Last I saw, Robbie O'Brien had switched to the LMI jigs, but when I was learning, we pre-cut the scrap from the top, making the whole plate into a wedge and we'd put that on a board between 2 angled fences and drive the wedge shaped top into the fences. It's better to weight it down before banging it into place to keep it from bowing on you.

"I taped a few guitars and liked the simplicity of it, but there were times when the plates wouldn't be perfectly flat along the joint, which made gluing thinner plates impossible for me. "

Using slightly thicker plates with the tape method solves two problems - fibers torn out by tape removal and any slight misalignment of the plates is removed when the plates are (semi) final thicknessed after the glue has fully cured. I like to check the stiffness as I sand to thickness.

"I taped a few guitars and liked the simplicity of it, but there were times when the plates wouldn't be perfectly flat along the joint, which made gluing thinner plates impossible for me. "

Using slightly thicker plates with the tape method solves two problems - fibers torn out by tape removal and any slight misalignment of the plates is removed when the plates are (semi) final thicknessed after the glue has fully cured. I like to check the stiffness as I sand to thickness.

I'm uneasy about the idea of using hot hide glue with a ropes and wedges jig (i.e., the LMI jig or any homemade version). I am just imagining how much time it would take me to figure eight the ropes and slide in the wedges. But that's just me. Like I said above, the Cumpiano/Natelson method goes really fast after you set up the dry run; probably less than a full minute. I'm happy with my tailored version of it until something better comes along, and nothing has so far.

Used the tape method on back and top a few days ago. Seems to have worked just fine:) really simple.


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Yup and nothing to store or build either. It reminds me of using go-bars where it's highly possible that way back when long sticks were used in caves as go-bars. Simple is often very effective!

One of the things that I like the most about the tape method is that I can see the entire joint and examine it closely (except under the tape) before calling it a day and having to live with the result.

I'm uneasy about the idea of using hot hide glue with a ropes and wedges jig (i.e., the LMI jig or any homemade version). I am just imagining how much time it would take me to figure eight the ropes and slide in the wedges. But that's just me. Like I said above, the Cumpiano/Natelson method goes really fast after you set up the dry run; probably less than a full minute. I'm happy with my tailored version of it until something better comes along, and nothing has so far.

"Heat gun could be used on a HHG jointed top using the ropes and wedges clamping jig to ensure any gelled glue is reheated?"

Probably- if you were careful and didn't "cook" the glue. Some heat guns run at 1100 degrees F.

Doing a few dry runs with ropes and wedges might give the necessary proficiency for using HHG.