weird question: bowled back guitars

[mangold]

I suggest using a propane torch that heats a large thick aluminum pipe from the inside. Wet the sides first and bend them against the hot pipe. it needs to be thick so that there is even heat distribution. When it is close to the right shape clamp it to your mold and let it dry there. I suggest having a mold that keeps track of center lines. They will be your best friend in the building process. Oh an there is no shame in buying bent sides from stewmac. It is a little scary the first time. Maybe one day you will be balsy enough to try. But do not do bowl back. Do it right.

i dont think im not balsy just because i dont have a propane torch. i think i will go with the pre bent sides from stewmac... thanks everyone!

[filmdude100cms]

I suggest using a propane torch that heats a large thick aluminum pipe from the inside. Wet the sides first and bend them against the hot pipe. it needs to be thick so that there is even heat distribution. When it is close to the right shape clamp it to your mold and let it dry there. I suggest having a mold that keeps track of center lines. They will be your best friend in the building process. Oh an there is no shame in buying bent sides from stewmac. It is a little scary the first time. Maybe one day you will be balsy enough to try. But do not do bowl back. Do it right.

i dont think im not balsy just because i dont have a propane torch. i think i will go with the pre bent sides from stewmac... thanks everyone!

blowtorches are only 50... and when your done bending sides, think of everthing else you can do with it!!


bend it yourself man.

[DMBFan63]

come on- don't be scared by the side bending. Build the guitar you want but don't expect it to be perfect. plus if you aren't willing to bend the sides then you will be stuck doing your binding with plastic! Do you want that in a hand built guitar. I suggest learn everything you can on this first one. I would even suggest carving the neck by hand and use a dove tail that you set so the you can assure that the neck has a good angle on it (can be tricky) Take your time, be careful, build jigs to help out and you will have a great instrument that you can brag about and enjoy. Get in a rush and you will not even want to play it. Good luck....oh and read lots before you do any task.

i do plan to carve the neck by hand, i have read loads of stuff, i WILL not be afraid to play it. i dont have the tools to bend the sides in my shop though, i dont wanna trust anybody else (mainly cause i wanna say i built it all by hand) and i dont wanna buy some big side bending iron, i dont have room.

To filmdude: when you say bowled backs sound bad you are most likely only considering applause/ovation. i believe i can build a better instrument then them. and where can i get pre bent sides? that would be heaven!

You don't need to buy some huge "Bending Iron" Get extremely hot water and a peice of PVC pipe big enough to fit the side peices in and fill the PVC pipe with water(obviously closing off the other end first) then place the wood inside, stick a rag in one end and let sit for a couple of hours. That will make the wood plyable enough to bend. Build a jig in the shape of the guitar you want and clamp the wood to the jig

have you done it before? cause everything ive read says that if you try to do it without using an iron you warp the sides. plus, ive also read that your not supposed to expose the wood to very dry or very wet climates.

I've bent similar type bends in advanced woods sophomore year in HS for a tennis raquet/fishing net and the wood stayed nice and straight. Bent easily. I suggest it, but if you're not up to it, don't go for it. Do it your way if you choose

[DUS7IN]

you can get a butane or propane bottle torch from walmart. Good luck with the guitar! post pictures when you are done. i can send you pictures of one of my projects if you like.

[mangold]

thanks guys... btw

do you know where i can get quilted maple pre bent sides? stewmacs got the mahoghany and indian rosewood, but i was hoping for quilt... thanks

[DUS7IN]

If you are going to be picky you will have to do it yourself. I don't know of anyone who will sell prebent maple sides. Sorry

[mangold]

If you are going to be picky you will have to do it yourself. I don't know of anyone who will sell prebent maple sides. Sorry

hmmm okay... thanks anyway

[mangold]

come on- don't be scared by the side bending. Build the guitar you want but don't expect it to be perfect. plus if you aren't willing to bend the sides then you will be stuck doing your binding with plastic! Do you want that in a hand built guitar. I suggest learn everything you can on this first one. I would even suggest carving the neck by hand and use a dove tail that you set so the you can assure that the neck has a good angle on it (can be tricky) Take your time, be careful, build jigs to help out and you will have a great instrument that you can brag about and enjoy. Get in a rush and you will not even want to play it. Good luck....oh and read lots before you do any task.

i do plan to carve the neck by hand, i have read loads of stuff, i WILL not be afraid to play it. i dont have the tools to bend the sides in my shop though, i dont wanna trust anybody else (mainly cause i wanna say i built it all by hand) and i dont wanna buy some big side bending iron, i dont have room.

