Ergonomic (sitting) guitar (body) build

[guitalias]

Did a bit of cut & paste today, exploring alternative shape & controls location.

[guitalias]

Reshaped. Feels better, controls out of the way. Can be intonated without removing volume knob. Needs counterweight hung off rear strap button if played standing, reduced counterweight 167 grams by extending length of body. Body extension also allows better "hug" of the upper hip bout. Going to play with it a week or so before moving forward. May round off the lower shoulder bout.

[guitalias]

Routed final body blank today including wiring routing. Next sand edges > round over > shape arm contour & belly contour > adjust round over > sand.

[guitalias]

Body is all shaped now, rounded over > shaped arm contour & belly contour > adjust round over > in process of hand sanding. In the meantime I remade my neck pocket template today, wasn't quite as tight as I would have liked. Previously I had clamped both the neck & template to a board, I think some pivot of the neck in relation to the template. This time I screwed the template to a length of timber (checked for twist, bow, etc first) then clamped the neck to the same length of timber. I had removed B & high e tuners to check if it made much difference to balance, also removed string trees. Notched the length of timber so didnt need to remove all tuners, made clamping easier & more secure, would be even better without tuners.
Method described in detail here
https://www.audiotinker.com/neck-pocket-template.html
and my method modification explained here

[my main man]

I don’t really have anything to add aside from saying that I’m excited to see how this ends up. I’m guessing there are a lot of people out there who would be interested in something like this

[guitalias]

I don’t really have anything to add aside from saying that I’m excited to see how this ends up. I’m guessing there are a lot of people out there who would be interested in something like this

mmm, pleased to hear someone is still following this, was beginning to wonder!

[hillerheilman]

mmm, pleased to hear someone is still following this, was beginning to wonder!

I definitely am. As a wheelchair bound person it’s interesting to see this come together, although your needs in terms of ergonomics seem to be much different than my own. I also have very little to add other than to say it looks like it’s coming along splendidly.

[paulnb57]

Interesting link to the neck pocket jig....

[guitalias]

Interesting link to the neck pocket jig....

Yeah, it is a good method. Found it is better to cut a bit more than 1/16" around to make it easier to push the epoxy putty down, more like 2mm.




((((((( 01 September 2021 edit - didn't end up doing this -

Also, next time I'm going to put the same tape around the inside of the template before I rout the body to add back the thickness lost from tape protecting the neck. Should make the fit nice & cosy.

01 September 2021 edit - didn't end up doing this )))))))))

[guitalias]

Really enjoying applying Tru Oil, 6 coats so far, 0000 steel wool between each coat. Find it a very forgiving finish, have noticed a couple of areas that need more sanding, just do the area & continue with coats of Tru Oil.

Using this method of prepearing an applicator pad
https://youtu.be/BcwhHRxN7a0

and this bloke's method of using steel wool between each coat
https://youtu.be/0ocS4F6ShNI

Plan to knock back the 6th coat with 0000 steel wool, apply 7th coat, polish with clean cotton cloth, apply 8th coat. Will see how I like playing like that, if too glossy, I'll satin the finish with steel wool.

in the shade


blue skies shining on me

[BoringPostcards]

Really interesting design. Looking forward to seeing the final build.

[Shadoweclipse13]

I've been busy and haven't been posting/commenting on everything I've been reading, but I'm definitely still watching. This is cool as hell

[guitalias]

Changed my plan after the fourth coat of Tru Oil. Instead knocked back the 6th coat with 0000 steel wool, apply 7th coat, apply 8th coat polish with clean cotton cloth. Will see how I like playing like that, if too glossy, I'll satin the finish with steel wool.
While waiting for Tru Oil to cure have been working on a counterbalance steel control cover. Going to try heat bluing this for corrosion resistance & seems a suitable finish to compliment the Tru Oil. Pickguard & PUP selector cover are 2mm black perspex. PUP selector cover separate so can change from balance pot to 3 way switch easily


and realised haven't posted any photo of body contours yet.

[papa_hotel_delta]

I never really thought of them as ergonomic but maybe that's where they were going with this:

[Scout]

It's developing nicely, the lower bout roundness helps soften the abrupt shape of the lap section. Very cool.