The third picture is of the outside plates before I started carving the inside. The first couple of photos are lines I've drawn to correspond with different thicknesses that I want the plates to be. At each line I made a series of numbers representing mm that I would then take to the drill press and drill holes to that depth. Then I take a side grinder with a chainsaw blade on it and rough out the inside only to the depth of the holes I've made. Pictures 4 and 5 show what it looks like after the holes have been drilled. After that it's back to the violin plane, which I use to carve the inside.
After much sanding I put veneer on the inside top plate where I will cut out the f holes. These f holes are Lang f holes. Once they've been cut I begin to carve the x brace, which supports the top plate and gives it a balanced tone. Pictures 6 and 7 are the x brace being glued to the top plate.
Then I bent the sides and the binding, which I have no pictures of. After that the neck block and tail block were made and put together. Then the kerfing goes on. The kerfing is the mahogany stuff you see lining the inside of the sides of the guitar in picture 8. Then the side braces and it's ready to put together.
Pictures 9, 10, and 11 are the body being assembled. 12 is the finished body with the binding channels cut on a router. 13 is a close up shot, so you can see the binding channel and the smaller purfling channel. 14 is the end graft I put in, and 15 is the binding being installed. You glue and wrap it with mop string to hold it in place. Then you clean the whole thing with boiling water. I'll try to post some pictures later of the finished body. It is quite lovely.
For those of you who are still with me, here is a Rumi quote that gives me great hope.
"Everything you see has its roots in the Unseen world. The forms may change, yet the essence remains the same. Every wondrous sight will vanish, every sweet word will fade. But do not be disheartened, the Source they come from is eternal - growing, branching out, giving new life and new joy. Why do you weep? That Source is within you, and this whole world is springing up from it. The Source is full, it's waters are ever- flowing; Do not grieve, drink your fill! Don't think it will ever run dry. This is the endless Ocean!
From the moment you came into this world a ladder was placed in front of you that you might escape. From earth you became plant, from plant you became animal. Afterwards you became a human being, endowed with knowledge, intellect, and faith. Behold the body, born of dust - how perfect it has become! Why should you fear it's end? When were you ever made less by dying?
When you pass beyond this human form, no doubt you will become an angel and soar through the heavens! But don't stop there. Even heavenly bodies grow old. Pass again from the heavenly realm and plunge into the vast ocean of Consciousness. Let the drop of water that is you become a hundred mighty seas. But do not think that the drop alone becomes the Ocean - the Ocean, too, becomes the drop! "