To filmdude: when you say bowled backs sound bad you are most likely only considering applause/ovation. i believe i can build a better instrument then them. and where can i get pre bent sides? that would be heaven!

You don't need to buy some huge "Bending Iron" Get extremely hot water and a peice of PVC pipe big enough to fit the side peices in and fill the PVC pipe with water(obviously closing off the other end first) then place the wood inside, stick a rag in one end and let sit for a couple of hours. That will make the wood plyable enough to bend. Build a jig in the shape of the guitar you want and clamp the wood to the jig

have you done it before? cause everything ive read says that if you try to do it without using an iron you warp the sides. plus, ive also read that your not supposed to expose the wood to very dry or very wet climates.

I've bent similar type bends in advanced woods sophomore year in HS for a tennis raquet/fishing net and the wood stayed nice and straight. Bent easily. I suggest it, but if you're not up to it, don't go for it. Do it your way if you choose

how do you keep the water in the pipe hot? or do you? should it be boiling when i put it in.

[DMBFan63]

come on- don't be scared by the side bending. Build the guitar you want but don't expect it to be perfect. plus if you aren't willing to bend the sides then you will be stuck doing your binding with plastic! Do you want that in a hand built guitar. I suggest learn everything you can on this first one. I would even suggest carving the neck by hand and use a dove tail that you set so the you can assure that the neck has a good angle on it (can be tricky) Take your time, be careful, build jigs to help out and you will have a great instrument that you can brag about and enjoy. Get in a rush and you will not even want to play it. Good luck....oh and read lots before you do any task.

i do plan to carve the neck by hand, i have read loads of stuff, i WILL not be afraid to play it. i dont have the tools to bend the sides in my shop though, i dont wanna trust anybody else (mainly cause i wanna say i built it all by hand) and i dont wanna buy some big side bending iron, i dont have room.

To filmdude: when you say bowled backs sound bad you are most likely only considering applause/ovation. i believe i can build a better instrument then them. and where can i get pre bent sides? that would be heaven!

You don't need to buy some huge "Bending Iron" Get extremely hot water and a peice of PVC pipe big enough to fit the side peices in and fill the PVC pipe with water(obviously closing off the other end first) then place the wood inside, stick a rag in one end and let sit for a couple of hours. That will make the wood plyable enough to bend. Build a jig in the shape of the guitar you want and clamp the wood to the jig

have you done it before? cause everything ive read says that if you try to do it without using an iron you warp the sides. plus, ive also read that your not supposed to expose the wood to very dry or very wet climates.

I've bent similar type bends in advanced woods sophomore year in HS for a tennis raquet/fishing net and the wood stayed nice and straight. Bent easily. I suggest it, but if you're not up to it, don't go for it. Do it your way if you choose

how do you keep the water in the pipe hot? or do you? should it be boiling when i put it in.

Let it boil, then wait for it to cool down to where it's not bubbling anymore.. fill the pipe and then do the rest of what I said. There is no need to keep the water hot, it's plenty hot to steam the wood for that long. Also, the wood can't be very thick(most sides for guitars aren't but i'm just stating) because the steaming process doesn't work well with thick peices. It makes it plyable enough to bend about a half inch in thickness peice.

[DUS7IN]

you need to buy some calipers and a hand plane. Depending on the shape you are building and the sound you want you need to plane it down to the correct thickness. The scrape it smooth. If it is too thick you will loose all bass response in the finished guitar

[filmdude100cms]

you can get pre-bent maple sides, but it costs too much, just get some raw wood, and bend it yourself.

[mangold]

you can get pre-bent maple sides, but it costs too much, just get some raw wood, and bend it yourself.

where?

[DUS7IN]

he is right. go to http://www.lmii.com and look at shop services. they will bend any of the woods they offer to sell.
-Dustin

[filmdude100cms]

damnit dude, just fuckin bend it yourself.

go to lowes or home depot, get some thin wood, cheap stuff, and practice a little, then move up to the maple.

[mangold]

another quick question... would a veneer on the back/sides change the sound qualities of the quitar?