Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello Everybody.
I'm new to the forum. I'm an amatuer builder with a series of disasters behind me but non the less obsesed with this beautiful craft.
My first question on this forum is regarding something in cumpiano and natelson (pg 230 my edition). Cumpiano recomends before gluing on the back to plane an arch into the headblock end of the guitar that matches the bracing arch of the back. This, he says avoids a hollow apearing on the back behind the headstock. To check the arch you tap the back plate above the headstock and continue until there is no hollow sound.
Now, I did say I have a series of disasters behind me, but on previous instruments I haven't done this and there's been no problem.
I would like to ask the forum, is this a process that you all do? Or can you "get away with it"?

ps thanks to all those who have posted usefull info here and on other internet sites. Where else would I have learnt so much? And, I don't blame any of you for my disasters.

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.

I don't remember the exact technique used in the book but regardless, you do want the end blocks to conform to whatever 3D curve you make your rims. You want a smooth transition with no bumps or dips.

Welcome to the forum.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Most of us here (I believe) build using radiused bowls, and as such, when you grind the rim and blocks with sandpaper in the bowl prior to gluing on the top or back, radiusing the entire rim to whatever radius, you create the arching that Cumpiano talks about.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I also used Cumpiano - but changed the shape of my headblock to that of a Spanish slipper - so when putting on the back, I had to add a small section of neck material, to the bottom of my headblock, to match the curve of the back.

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

Thanks for your replies.
Tony, that's really useful advice. I didn't know radiused bowls were used for that purpose, I thought they are only for the go-bar deck. I made myself a disk so I should be able to use it like you say.
John, the spanish slipper sounds really interesting. Can you direct me to any photo's of what you mean (I don't really grasp what you wrote). I'm not sure if I'll use it but it's always useful to expand your knowledge and you never know when something can be the answer to your problem.

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at guitars.