Instrument details: Iacopo Nesi - Steel string guitar

Iacopo has prepared and fitted a ring of rosewood, bordered by black and white strips, as his soundhole decoration.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Once thicknessed, the back join is reinforced with a strip of spruce with the grain running perpendicular to that of the cocobolo back.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Carving the braces. This is done to adjust the stiffnes and responsiveness of the front by reducing their weight and stiffness, whilst retaining enough strength to support the string tension.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Installing the truss rod into a channel routed in the neck.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

The join between the x-braces needs to be strengthened with wood, cloth or as here, parchment.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

The back is ready to be glued.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Once the body is assembled the corner bindings are fitted. Iacopo is using yew.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

The trial stringing. The guitar is strung in the white, ie without finish, when final adjustments can be made.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

Iacopo has opted for a tru-oil finish, an oil/resin finish which can be hand applied and gives a natural finish to the guitar.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

The guitar can then be restrung and the yew scratchplate applied.

Photo added on 23/10/2014

The cocobolo back....

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...and a close-up of the cocobolo bridge.

Photo added on 23/10/2014