The Bryn Production

I've stopped doing "likes" [ a very early NY resolution ] ....

Be my guest! Anyway, I think you'll find I was asking for it; trying to cover the fact I've been mending a bureau for a few days rather than working on the guitar!

Awaiting the customer's cabinet hardware decision on the bureau so set out on a (not at all) bright Monday morning with nothing but the guitar in my sights.  I started by cutting a hole (with a drill-saw) in the side of the guitar -  which normally elicit's the question, "What's that hole for?" and the answer, "That's not a hole;  it's a 'port'."  As you see, I somehow almost missed the reinforced area I was aiming at but I think that's good enough!



I then switched my attention to the back of the guitar.  It first of all needed cleaning up around the braces, where there was rather a lot of excess hot-hide glue loitering, with a hot wet rag.  After a quick scrub, I gave the whole thing a light sanding to ready it for the application of some more polish.  (I also gave it a once over with potassium bichromate to cover the bits that had been left bare by the various ungluings and gluings that had gone on):





I avoided the braces since I hadn't been too pleased with the effects of the stain on these previously.

Next a few rubbers (as they say) of SPB:



...  and then a few more:




Now I realise I'm not making a perfect job of this polishing but, after all, we are talking inside a guitar which nobody will look inside (since they can look at the pictures here instead) so I'm just looking for a reflective surface which will keep the water out and feel nice if you put your hand in and stroke it.  The next stage I would normally leave till the next day but...  I cut it back with 320 grit paper ready for a final rubber or two in the morning:



It's an exciting life!

Finally today I did this:



Pretentious?  Ego?

I also, by the way, remembered to make a note of brace heights before I close up the box:






though the brace-ends that appear to be jointed into other braces and into rims are, in fact, all free-floating in reality.

I'm afraid I've also had a bit of an idea.  I was messing around with drawings of the sound-hole and wondering how to reinforce the annoying little bit I'm left with between the end of the heel-block and the hole.  In this picture it's the fiddly little bit to the left of the truss-rod hole and it's very difficult to cut a little piece across the grain like that especially when it's only there for show really:



Well, as I say, I was having these thoughts - thinking about the next guitar if I'm honest - and suddenly it came to me:  The hole doesn't have to be round!  (I know it's a bit of a shocker but you'll have to "bear with me" - apologies to COGs - on this one).  You see, if I just cut this bit out altogether right up to the brace at the side and up to the end of the neck/heel-block, then it leaves a hole which is not round but a perfectly acceptable shape, especially since it disappears under the end of the fingerboard.  Moreover, it affords me the possibility of some unusual decoration.  I'll stop talking and show you a picture instead:



The idea would be to continue the pattern all the way round the guitar and then loop it back round the hole.  It also reflects the way the guitar is put together with the neck plunging into the end of the box like something from a biology lesson.  A bit "Arts and Crafts" the way it shows its workings, I thought.  Anyway, that'll have to wait for the next one I make because I'm not about to modify the rosette at this stage of things.

A question:  what should I use to stick my label inside the box, the surface of which has been shellacked?  I've got various things that might do it but I can't remember what I used last time;  it may have been fish glue, in fact...

Just a few pictures tonight.  Next stage is to cut the channels for the purflings and bindings but that'll have to be tomorrow.

Glad you like it because it's going to be the purfling as well if I can get it to obey my demands all the way round the box.