A Guitar And Gear Support Forum

After a bit of a break, I'm back in the shop. This time I'm trying my hand at a parlor size acoustic. I've always wanted one but never got around to trying and buying one. May as well build one instead.

This one will be a mix of sitka spruce top, figured silky oak back and sides, ziricote fretboard and bridge, and bocote headstock plate. Neck will be mahogany, but I haven't picked the wood for that up yet.

I'll probably go a bit lighter on build details this time around. The process remains essentially the same as before. But for anyone interested, I'll share some progress pics as I go.

Bracing.

Silky Oak Rosette. I ended up making the rosette ever so slightly smaller than I should have, so I split it to open it up and make it fit. Nothing the fretboard won't cover up.

Getting started on the rim.

Looking great! Love parlor sized acoustics. Well, acoustics in general other than dreads.

Really love your builds! So great to see a craftsman at work

A few updates. The top has been braced and carved.

I added kerfing to the rim, radiused the rim, fitted the top to the rim, and glued it all together.

Some naphtha on the sides. There's a lot going on visually with this wood, between the figure and the grain itself. It should look pretty sweet all done up.

How's this coming along [mention]TheIrritableLuthier[/mention] ?

UrenragK wrote: ↑Thu Aug 20, 2020 3:49 am How's this coming along @TheIrritableLuthier ?

It's coming along nicely. I've trimmed the soundboard flush to the sides.

I've tapered the back of the rim, though this is a more subtle taper. There's only about 1/2" difference from front to back.

Added kerfing for the back, and side braces.

I carved the back braces.

Just today I fit the back to the rim and got it glued up. I just need to trim the back flush to the rim, then it'll be time for end flash and binding.

That’s looking sweeeeeeeeeet

The back is now trimmed flush.

I've also installed the walnut end flash.

Love this build thread. I have a parlor guitar in my future at some point. Been wanting one for a while.

Looks fantastic! Thank you for sharing [mention]TheIrritableLuthier[/mention]

A couple updates. I've completed the walnut binding.

Also, my first time attempting this feature, and it turned out pretty good - a side port.

Just a bit of sanding left, then I can route the dovetail pocket and start applying shellac.

That's some nice work there!

howardlo65 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 05, 2020 1:16 pm Looking great! Love parlor sized acoustics. Well, acoustics in general other than dreads.

Shellac time. The figure is really popping now!