I just LOVE the way you reduce the stickiness of the masking tape. Its the essence of Ken, careful, smart, parsimonious and with the patience of a man who is doing what he wants to do.
Watched the series again. Great! I have a question - What are your thoughts in using carbon fiber strips as braces, pultruded or layered? Giving it's properties, is a problem that they would have to be very very thin, which in turn would make them very brittle and prone to brake while top has to "move"?
Adding carbon fiber to a wood structure always introduces some unique and vexing problems and limitations, so you always want to be sure there's a good reason to reach out to the carbon in your toolbox. I have been asked about this before, and I can't think how it would be a benefit, but maybe I'm missing something. The bad things about carbon include bonding issues, and the absolute horror/torture of trying to work with it after the resin hardens. If you do use carbon/epoxy, try to do everything you can to make sure you're applying exactly what you desire without having to abrade it after the resin cures. The experience of working with cured carbon/epoxy is the opposite of working with magical/friendly materials like spruce, and in my opinion, you need some truly compelling reason to use it. The best use would be somewhere you can apply it, and then not have to do any work to adjust it afterwards. If you watch my bracing videos, you'll get just how important it is to me to get the braces exactly the right strength by means of some very pleasant woodworking. Finally, I am very happy with spruce braces, as they kind of "disappear" into the top structure, and make their subtle contribution to the strength and unity of the top. Adding carbon to braces will be someone else's' path, perhaps?
@@kenparkerarchtoppery9440 Thank you very much for such a extended response. I was curious as i only have some small experience with electric guitars so let's say i'm gathering information. I would also like to thank you that with your videos, guitar designs and features, has definitely given me a archtop (dome-top?) bug. One again thanks.
Thanks for all the info that you've shared with us! I am really thankfull for it and feel bad to want more, but I wonder, how you choose your position of your braces. I know that Benedetto is using distance of his bridges adjustable posts as a "starting point" of his positioning, but since your guitars are made without an adjustable bridge, I wonder what is your philosophy on this subject. Thanks again for sharing sour wisdom!
I know, you'd have spent years and years in nigh-slavery working as an apprentice, in order to learn all this, in days gone by. This is an amazing and invaluable resource for guitar makers and repair luthiers.
Hey Ken!! Have you looked much into laminated double tops? The steve anderson Double top archtop for example? I know the classical guitar community has been doing them for a while, but i cant find too many archtop builders exploring the concept. Would love to know what your thoughts are on them!
I started playing with Nomex honeycomb in the early 1980's, making all kinds of experimental stuff with it, and decided it just wasn't for me. My "Miracle Fiber "W"" is wood. Although I respect builders who go there, I'm no longer tempted, and feel that there's still lots more for me to learn about manipulating wood. I'm still trying to KISS, even if it doesn't look like it!
@@kenparkerarchtoppery9440 Thanks for the insight Ken! Your work has truly inspired me(And im sure many others) These videos are incredible, thank you!
So I also watch Cranmer, right, and although this nest you got is really nice, to me the first thing that came to mind to use as a nest, was the mold that you use for bending the sides to, right. yours is of course dedicated, therefore superior, yet I would find it difficult to determine how to shape the foam exactly, as I don't have a lot of experience with it, doing it 2 times exactly the same would prove difficult, I think. I do want to have things sturdy though and not flexing too much so probably I just gotta go with the mold for bending the sides, and maybe just attach some foam pillars here and there to keep it from flexing while bracing it. Or perhaps a good video subject for you, going a little in depth on how to go about shaping this foam Edit: probably I'm thinking a bit too difficult here, I probably can just shape the top, and then shape the foam accordingly. But maybe you have a much better way?
Honestly, I have only done the mold process that I demonstrated once, but if I had to continue to depend on it, and I were creating different models and sizes all the time, I'd get a better grip on all the process details after a few tries and be able to knock one out in a jiffy. C'mon, it ain't so hard, and then you get bazakly what you want! Toolmaking will set you free!! This method that I developed for Archtoppery is a lot less work and struggle than what the cello and bass restoration folks go through to cast a precise (ugh, fragile and 100 pound??) Plaster of Paris mold that has been the state-of-the-art standard of the industry for a couple centuries! A little credit, please! Bottom line, It looks like more work than it is, and it works perfectly.
hey, I've actually done your mold already. The work was indeed not at all a lot. Just at the time seeing this it seemed to be, hadn't noticed you had a video series on making one either so, ignore this comment @@kenparkerarchtoppery9440
I just LOVE the way you reduce the stickiness of the masking tape. Its the essence of Ken, careful, smart, parsimonious and with the patience of a man who is doing what he wants to do.
It all eventually dawns on you if you stick with it.
So happy to see that there is more great stuff from you Ken. I felt so inspired by the first batch of videos...
Thanks, Robin, Happy to be of service.
Thank you so much for this new set of videos! Love your channel.
It's my pleasure, you're welcome!
These videos are great. Thanks for sharing all of this info 👊🏾👏🏾
You're welcome! Guitarmaking is such a blast.
Hi Ken! Thanks for these videos, it is extremely informative and full of ideas. I wait from each new one with great anticipation!
Great to hear!
Good to see you're back :)
welcome back
Hooray, more wonderful content!
Watched the series again. Great!
I have a question - What are your thoughts in using carbon fiber strips as braces, pultruded or layered? Giving it's properties, is a problem that they would have to be very very thin, which in turn would make them very brittle and prone to brake while top has to "move"?
