Penny Guitars

I have sanded the two sound boards down to 2.4mm so far. I will probably take the classical sound board down towards 1.8mm tapping and listening as I go. Not entirely sure of what I am listening for but I am trying to gain knowledge of how the tapping translates to the final sound of the guitar.

If you look carefully you will see the outline of the classical, this shape is my own unique design but is also close to the standard classical guitar look. The final shape is open for debate with the eventual owner.

The second sound board is to be the same shape as my first guitar. I have this sounded down to 2.4mm so far and will take it down a little bit more, may be as low as 2mm but probably not less than that.,

The sound board wood looks really nice, there is no way a photograph taken by me will do it any justice.
Next I will glue the sound board plates together. I am still waiting for delivery of the bracing wood so that will have to wait for a few days at least.

I have the rosewood back and sides to sand down to thickness yet so I will be getting on with that while waiting for supplies.

Plan A: Make a classical guitar that sounds good and looks good. I have lots of experience, I have seen lots of pictures of classical guitars. I haven’t actually ever owned one or played one but I did hear John Williams play one once. So this should be easy. Rosewood back and sides with a cedar sound board.

Plan B: Make a steel string guitar the same as the first guitar I have made. The first guitar I made also just happens to be the only guitar I have made. It isn’t going to be exactly the same as the first one, I am hoping to make much less mistakes and the wood will be different. Rosewood back and sides and a cedar sound board. If it plays and sounds as good or better than my first guitar then it will be good.

I am making these two guitars simultaneously.

The second fret board had the inlay fitted today. It nearly didn’t get done today because when I washed my hands this morning the waste water would not run away. Frozen pipe was easily solved but took over two hours to remove, clean and refit the complete pipe. Not even slightly as interesting as making guitars.

I have just started sanding down a pair of sound board plates. In the picture you can see both fret boards laying on the sound board plates. The next couple of days or so will be taken up with sanding the sound boards and back and sides for the two guitars.