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Not sure how many of you use KMG's Mega Mold and contour bar for soundbox assembly. Those of you that do may find this of interest. I am beginning a J-185, and I have a template for the top but nothing with respect to the rims. I really like to size my rims as close as possible prior to bending, but I was at a loss on how to get the rims laid out without walking into a store and taking measurements of an actual Gibson J-185.

While radiusing the rims on an OM I am building, the light bulb went off. Why not set up the KMG MM for the J-185, elevate the upper bout portion of the mold such that the 15' contour bar has the correct elevation at the heel and tail, then slowly rotate the bar around the mold taking measurements at pre-identified intervals and transfer those measurements to some paper.

I built a support block that slides over the spindle and provides the perfect elevation for the contour bar. In just a few minutes I had transferred the measurements to a new template and now have the exact template for the rims! I can cut my rims close to finished size, bend them, drop them in the mold and install the support block over the spindle along with the radius bar, then quickly clean up the rims. Alternatively, I will have my template lines drawn on the side of the rims, and I could use the radius bar without the support block and simply sand to the lines.

Hope this idea helps a few others out there.



Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

Now there's a good idea. Sometimes a good idea is so simple.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Ken: That looks like it could work with a solid mold as well. I just got my first solid mold for my next build. And I would think I could make my own contour bar (or purchase one). Thanks for sharing.

BTW, I wish I had been on the classifieds section before you today.

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Greg Hatcher
North Carolina

I'm sure it would work. Ken at KMG sells the radius bars separately if you don't want to make your own.

The LP should be fun. It is more complete than I would have liked. I have plans for a LP and had hoped to build one from scratch one day. This one will give me a quick fix, and I'll save the real carved top for a future date.

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com