Instrument details: Charlie Cadell - Steel string guitar

The join along the back is inspected making sure no light is visible along any of the join.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Calipers are useful for gauging the thickness of the front and back but the final decision is made by flexing and tapping the plates.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Charlie is making an oval soundhole and has made a template that can used to rout both the hole and the recess for the decoration that surrounds it.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Having glued the top braces Charlie is planing them down to height before...

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...shaping and scalloping, to give a strong but responsive front.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

The bridge is fitted to the front and glued in position.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Gluing the truss rod into the neck.

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The sides are bent to shape around a hot iron.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

With the sides, front and neck assembled, the body is prepared for the back to be glued.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Prior to finishing the rosewood around the soundhole is sealed with shellac to prevent the colour bleeding into the light front.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

A close-up of the soundhole.

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A view from the back of Charlie's unusual and well executed offset join.

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Charlie plays the completed guitar.

Photo added on 23/10/2014