U.S. Guitar Kits Cutaway Specifications

Copyright © 2011 by U.S. Guitar Kits, Inc. All rights reserved. U.S. Guitar Kits, Inc. Assembly Instructions for Acoustic Cutaway Guitar Kit Welcome

10 10Main Objective: The next steps are focused on trimming, shaping and fitting the braces on the top. Step Eleven – Trimming the Brace Ends • Ma

11 11Step 12 - Scalloping the ends of the Tone Braces • Place the top face down on a clean non slip surface. Cut the bracing off flush with the back

12 12Marking and Scalloping a Tone Brace

13 13 Bevel the sides of the braces and final smooth with 120 grit sandpaper. The Finger Brace The final shaping of a finger b

14 14 Finger Brace Lower X-Brace Tone Brace Upper X-Brace Brace Templates Cut out and lay on side of braces to mark

15 15Main Objective: The final step in preparing to install the top is cutting the pockets in the lining and doing the final dry fit of the top. S

16 164) Continue to dry fit the top until it lays completely flush with the sides with even pressure all the way around. Note: Many makers like to s

17 175) Clamp, through the soundhole using an f-style or c-clamp, the neck plate and the clamping caul. Be sure to site in the neck cavity for a flu

18 18 So far….so good! You have now completed all the steps to complete the top installation. Miscellaneous Parts Preparation: There are severa

19 19Main Objective Cut notch in top for neck tang. Set the neck angle. Prepare and glue the fingerboard to the neck. Cut groove for binding and glue

2 2Tools, Jigs and Materials - 25-30 Spool Clamps; - Small router or laminate trimmer; - a rabbeting bit set that includes the following cuts; 1)

20 20 See below for details to correct “Pitch Back or Pitch Forward”. If sanding is needed, a light touch and careful attention not to sand a twist i

21 21Pitch Back If your neck is pitched back and there is a large gap above the bridge and below the straightedge, the neck heel needs to be sanded m

22 222) Mark a centerline on the fingerboard that can easily be seen at the body end of the fingerboard. 3) Locate the string nut, a small piece o

23 238) With the marking complete, make a simple clamping caul by tracing the fingerboard onto a piece of ¾” plywood and cut it out. Using this duri

24 24neck so that you don’t tear your fingers up when you’re using the radius block. 2) With the neck off the body, use a 20” radius sanding block

25 25Using accelerator will speed the process of the CA glue open time to a matter of seconds. Note: Accelerator uses a chemical process that cre

26 26Main Objective: Complete all fretting steps including installation and dressing as well as shaping the neck. Step Nineteen - Fretting the Finge

27 27 3) Trim any fret excess with the end nippers flush to the fingerboard. Step Twenty - Dressing the Frets Be sure all frets are completely se

28 28Main Objective: Complete the process of cutting the binding and purfling channels in the body, final fitting of the binding on the back and glui

29 29Note: Cut the groove for the “purfling” on the TOP ONLY!!! 5) Install the 1” rabbeting bit in a small laminate router to match the width and d

3 3- 400, 600, 1000, 1500 grit sponge sanding pads, higher grit micro-mesh pads are optional depending on the desired sheen of the fingerboard; - a

30 30gaps between the body and binding, and then check again. Proceed around the guitar, and finish where you started, cutting a tight butt joint to

31 31Main Objective: Marking the location for the bridge. Step Twenty Three - Marking the location of the Bridge The bridge location is another crit

32 32 Main Objective: At this point, the major construction is complete and there are two directions you can go to proceed. 1. Continue the constr

33 33 You are ready for finish! Main Objective: Remove the tape, attach the bridge, ream the bridge pin holes and fit the saddle. Step Tw

34 34Note: Be sure to use 1/8” scraps between the thumb screws and the bridge to eliminate any damage to the bridge. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN!!!!! Note:

35 35• Make sure there is a flat, clean surface for the nut to rest on and that there is solid contact on both the bottom of the nut as well as the

36 36Depending on how well the frets were originally seated and the care taken to ensure a flat, straight neck, the guitar may only require nut and s

37 37String tension can pull the neck up and therefore increased the spacing between the strings and the fingerboard and may be reduced by the use of

38 38 Step Twenty One-Trussrod Cover Once the setup is complete and any truss rod adjustment is made, position the truss rod cover by butting it up

39 39 Step Twenty Three-Finishing You will want to apply a top coat of finish to the instrument to protect the bare wood from dirt and oils. There a

4 4Guitar Terms & Anatomy The guitar is made up of several components. The following list is a list of those components that can be cross referen

40 40U.S. Guitar Kits, Inc. Finishing Instructions for Acoustic Guitar Kit Time to Bring it Alive-The Finish!!! Be careful not to get to hasty. In

41 41Grain Filler Grain filler is used on open pore woods like mahogany to raise the low areas of the pores and help to level the final finish and no

42 42sandpapers starting at 3600 grit all the way up to 12000 grit to achieve equal results. Check out the posting link below on the Discussion For

5 5 Anatomy of the Top-Brace Structure The top is pre-braced and you will begin by marking and cutting bracing and then thinning out the bracing on

6 6Main Objective: You must first make a paper template and convert that to a plywood template that will be used in marking, dry fitting and final gl

7 7Step Four – Marking the Brace Locations on the Plywood Template • Locate the bracing and transfer the marks onto the plywood template. This will

8 8• Sight down the sides of the guitar to ensure the sides do not appear to be bowed inward. You should be dead on. If not, modify the length of th

9 9Step Eight - Marking the Brace Locations on the Body • Transfer the bracing marks on the plywood template to the sides. • Connect the marking l