Adding carbon fiber to a wood structure always introduces some unique and vexing problems and limitations, so you always want to be sure there's a good reason to reach out to the carbon in your toolbox. I have been asked about this before, and I can't think how it would be a benefit, but maybe I'm missing something. The bad things about carbon include bonding issues, and the absolute horror/torture of trying to work with it after the resin hardens. If you do use carbon/epoxy, try to do everything you can to make sure you're applying exactly what you desire without having to abrade it after the resin cures. The experience of working with cured carbon/epoxy is the opposite of working with magical/friendly materials like spruce, and in my opinion, you need some truly compelling reason to use it. The best use would be somewhere you can apply it, and then not have to do any work to adjust it afterwards. If you watch my bracing videos, you'll get just how important it is to me to get the braces exactly the right strength by means of some very pleasant woodworking. Finally, I am very happy with spruce braces, as they kind of "disappear" into the top structure, and make their subtle contribution to the strength and unity of the top. Adding carbon to braces will be someone else's' path, perhaps?
@@kenparkerarchtoppery9440 Thank you very much for such a extended response.
I was curious as i only have some small experience with electric guitars so let's say i'm gathering information.
I would also like to thank you that with your videos, guitar designs and features, has definitely given me a archtop (dome-top?) bug.
One again thanks.
Enjoying your videos Ken, Keep up the good work. Good camera work too.
Thanks! Nice handle, I like it.
Thanks for all the info that you've shared with us! I am really thankfull for it and feel bad to want more, but I wonder, how you choose your position of your braces. I know that Benedetto is using distance of his bridges adjustable posts as a "starting point" of his positioning, but since your guitars are made without an adjustable bridge, I wonder what is your philosophy on this subject. Thanks again for sharing sour wisdom!
This an awfully good question that I don't have a satisfying answer to. I put them where they seem to belong, sorry.
great was waiting for this ! thanks so much, greetings from Netherlands
You're very welcome!
Thanks for sharing your know how!
My Pleasure
That was cool, I've never heard such a musical-sounding band saw! Almost like a Star Trek scanner.
Bandsaws, too, respond to tuning!
Ken. Full disclosure. I'm taking notes. So many great ideas for steps I've been struggling with. I'm definitely making a bracing jig.
Cool! It's a big help.
I know, you'd have spent years and years in nigh-slavery working as an apprentice, in order to learn all this, in days gone by. This is an amazing and invaluable resource for guitar makers and repair luthiers.
Hey Ken!! Have you looked much into laminated double tops? The steve anderson Double top archtop for example? I know the classical guitar community has been doing them for a while, but i cant find too many archtop builders exploring the concept. Would love to know what your thoughts are on them!
I started playing with Nomex honeycomb in the early 1980's, making all kinds of experimental stuff with it, and decided it just wasn't for me. My "Miracle Fiber "W"" is wood. Although I respect builders who go there, I'm no longer tempted, and feel that there's still lots more for me to learn about manipulating wood. I'm still trying to KISS, even if it doesn't look like it!
@@kenparkerarchtoppery9440 Thanks for the insight Ken! Your work has truly inspired me(And im sure many others) These videos are incredible, thank you!
I bet you don't hear this a lot, but I love the sound of that band-saw.
The sound of progress!
invaluable thanks Ken !
Glad it was helpful!
So I also watch Cranmer, right, and although this nest you got is really nice, to me the first thing that came to mind to use as a nest, was the mold that you use for bending the sides to, right. yours is of course dedicated, therefore superior, yet I would find it difficult to determine how to shape the foam exactly, as I don't have a lot of experience with it, doing it 2 times exactly the same would prove difficult, I think. I do want to have things sturdy though and not flexing too much so probably I just gotta go with the mold for bending the sides, and maybe just attach some foam pillars here and there to keep it from flexing while bracing it. Or perhaps a good video subject for you, going a little in depth on how to go about shaping this foam
Edit: probably I'm thinking a bit too difficult here, I probably can just shape the top, and then shape the foam accordingly. But maybe you have a much better way?
Honestly, I have only done the mold process that I demonstrated once, but if I had to continue to depend on it, and I were creating different models and sizes all the time, I'd get a better grip on all the process details after a few tries and be able to knock one out in a jiffy. C'mon, it ain't so hard, and then you get bazakly what you want!
Toolmaking will set you free!!
This method that I developed for Archtoppery is a lot less work and struggle than what the cello and bass restoration folks go through to cast a precise (ugh, fragile and 100 pound??) Plaster of Paris mold that has been the state-of-the-art standard of the industry for a couple centuries! A little credit, please!
Bottom line, It looks like more work than it is, and it works perfectly.
hey, I've actually done your mold already. The work was indeed not at all a lot. Just at the time seeing this it seemed to be, hadn't noticed you had a video series on making one either so, ignore this comment @@kenparkerarchtoppery9440
Heave you examined a sound post in your guitars ?
It makes a great mute!
Parsimonious ???
And the crowd goes wild !!!!!!!
Did I say that? (cue wild crowd)
Gracias :D
Prego!
How thin do you carve the top?
Depending on the material properties, of course, but roughly 2.5 - 3.8 mm, graduated thickest in the center under the bridge.
@@kenparkerarchtoppery9440 thank you so much. Your guitars look and sound incredible.
That is one well-tuned band saw.
I have lots of bandsaws,, like some folks have lots of guitars! Like those guitars, all of my saws are in tune.
would it be childish to ask for a workshop tour? I would love to see it...
Shop tour, along with a list of favorite tools, suppliers and supplies is coming up, promise!
At long last
Have you braced some tops recently?