Portland Guitar Co.

( 51 ) 2-Sep-2016

Here I am laying out the brace pattern on the back of the top.

( 52 ) 2-Sep-2016

Using the bandsaw to cut out some of the braces.

( 53 ) 2-Sep-2016

I drill holes into the braces and route channels down the sides to reduce their mass.

( 54 ) 2-Sep-2016

I also use the bandsaw to cut lap joints into the X-braces.

( 55 ) 2-Sep-2016

With a little care they fit together perfectly.

( 56 ) 2-Sep-2016

Next I sand the braces to shape.

( 57 ) 2-Sep-2016

( 58 ) 2-Sep-2016

Here I have laid out the braces on the back of the top.

( 59 ) 2-Sep-2016

And now I can cut out the top plate.

( 60 ) 2-Sep-2016

( 61 ) 2-Sep-2016

Before I glue the braces in place I clean them up with a little hand sanding.

( 62 ) 2-Sep-2016

Now I use my CNC Router to create the rosette.

( 63 ) 2-Sep-2016

This rosette required several separate operations.

( 64 ) 2-Sep-2016

There is lots of detail in this rosette that represents the corona of the sun.

( 65 ) 2-Sep-2016

( 66 ) 2-Sep-2016

The contra-rosette is a plate with a variety of Feynman diagrams.

( 67 ) 2-Sep-2016

Now I start to glue the braces in place. Here I am working on the back braces.

( 68 ) 2-Sep-2016

( 69 ) 2-Sep-2016

Part of my process requires that I can accurately place the braces on the top. To do this I use a set of fiducial buttons that the braces fit on to.

( 70 ) 2-Sep-2016

Here I am marking the braces where I will cut them.

( 71 ) 2-Sep-2016

Now the sides snuggly fit into the braces.

( 72 ) 2-Sep-2016

And I start to glue the top braces into place.

( 73 ) 2-Sep-2016

When everything is dry I clean up the sound hole with the oscillating sander.

( 74 ) 2-Sep-2016

And here are all the braces in place.

( 75 ) 2-Sep-2016

Before I glue the top and bottom to the sides I install a set of side braces that will help prevent the sides from splitting.

( 76 ) 2-Sep-2016

( 77 ) 2-Sep-2016

A look at the back braces in place.

( 78 ) 2-Sep-2016

And here is a picture of the rosettes... looks like a party!

( 79 ) 2-Sep-2016

I install a label on the back of the heel block.

( 80 ) 2-Sep-2016

With everything ready I glue the top and back to the sides.

( 81 ) 2-Sep-2016

And I use a flange to press the top onto the sides.

( 82 ) 2-Sep-2016

When it comes out of the form it has a lip that needs to be removed.

( 83 ) 2-Sep-2016

I use a small router to clean up the edge.

( 84 ) 2-Sep-2016

( 85 ) 2-Sep-2016

I use this router template to create the cantilevered fretboard support channel.

( 86 ) 2-Sep-2016

This will allow the neck to move freely as it is adjusted.

( 87 ) 2-Sep-2016

The Box.

( 88 ) 2-Sep-2016

( 89 ) 8-Jul-2017

Unfortunately I fell off taking pictures of the build. Nonetheless, a year later and voila!