Laminated tops for archtop guitar question

[fatdaddypreacher]

all of this semi acoustic building going on has me fired up and am trying to squeeze something in this year on a new build. have access to a vacuum press and virtually any veneer i could imagine. have been searching in vain for specs/info on laminating a top and haven't found anything to speak of. I thought i posed this here before, but can't seem to find it in my threads....so here goes.

any info, or links to info regarding the laminating process would be greatly appreciated. don't mind experimenting a bit, but don't want to re-invent the wheel. any ideas or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

thanks, and i hope everyone has a fantastic new year.

 

[jkes01]

Hey FDP, check out this guy Jason Beam on YouTube. He built a copy of Eric Clapton's 335. Lots of good information. Video #2 covers laminating the top and back plates.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKOYf1q3gqo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKOYf1q3gqo[/ame]

He is also doing a Martin build I've been meaning to watch.

-John

 

[fatdaddypreacher]

thanks, j. i'll study that one a bit...luv your work, incidently

 

[pawpaw]

If it helps any, I remembered reading on a furniture making website about vacuum presses. The second link has a lot of info.

http://www.djmarks.com/recommendation-for-vacuum-press-for-bentwood-laminations/

http://www.joewoodworker.com/

 

[akwusmc]

The link to Preeb's ES-335 build with Ken McKay ... http://www.tdpri.com/threads/1959-es-335td-proto-build.273300/

 

[Daniels Guitars]

I'd get a Ken McKay 59 335 kit

It's something I've got planned this year, I'm definitely not going to bother laminating

You get front and back cut to the right shape
Centre block kerfings etc

You still have to build it like an acoustic, it's alot of work but worth it imo

 

[emoney]

Ken McKay is a regular contributor here in this forum, FDP and was just recently commenting
on the 330 re-finish thread, ftr. If memory serves me, he has a thread here that showed the process
very clearly. But its been a couple of years since it was posted.

 

[akwusmc]

An the last time I contacted Ken, he was out of the ES plate business, but hsi son was supposed to be taking it over.

The contact I have is quinnmckay529@gmail.com

 

[pshupe]

I also heard the same thing. I would be inclined to just get a set of sides and kerfed lining from Quinn and do the tops myself, as well as the neck. This is afterall the Luthiers Corner! ;-)

Cheers Peter.

 

[jkes01]

Gil and Ken's tdpri thread has tons of good info.

I also came across Blackdog's thread where he builds a guitar around Ken's plates. Lots of good pics.

Building a '59 ES335 for BadlyDrawnLes

 

[fatdaddypreacher]

thanks fellas. i'll click on to all of this and study up. i appreciate it.