Early Mosrite "German Carve" process

[TerryTNM]

Quote by Dubtrub:

"Hey Terry,

That is a great photo essay. Would you also post this over in the Projects forum along with any other 'secrets' you wish to share? I would try to split and copy it, but the way my luck has been going lately I'd delete it completely in the process.

Danny"

Thanks Danny. This link: http://www.bobsyouruncle.net/TNM_Guitars/Mike%20Brown/sn011_mike_brown2.htm shows the body carving process I was shown when I was a young kid looking over Semie Moseley's shoulder in the late 50's. It is without doubt the physically hardest part of building one of these early doublenecks. Don't try this at home without plenty of masking tape covering your fingers. . . to save you from blisters.

I don't know if I have any 'secrets'. If anyone has any questions I will try and answer them.

Terry

[GattonFan]

Great insight, Terry! Did you just grind a spoon and sharpen the edges to make that scraper? Ingenious -

[TerryTNM]

Great insight, Terry! Did you just grind a spoon and sharpen the edges to make that scraper? Ingenious -

No it's not a real spoon. It's a manufactured piece but I can't remember where I got it. It's the backbone of the process. A specialty woodworking store would be a good start. I'll take a close-up of it for those interested.

Terry

[TerryTNM]

Here's what the spoon plane looks like.

[KRamone27]

That's a really cool tool. I found one at wood craft website.
http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?P ... ilyID=4867

[TerryTNM]

That's a really cool tool. I found one at wood craft website.
http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?P ... ilyID=4867

If you're going to start doing some 'German Carving' that would be the best $20 bucks you could spend.

Terry

[dubtrub]

I'm definitely going to get a spoon plane, looks much easier than the hand carve with wood chisels I've been using.

Terry, can you tell us a little bit about binding? Do you use individual strips of white and black, then laminate them yourself, or do you have a source for ready made binding? Any photo's of this process.

What would be great to see on the forum is a photo essay of a complete build from beginning to end similar to what I did in the Bass clone project I did a few months back. I think this type of information inspires potential new builders to try their hand and experience the reward of DIY. Right guy's?

[sleeperNY]

You guys almost have me convinced to go out and buy some nice wood and build from scratch.

Jim

[Deke Dickerson]

If any of you start trying to do this by yourself you'll understand why Semie only made a few dozen instruments that he carved by hand, and why Terry isn't charging nearly enough for his guitars! ha. Like anybody with natural ability, Terry makes it look easy, but trust me, it ain't!

Deke

[dubtrub]

If any of you start trying to do this by yourself you'll understand why Semie only made a few dozen instruments that he carved by hand, and why Terry isn't charging nearly enough for his guitars! ha. Like anybody with natural ability, Terry makes it look easy, but trust me, it ain't!

Deke

One way that I approach this, since I don't do it for a living, I feel that the man upstairs gave me a talent and I enjoy sharing that information and watching fledglings take flight. It's been very rewarding to watch these guy's take on the task and build a guitar either from scratch or from parts. Mel is as proud of his guitar by doing it himself as would be if Semie had been looking over his should. It's a great feeling to watch someone build something that they didn't think they had the ability to do it themselves. Besides where else can they get the experience if they don't have someone instill confidence. We have to teach future generations or we lose the art.

I'm glad I had the chance to look over Semie's shoulder if only for a short time. I'd bet Ed Elliott and Terry would agree. Plus, the reason I don't offer my guitars for sale is one could by an original for the price I'd have to charge.