Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all.

I'm tempted to try multi-pieces sides, although I don't have much knowledge about how to make them. I'm talking about multi-pieces sides such as we can see on many of Howard Klepper's guitars. I'm assuming they are laminates, but I'm not sure about it.

So for those who know, here are a few questions:

- Are the pieces glued together prior to bending them or after?
- What is the best glue for this?
- Is there anything tricky I should know about?


Thanks!

_________________
Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

I know when David La Plante made his guitar with the meander in the center of the sides, he glued it all together before bending, and he used paper on the inside as a support strip, which he left in the guitar. Sort of like using bias tape, in a way. He said you have to bend carefully, but it stayed together.

Here is a picture of the guitar. http://www.guitarsbydavidlaplante.com/number%2090.htm

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Thanks a lot Waddy!

Good and usefull information!

_________________
Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

By the way, i don't think it was just plain paper. Something a little tougher. It didn't burn up, or disintegrate during the bending. David will be back from GFA(over today) this coming week, and I'm sure he'd be glad to share the process with you.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

It can be done both ways, although gluing the strips prior to bending is by far the easiest. Just remember to use a glue that can take the heat, something like powdered resin or Hide. The reinforcing strip (traditionally parchment) can be glued on after the sides are bent.

I have done multiple sides also. I used tite bind , once I had the sides glued I taped over the joint with regular masking tape. Bent the sides as usual and they came out fine. I held the heat to under 350 at the blanket.
Surprising how resilient glue can be

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Thanks John, that sounds promising. Did you reinforce the joint in any way once the sides were bent?




Thanks Michael. What's parchment?

_________________
Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

The meander inlay was assembled with fish glue and then laminated full thickness using titebond between the cypress side slats.
I bent the glued-up side over a hot iron starting with the waist and then upper and lower bouts allowing each section to cool a bit and re-solidify in between.
I used a cloth strip for reinforcement (along with a couple of wood strips) though they were glued in at a later stage in the assembly.

Thanks David, I appreciate your input!

_________________
Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

When I do a multipiece side, I laminate to an inner side, so separations can be fixed in the laminating stage.

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

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Thanks for your input Howard.

For now though, I'd like to avoid laminating if it's possible. If a small reinforcement strip is enough, then so be it.

I'll give it a try on some scraps and let you all know how it goes.

Thanks a million for the feedback!

_________________
Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

there is more than one way to do this , It is great to see others techniques

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

This is a guitar I started building about 15 years ago and never got around to finishing. The sides are inlaid rather than multi-piece, but if you want a thin line on the sides it's probably an easier technique. The lines were assembled and inlaid with titebond about 0.8mm deep, and the sides were bent freehand on a bending iron with no reinforcement and no support other than hands. As I recall, the sides cupped a little during bending but nothing serious. The guitar is a Panormo style classical with rift-sawn BRW sides.
Cheers,
Bri

Does anyone know where I can buy this cloth? I tried Stewmac and LMII and they don't seem to carry it. Or can I use some piece of common cotton cloth?

Thanks!

_________________
Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Alan, I used a cotton twill cloth tape found in any good fabric store and used as seam binding and reinforcement for making clothes. Martin used pretty much the same thing for a century as cross reinforcement for sides.
Glue it with whatever you are comfortable using.

Thanks a lot David!

_________________
Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

What kind of glue are you using to join the outer sides (not the lamination glue)? Are you bending by hand or in a bender?

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com