Erhardt 2012 No. 1 Update

Started this guitar three weeks ago and as of tonight, the mahogany back is almost complete.  What you see here in the foreground is what ends up on the inside. The two braces on the right will be visible through the sound hole.  A lot of time and steps have gone into getting the instrument to this point. I will refrain from including steps like rearranging everything in the shop to get it ready for electrical installation, working at my regular job each day, digging the trench to run the electricity from the house to the shop, and attending family gatherings.  Oh wait, I guess I included them....

> Decide on basic design
> Make full scale pattern
> Craft the body template
> Cut body form parts
> Assemble form parts
> Refine form contours
> Join gtr back halves
> Join gtr top halves
> Thickness sand top
> Thickness sand back
> Make go-bar deck
  (clamping apparatus)
> Cut/sand brace stock
> Glue back braces
> Scallop back brace ends
> Clean up sawdust, wood chips and glue drips between all steps

You can probably read my thoughts in the second photo "Always push the chisel AWAY FROM human body parts." To finish the back I will contour the long flat brace tops into long cathedral shaped tops, then smooth everything with fine grit abrasive paper. Of course, you can also hurt yourself with abrasive paper, but it takes much more effort than hurting yourself with a chisel.  Yes, I've done both, but it was such a long time ago, it hardly bears mentioning.