Thanks Mark. I’m still fine tuning action and relief as it settles down. I’ll drop in to let you see it soon.

Thanks bill. You mean that I have to learn to play it? Watch this space. I have an idea.

As in the Rolling Stones song “It’s all over now”. A year has passed and what have I got to show for it. Thisle 2 the archtop. All nicely polished and strung. Still got the fine intonation to do once…   Read more»

I have finished the lacquer application and now have to wait for it to harden up before the final finish/polish process so I have started on the electrics. I’m using Schatten volume and tone controls with the KA pickup and…   Read more»

Thanks but you’ll have to join the queue already wanting a “shot”. Pick up is to be finger rest mounted KA Jazzy Joe. Hoping for playability about Easter.

Progress thanks to the bad weather. Making the ancillary bits and bobs and have ordered all the parts to finish the guitar. Decided on stain colour. Not green!!!!

You were right Mark. Side dots only. Frets next. Been experimenting with water based dyes on scraps from the original body wedges but don’t think the maple will “pop” like the really flamed guitars do. So. To stain or not…   Read more»

A few more pics of the archtop build for your entertainment. The side bending went well but very slowly round my exhaust pipe bending tube. Thanks for the tip of thinning the maple for the tighter bends Mark. I found…   Read more»

Thanks Mark. Any chance of you getting my sides thicknesses so I can move along. Pleeease.

Progress on the archtop. After weeks of planning and scraping and sanding then repeating all the above, the back is now carved with only the refining of the thickness from centre to edges to do. Hopefully I shall start on…   Read more»

Update on progress. I’m following the Benedetto book and have scaled down his design from 17″ to 16″ for my preference. Lots of drawing of the arching profiles and cutting them out of 3mm hardboard was followed by commencing cutting…   Read more»

Progressing with the Thistle Archtop. Rough shaping of the back with the plane. It’s flamed maple and pretty hard wood. Having to re-sharpen the plane every ten minutes or so.

Don’t believe this!!!!!!!!!!!As soon as I posted my reply, the attach file thing appears!!!!!!

Hope this attempt works. 

Hi Mark. Thanks for the reply.I had seen the “how to” post but still can’t get the wee red paperclip thing at the bottom. All I have is a tick box with “Subscribe to this topic” beside it. Tried ticking…   Read more»

Hi. Good news on the Thistle Archtop front. Got the wedges trued and glued before I went on holiday and have returned to making sawdust at last. I wish there was some way to attach the photos. I’m open to…   Read more»

Hi. Tried to post Thistle photos but don’t get the wee paperclip to attach them. I’m using android with Windows 10.  Any ideas???