Joel's OM Cutaway

(Click on pictures for a larger view)

Building Process ...

  body outline

  top, back, sides joined and thicknessed

  bocote fingerboard

  neck blank completed

  headstock cut out and drilled

  top and back cut out

  sides bent and set into the mold

  headblock, tailblock, cutaway block and top linings installed

  rosette completed

  soundboard bracing layout

  gluing the finger braces

  carving the braces

  soundboard bracing completed

  gluing the back braces

  back bracing completed

  top glued to sides

  tapering the sides

  gluing back linings

  fitting the back

  back intstalled

  end graft completed

  cutaway cross-bindings

  binding/purfling ledges cut

  bending the bindings

  fitting the bindings

  gluing back bindings

  gluing last of the top bindings

  arching the fingerboard

  carving the heel

  heel completed

  gluing the fingerboard

  proposed Sanskrit "OM" inlay

  cutting the headstock inlay

   frets installed

   gluing the heel cap

  carving the neck

  neck carved

  sneak preview ...

  hole drilled for pickup

  first coat of epoxy filler

  first coats of finish...

  and the color...

  attaching the neck

  nut, tuners installed

  macassar ebony bridge completed

  gluing the bridge

  setting up the action