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Hi all,
I'm building my first - an archtop following the Benedetto book except without the cutaway. It occurred to me that the neck block glued on two sides with the cutaway adds extra support in that area. Should the neck block be increased in size if the cutaway is not done? If the tail block is 4" wide maybe the neck block should be too?
Thanks.
- Keith

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Keith Lally
http://krl-guitar-building.blogspot.com/

Good luck with your archtop. I also tried to build a guitar from that book. I learned a ton, but the guitar didn't amount to anything. Anyways, I make my neck blocks about 2.5" wide and to whatever height the sides are for that guitar. You don't have to over do the neck block. What is important is that you get a nice and tight fit.

Check out bob's website, he often times has pictures in his archive of the blocks he uses:

http://benedettoguitars.com/archivenews.php

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
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Yo, Keith,

Congrats for taking on an archtop for your first.

Now regarding the concepts that occur and are preceded with "should", "if" and "maybe"

Well dude...all's the Padma can say is ... you got it bad, I mean most dudes don't start getting creative before they even finish their first build.
Unfortunately, I am so sorry to have inform you that there ain't no cure.
However the constant therapy of building for the rest of your life will give you some relief to the effects of "shoulda, cuda, wooda what ifs, and the maybes."

Then my friend Keith there is the WAS syndrome...fortunately it don't sound like you been affected with that. It usually set in around the 3-4 build. Just so that you are aware.

Now regarding your questions.

1.) I love thinkers.

2.) Is your build. DO what thou wilt.

Here in endith the Padmas diagnosis of you condition.
Me prognosis is you will make a fine luthier.


Icu

Padma


Ok all wise cracken aside...think whats happening to the top in terms of tension/retraction, what is bending and what is being pushed and in what direction, and what will be possible out comes of this pressure on the plate that is in contact to the blocks? What effects will this larger foot print of the block have on the areas in contact with it?

The Guitar is a very complex system of checks and balances, forces, tensions and energies all stuck together with glue and just itchen to be ripped apart. Always bear these forces and directions of these forces in mind when contemplating any structural change from a formula that has been tried, tested and proven.

Finally Keith dude, Me must admonish you, the last thing you don't wanna be doin is listenen to any thing me be laying down, I mean, what do I no nuthing about anything anyways.

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Another newbe roasted.


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> Then my friend Keith there is the WAS syndrome...fortunately it don't sound like you been affected with that. It usually set in around the 3-4 > build. Just so that you are aware.

I'm already accumulating wood and I haven't even finished #1.

I'll probably go with the 3" wide by 1.75" deep neck block as per the book.

_________________
Keith Lally
http://krl-guitar-building.blogspot.com/