Fun with the Router

Today we channeled out the cavity for control panel. We drilled the hole connecting the pick ups to the jack socket and control knob. Carl is busting to get a sound out of it but if I learned one thing from Harry it's 'take your time'. Next it's finger board, notching the nut, cutting a control panel to retain the jack socket and soldering the electronics- then we can try some strings! That's Barry, my dad, holding the body steady while I route away.

Tuners bridge and pickup

Lovely day today. Got the bridge, pickup and tuners fitted.

Make your own Lap Steel part one

 or Did You Take Woodwork At School?
Yes it does look like a plank. That's because it is a plank - at the moment. Carl and I have been assembling the parts from the shopping list on http://buildyourguitar.com/resources/lapsteel/ today we got together to get the ball rolling. Its already been a long story, just getting a suitable piece of 'wud' could win Carl the Perrier for stand up comedy, but we're off!

Well almost, I've managed to get the tuners and bridge marooned at the post office sorting depot after losing the 'sorry we missed you' note. It's a tale which is Kafkaesque in itself. I missed the delivery so went to collect.
'have you got a parcel for NBB?'
'yes we've got the parcel here'
'can I have it?'
'where is your card'
'I lost it, but ive got id and proof of address'
'you need a card'
'How can I get one'
'you should have been left one, if you've lost it we'll have to re-deliver'
'I'm not around next week, so I can't sign for it'
'then we'll leave a card'......

Despite all this we staggered into my garage to 'cut wood'. Now, both Carl and I didn't do woodwork at school and it shows. Most scary, was the moment we both realised we had out fingers in Harry's enormous power-saw as we tried to get it to work. We managed it but neither of us may be able to play the finished instrument! After a fit of the giggles we managed to taper the head and cut out the peg head profile, which sounds tricky but is just 'sawing in a straight line'.
Next we need to carve a curved transition from the head into the body and route out the spaces for pick ups and electronics.

Rutherford No3 Lap Steel

Carl and I have been kicking around ideas for a Rutherford No3 - and we have a winner!

Carl found the plans for this simple lap steel on t'internet so we are pulling together a shopping list and pricing up a nice piece of hard wood.
The plans are over at http://buildyourguitar.com/resources/lapsteel/

Keep you posted.