Official Luthiers Forum!

Luckily an old customer brought his Gibson SJ-300 for repairs, and I took the opportunity to copy the body shape and the bracing. The body shape was copied by placing it on a piece of paper and tracing them with a half pencil (you know what that is...), and from that a plywood template is made. I got the bracing by putting a very bright light bulb (CCFL lights so I don't overheat the guitar) inside the body, turning off the light in the room, and just traced the pattern. The tone bars have to be reversed though otherwise it won't be right (because you are look down at the body, but bracing pattern for most plans are looking at the flip side of the soundboard).

By the way I asked the owner if I could do this and he's fine with that. Just don't put a Gibson headstock on it...

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Nice.
I usually use magnets to trace the bracing. One inside, one outside. Just butt it against the brace inside, and the one outside will follow it.

Nice job. I use the light in the box also. Works well

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust