{"id":166,"date":"2022-02-06T12:39:20","date_gmt":"2022-02-06T17:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.wmercer.ca\/luthiers-log\/?page_id=166"},"modified":"2022-03-14T15:32:19","modified_gmt":"2022-03-14T19:32:19","slug":"the-build-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.wmercer.ca\/luthiers-log\/lutherie\/the-build-process\/","title":{"rendered":"The Build Process"},"content":{"rendered":"

Building stringed instruments (with necks and fingerboards) is generally a well-defined process, but each luthier approaches the individual steps in their own way. Even the simple matter of joining bookmatched pieces together for a back or top can be done several ways,\u00a0each with advantages and disadvantages. As the credo for the PERL computer language states;\u00a0\u201cThere is more than one way to do it\u201d<\/em>. Some of the approaches are suitable for small shops or amateurs, while others, requiring a certain investment, bring advantages such as speed and repeatability to larger-scale operations. What I attempt to do here is list the various steps, and show the differing approaches that may be taken, identifying which I have tested personally and noting my experience as to the efficacy for the amateur luthier. Where possible, I will link in Youtube videos and references to websites and books.<\/p>\n

We start by breaking down the various components into assemblies\/processes and subassemblies, and finally to individual components. Eventually I\u2019ll create sub-pages for each component, so that this page doesn\u2019t get top-heavy \u2013 some of the topics can be quite involved, and have a large amount of flexibility in implementation approaches. The listings below are more-or-less in order of the process that would normally be followed in building an instrument.<\/p>\n

Note that building an instrument doesn\u2019t always proceed in the same manner \u2013 necks can be done first, while or after the body is being built. Inlay can be added at various points during neck builds. Nevertheless, most assemblies are usually done with a more-or-less consistent process. You can\u2019t do finishing until a body is made, tops and backs can\u2019t be attached to sides until the sides are bent, etc. In some cases some steps are mutable (top before back, vs. back before top). This example is actually important, because it affects, for instance, how a neck is attached (especially for a bolt-on neck).<\/p>\n

Subjects\/Assemblies\/Processes<\/h2>\n