Guitar is Looking like a Guitar

After the excess top and back material is carved off, the guitar looks like... well, a guitar!

Test fit of the neck shows that the top surface of the neck is exactly level with the top of the guitar.  Whew!  I love it when it works out like that.

Brooks is 24

Brooks popped in for birthday dinner last night. 

Many, many tasty treats.  Karen worked all day to put together a feast.  Also, Karen's cousin Nathan and spouse Allison joined us and helped fill up the house with laughter and warmth.

Beer is Done

Well, after three weeks in a carboy fermenting and 2 weeks bottle conditioning, the American Pale Ale is ready to try.  For the occasion, I made my peanut butter stuffed jalapeno peppers.  The beer was crisp, with nicely balanced malt and bitterness flavors and a nice hop aroma.  Success!

The jalapenos are easy.  Cut several peppers in half.  Removal of stems is optional.  Do remove seeds.  Spoon peanut butter in and bake until melted and the peppers are just a little brown on top. Wonderful!

The Top is Tuned and Glued on to Close the Box

The braces are carefully shaved.  I work without my glasses so I am pretty close to the action!

Just don't want to slip at this point since the top is only 0.100".

Ready to go.  The question here is usually "When do you know that you are done?"  Well, everyone does it a little differently, but when the top rings for several seconds when tapped, I figure that it is loose enough.  I also flex it between my hands to see how it will respond.  A nice low, long gong sound is what I am after.

It needs a little cleaning up by sanding lightly, but the hard work is done.  The signature goes on where nobody will see it.

The back is cleaned up a bit and pockets made in the lining to receive the braces that will be let into the sides.

The go-bar deck comes into service again.  Karen helps spring the rods in place while I hold the top in exact position.  She has done this with me for every guitar built.  A partner makes the work easier and more fun.  Now we have to wait, again, for the glue to dry.  Tomorrow, the top and back are to be trimmed and it will look a lot like a guitar.