Instrument details: John Hepworth - Steel string guitar

Having joined and thicknessed the front, John cuts it to shape.

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Gluing the back braces.

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The bridge must be shaped to match the front, including sufficient hollow to accommodate the slight curvature formed by the braces.

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A ruler clamped to the front is a useful aid in positioning the bridge.

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John then bends the sides, until the shape matches the template.

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The cutaway is glued to a rebate on the side of the neck.

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The back is ready to be glued. John practises the long lost art of guitar levitation.

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The ends of the fret slots are filled with shellac stick, melted in with a soldering iron.

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After spraying, the lacquer is sanded to a mirror finish.

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The guitar can then be restrung.

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John's headstock...

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...bridge and soundhole decoration.

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The cocobolo back is also thicknessed and is finished with a scraper.

Photo added on 23/10/2014