Meanwhile, the frets can go in. I opted for an ebony fingerboard because archtops/jazz guitars always have ebony fingerboards. Obvs.. I also opted for stainless steel frets, but Mr Bailey really didn’t want me to do that. They’re three times…   Read more»

I have to say, working in the Bailey Workshop is both a privilege and a joy. I’m beginning to see a possible route out of the world of Bodge across the border into Craft.Talking of borders, there was another participant…   Read more»

Another minor complication: Once the back is glued in place, there’s no way inside other than through the pickup routs or the ƒ holes. so my graceful mini-humbuckers mounted straight into the top don’t look feasible.  You’d need some sort…   Read more»

Sshhhh… 🤫🤥

All the usual places, Russ. From Bandcamp to Youtube via Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, etc..
Embedded Bandcamp player and other links listed on this page: https://www.jamesbisset.com/music/james-bisset-volume-1
But don’t wear it out!

Meanwhile, on the inside… The internal bridge block is now glued into place. The pickup routs and the pickup flange screw holes are a weak point in the top, so we need to add a couple of straps to re-inforce…   Read more»

Next, the ƒ holes. Traditionally, the little points in the middle of the ƒ hole line up with the bridge. In a perfect world, I’d also have the top of the ƒ hole aligned with the waist and the foot…   Read more»

Next came the pickup holes. I’m installing mini-humbuckers, which I envisage being mounted straight into the top. So again, I create an MDF template for the pickup hole and the mounting screws. The template has to be fairly big to…   Read more»

The next step was to start cutting holes in the top. Two pickup routs, two ƒ holes and, critically, a neck pocket. From the start, I assumed three possible methods for attaching the neck to the body:  simple heel and…   Read more»

Well, it’s been a while but the album is out, the website has been updated and I’ve entered the Scottish Album of the Year Award. This is a Cunning Plan because 100 people are ‘invited to consider’ all submissions and…   Read more»

Apologies for the brief hiatus as I try to finish the album of tunes I performed for Acoustic Bliss last year. I’ve given myself until the end of the month. But meanwhile, here’s an interesting snippet of information. I chose…   Read more»

I reckon ‘gradually’ is the secret ingredient here.
Question though: if it has never been done before, why not?

This  wouldn’t be important if I was making a double cutaway or no cutaway – it’s only significant if the guitar is not symmetrical across the centreline. But if I’m making…   Read more»

It was at the point where we decided to use the mould as a jig, that I realised I’d made the most profound, blindingly obvious mistake right at the very beginning of this build. Can you see what it is?

Finally getting down to the actual building of this guitar! Unlike solid sides, these laminations have rough, uneven edges and are not yet cut to size. So one edge was sanded flat on a sanding board, and then the other…   Read more»

I never thought I’d say this, but – Happy Days 🙂