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This is a Jumbo 12-string slope-top I just finished for a customer. I came up with the 'slope-top' idea in 2006 and have finally gotten it down to a 'science'. The idea behind it is to make larger guitars more comfortable to "reach around" while preserving the size of the top itself (unlike an arm bevel that takes surface area away from the total top wood).[/attachment]

Another variation of a slope-top. This is a Jumbo 6-string.

Here's a Dread with the 'Slope-top'

The pictures hardly do justice to the guitars. The feel of how they play is amazing and the preservation of tone equals guitars I've built that don't have a slope top.

The drive behind the design came from a friend who 'complained' about how hard it was to play his dreadnaught. That's when I came up with the idea for the slope-top and I asked him if it was even feasible and he quickly said, "It can't be done." Well, that was all I needed to get started.

If anyone has any questions, or has seen this modification before....let me know. I'd love to see what others have done as I had never seen one until I made my first prototype.

Thanks!!

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Michael Anthony

"Life's short. Play guitar!"

I've made that before. I got the idea from Mike Doolin who actually has a tutorial on his website. http://www.doolinguitars.com/articles/armbevel/ I love the way it looks compared to the Ryan or Laskin style bevels as it doesn't make the top look unsymmetrical. Nice looking guitars

Looks very similar to the Tom Port slope top.
He's a local guy from around here, but it's been 20years since anyone's heard from him.
He was doing the same thing.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Yup. What's new is old.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Looks nice! The fact that others have done or do similar things doesn't diminish your accomplishments. Well done!

What are you doing structurally beneath that sloped area? Pics would be great! ;-)

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George :-)

Thanks 'gents' for the responses. I didn't actually think that I had come up with something new as there are 'tons' of builders out there that have done way more "experimenting" than I have. It's nice to know that others have thought of, tried out, and succeeded where I, too, have ventured. And to answer George's question of "What are you doing structurally beneath that sloped area?" Absolutely nothing!! I take my bracing to the slope and then taper them out where the slope begins. The actual slope has no bracing underneath it.

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Michael Anthony

"Life's short. Play guitar!"

really nice looking Michael!

I prefer that to the bevel.

A local builder Thom Wray does that as well, but much more extreme. (Which takes nothing away from its awesomeness)...

Agree with what George said Michael. That second one,make that the third one with the black top looks a lot like our Blackheart Sassafras, very nice.

Steve

You're absolutely correct Steve, that is Blackheart Sassafras!! Looks good with w/b/w purfling and ebony binding.

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Michael Anthony

"Life's short. Play guitar!"

Very nice work.

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What do you do to bend the top? Is there tension on the top when it is glued to the kerfing?

I clamp the top to my bench using a round pipe where the bend will occur, moisten with water and the use a heat gun to 'gently' warm the area. I then take a piece of wood the length of the sloped portion of the top to uniformly bend that section. I 'bend' until the top fits perfectly to the rim, therefore....no tension!

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Michael Anthony

"Life's short. Play guitar!"