16" Archtop

[56nortondomy]

Just finished another archtop which i'm really happy with. All the timber is master grade quality.
Spruce top
Blackwood back sides and neck and headstock veneers.
Gidgee finger rest, f/b and tail piece.
Evo gold frets.
Marri bindings.
Kent Armstrong pickup.
K&K internal twin spot pickup.
Schaller locking tuners.
Miritone 3220 lacquer finish.
Wayne

[seeaxe]

Lovely. Love the wood combinations and the binding looks great. Does the soundport make much difference with an archtop??

[ozziebluesman]

That's a fine looking Archtop. The Blackwood is very special and all your appointments make a stylish guitar. I like the idea of the Kent Armstrong and K&K pickup combination. I would also be interested in if the sound port makes a difference to the player experience sound wise.
Beautiful guitar Wayne.
Cheers
Alan

[56nortondomy]

Thanks Richard and Alan. I think the sound port does give the player that little bit extra, it does make a difference even on an archtop. I'm really pleased with those bindings, I've never used Marri before but I'm definitely using it again, I bought another 2 dozen pieces and have used them on the classical I'm building, they look great with the HRW I'm using.
Wayne

[WJ Guitars]

Another great guitar build. With the pickup and K & K set up can they both switch on together.

Wayne

[56nortondomy]

Thanks Wayne. No there's separate jacks for them. The toggle switch is for the coil tap on the Armstrong pickup.
Wayne

[lamanoditrento]

Lovely looking archtop Wayne, well done.

[56nortondomy]

Thanks Trent.
Wayne

[Mark McLean]

I love it Wayne. I have a mate who wants an archtop so I am planning to try my first one some time soon. Where do you source soundboard timber? I would be thinking of spruce or Huon pine. And what about those nice blackwood billets?

[56nortondomy]

Thanks Mark. The spruce top came from ASW, the back and sides came from Tim ( Australian tonewoods) also the neck and bindings. I'm not sure where you'd get a huon top, I have one here that came from Pete before he dropped off the grid. You could ask Tim he might be able to help.
Wayne

[Mark McLean]

Thanks Wayne. I will try those options . It is going to be a while before I wet started on that project but at least I am starting to plan and think about it, and to read Benedetto’s book.
Cheers
mm

[56nortondomy]

No problem Mark I'm happy to help.
Wayne

[Deano2]

Very nice Wayne!
Curious to know if you follow the same recurve dimensions as stated in benedettos book for a 16" (assuming you're familiar with the book)

What thickness did you take your sides to for bending?

Cheers!

[56nortondomy]

With the re curve I do it more by eye and touch than trying to get it exactly like the plans. I do try and get the right thickness though.
I always thin my sides to around 2mm to 2.2mm, at the cutaway section I thin to about 1.7mm to 1.8mm, depending on what timber I use.
Wayne

[Deano2]

With the re curve I do it more by eye and touch than trying to get it exactly like the plans. I do try and get the right thickness though.
I always thin my sides to around 2mm to 2.2mm, at the cutaway section I thin to about 1.7mm to 1.8mm, depending on what timber I use.
Wayne

Thanks for sharing Wayne! Beautiful instrument.