A guitar, ukulele and mandolin!
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I’ve also completed construction of Morgan’s uke.
Shaping the neck was interesting I tried using one of these little chaps on the heel.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxafLdJLNJHya3SjcKdnf0fYOHPFeIW_AYFBwMMsysGwId0v8sZ01W5n07P-XViHBMliWNtQRYa0M_90mLcuyGYBvfKkp9WespO5uIxAwPVJzIPGkPtfQhJKxAT4zWtdnRTRgJHA/s320/heel2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBIzpbCCEsthzfQYerXSpqu2Xxl7BNw4s8aEe6-MMMQkTJPztCHyWcFGuT5-UCgqnZfgrczwyNKAKOmTp49AM4rCr0syfZGfoJwe3-56Y52ycPnH88SclybIyHBCJSmJ8l9ZxRQ/s320/heel1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2hfaYgwmD0OSJHMiuxUvVcQmxfV8GbgWYq-rBk0x23bS7qHgI8caIaydwqT96LiHFgC0unNMz4kHocURW5rqv1mvdjfRW37WvSG2ybd-54PADrTk_YRGkc0fTDmS_PTBwbqM2UA/s320/120paper.jpg)
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I think that you can tell a lot about a luthier by the heel on his instruments and it’s often an area that I look at closely on others’ guitars; some are very clumsy, lumpy and poorly finished. I’m slowing moving towards a conical shaped heel that takes its inspiration from early parlour and romantic guitars.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9vPy1V1YSTSgzCmQuzJCWgJBoFasG02xpgSH7f5WBVHZ8j1f1eJCnw3fWdN03hSix3skOaEhTagE5bJZ54yQPeGKvJH0tbqnnKEMONXJ2gCv8tcAMe1nYlTdFZ19wlDvC5D5ng/s320/heel4.jpg)
Below is the heel of Shelly’s guitar (as in poet) that I was fortunate enough to examine at the Bodlien Library a few years ago. See where I’m heading?
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Jill’s Mandolin IV
Jill’s mandolin is progressing nicely too. With the sides bent, I’ve been working on the points. To join the two side pieces together I shape a piece of cedar; I made up this simple sanding jig to ensure that the cedar fits perfectly.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82YhX_-lUDMb8V70mzoClT8LDEVzJg1pL707DXsLciVMc5UhDIQ-gCxdDUCq7dWt6P9gn_vdCdcO559UmLeP-9i5Hiu_Yxe_mfe5kUBli6hbzvrwiuDTUXphIMx2q5FGhYM8feg/s320/cedarBlock1.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhZXrWWTKTM1lergTUY7T_GjYwpqpbbvsSfRGTEBbhvdvizU2UkHgopPXoikLH5ojNwKBctVEJfk4FRrfbVvESRfRSP7AVXiet4Q6p_npyNgHdUbcoJflu6dYFfX2rBbe799qcw/s320/walnutblocks.jpg)
The soundboard is being braced and below you can also see the wonderful quilted maple for the back.
Labels: Handmade guitars, Luthier, mandolin