cominationas and you can change them around to suit yourself if you dpn't see anything you like or have another idea. Keep in mind that these are just examples that I came up with playing around with the different strips. Personally, I think I like the ones without the herringbone for the backstrip. Also the different strips will be very tightly installed on the real back but appear kinda loose here.
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Shaun C's X-braced grand concert

Raw materials. Madagascar Roasewood


Joining the back


Lutz Spruce top


Mad Rosewood sides


Side bundle in the bender, heating to 300 deg plus


The side is bent and cooling


Just out of the side bender


A freshly bent side


In the mold with the blocks installed


Glueing in the linings


Top in the go=bar deck getting braces installed. Tomorrow we will try to loosen it up a bit.


Trimming it up a bit.


The finished top






The back strip


Back strip closeup


Bracing the back


The back has been attached to the sides.


The top goes on next.


The top is on, the box is closed up and ready for binding after a little sanding.

John D's Ladder braced Grand Concert Guitar

John's ladder braced grand concert of walnut and western red cedar.


Sides loaded into the side bender and warming


Sides heated, bent and now cooling


The sides have been fitted into the mold and the neck and heel blocks have been glued in.


Back with center strip installed.


Kerfed linings clamped in.


Colorful side reinforcement.


Top and back plates.


Back braces clamped in the go-bar deck.


Bracing the top.


Finishing up the back braces.


Installing purflings and bindings


Installing purflings and bindings


Ready for scraping and sanding


The box is pretty much done now and I'll be starting on the neck.








Purfling/Rosette closeup