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As this is my next project I'm wondering about a couple of things....
The spruce for this guitar came to me in wedge form. My only prior experience was with flat boards. I know that I should plane both edges, join them, etc.... Next part is where I come into the unknown... I should trace my body outline to the flat side, correct? I guess carving it will be a bit easier due to the thinner edges getting thicker towards the middle. Sorry for what may seem like a silly question. Like I said, I've never worked a wedge before and I don't want to screw it up!

They come in wedges, as you mentioned, because almost all archtops will fall within those dimentions. It just cuts down on the carving, you'd be carving that area away anyway. Yes trace on the back. Make sure you joint the back, flat side, as you have to have a flat lip on the bottom of the plate to be able to attach it to the sides and kerfing.

Might add that it is not difficult to make a left hand by mistake if you're doing a cutaway version. DAMHIKT

You may want to keep the bookmatched faces to the outside but it's crapshoot because there will be no true bookmatch after carving.

Another reason for the wedge shape is that's the most effecient way to harvest the tree and keep the grain near vertical. Picture pie shaped slices coming out of the cross section of the tree trunk.

Have fun!

Nelson

With a quartersawn wedge, you have to put the bookmatched faces on the inside in order to have vertical grain.

_________________
Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Nelson, I'm sorry but this comment flew right over my head. Can you explain please? Also, what plane do you use for carving your tops?



Howard, sorry but I'm not quite understanding this. Since each wedge piece is like a triangle cut down the middle there's only one way to bookmatch them. What do you mean by "putting the bookmatched faces on the inside"?