hi
I am planning to build a gibson es-335 style guitar. I am not using laminated plates for the top and back though. I am going to carve them like an archtop. I am now trying to find templates for the contour of the top and back.
Much appreciated if anyone can assist.
thanks - FT
es-335 contour templates
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funkytwang
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Nick
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Hi "FunkyTwang" and welcome to the forum hope you enjoy it around here, it is a great forum to belong to.
Couple of things first, one is that we get more of a 'community' feel if people use their first names on the forum rather than a handle (you can still have your handle as your username if you like but a sign off using your real first name is a nice friendly touch and you'll notice most who use handles, do it). Secondly it would help if in your first post you introduced yourself and maybe a little bit about where you are or hope to be with your guitar making. We don't need to know your entire life history tho
. I say this because your first post comes across a little 'hard' to me, you post nothing about yourself but start off asking about where you can get something (maybe for free?).
Hope this doesn't come across too critical, just a little bit of ettiquette. As I say there are a great bunch of knowledgable people here that will no doubt only too glad to assist not only in your 'quest' but during the build also, but it helps to 'grease' the wheels a little first 
Right, to get you underway I managed to buy a set of plans for the 335 HERE quite reasonably priced (which was shipping inclusive!) and the sizing was 1:1 and accurate, these were posted out to me quickly too, so I'm sure if you got a set you could make your own templates from it, as I intend to as I intend carving the plates too rather than laminating. Would be interested to follow your build if you care to post pickies when you get around to building
Couple of things first, one is that we get more of a 'community' feel if people use their first names on the forum rather than a handle (you can still have your handle as your username if you like but a sign off using your real first name is a nice friendly touch and you'll notice most who use handles, do it). Secondly it would help if in your first post you introduced yourself and maybe a little bit about where you are or hope to be with your guitar making. We don't need to know your entire life history tho
. I say this because your first post comes across a little 'hard' to me, you post nothing about yourself but start off asking about where you can get something (maybe for free?).Hope this doesn't come across too critical, just a little bit of ettiquette. As I say there are a great bunch of knowledgable people here that will no doubt only too glad to assist not only in your 'quest' but during the build also, but it helps to 'grease' the wheels a little first
Right, to get you underway I managed to buy a set of plans for the 335 HERE quite reasonably priced (which was shipping inclusive!) and the sizing was 1:1 and accurate, these were posted out to me quickly too, so I'm sure if you got a set you could make your own templates from it, as I intend to as I intend carving the plates too rather than laminating. Would be interested to follow your build if you care to post pickies when you get around to building
"Jesus Loves You."
Nice to hear in church but not in a Mexican prison.
Nice to hear in church but not in a Mexican prison.
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funkytwang
- Wandoo
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- Location: Narooma (NSW South Coast)
hi again
no problem - let me start again...
I started building guitars about 10 years ago as a hobby. I have not built much but finished projects include a tele, strat, flying v, uke, d/nought, electric bass. I am not in the industry (timber or lutherie) but pretty good with timber generally.
Just finished the bass and looking for another project - the es-335...although I like the look of a "Lucille" (based on a es-355 and my understanding is that it is dimensional the same as the es-335).
I have seen some plans on amazon but they did not appear to have contours shown - hence my post. Happy to pay for plans if they are good. One of the plans (356) at the guitargranny site looks like the go.
thanks, and happy to post pics - Paul
no problem - let me start again...
I started building guitars about 10 years ago as a hobby. I have not built much but finished projects include a tele, strat, flying v, uke, d/nought, electric bass. I am not in the industry (timber or lutherie) but pretty good with timber generally.
Just finished the bass and looking for another project - the es-335...although I like the look of a "Lucille" (based on a es-355 and my understanding is that it is dimensional the same as the es-335).
I have seen some plans on amazon but they did not appear to have contours shown - hence my post. Happy to pay for plans if they are good. One of the plans (356) at the guitargranny site looks like the go.
thanks, and happy to post pics - Paul
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Nick
- Blackwood
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Hi Paul, Glad you didn't take my post offensively as none was intended & thanks for the brief intro.
I knew there was somewhere else that did 335 plans and managed to find it. These are very similar to the guitar granny plans (Granny plans are hard to see from the small pic) although don't show the solid strip running through the length of the body, they don't have contours marked either, but knowing the amount of arch on the plate (from the sectioned side view) It shouldn't be too hard to draw up something that resembles the arch of the real thing. Getting the arch exact won't be as critical as if it was a full on archtop.
I think from using either plan it will be quite feasable to come up with a set of templates, I've made a couple of archtops so I'm familiar with the shapes required but just picture in your mind a 'flatish' area of curve going longtitudinally down the length from the bridge to the neck then curve from this area gracefully out to the edges which have an area about 25mm wide that curves back up to the edge (known as a recurve). A trip to a music shop that has this style of guitar in stock(and also full archtops) may help to get the 3 dimensional shape you are looking for, implanted into your head.If you still are having problems I could generate some templates from the plan I have, I guess I'll have to do it sometime!
I knew there was somewhere else that did 335 plans and managed to find it. These are very similar to the guitar granny plans (Granny plans are hard to see from the small pic) although don't show the solid strip running through the length of the body, they don't have contours marked either, but knowing the amount of arch on the plate (from the sectioned side view) It shouldn't be too hard to draw up something that resembles the arch of the real thing. Getting the arch exact won't be as critical as if it was a full on archtop.
I think from using either plan it will be quite feasable to come up with a set of templates, I've made a couple of archtops so I'm familiar with the shapes required but just picture in your mind a 'flatish' area of curve going longtitudinally down the length from the bridge to the neck then curve from this area gracefully out to the edges which have an area about 25mm wide that curves back up to the edge (known as a recurve). A trip to a music shop that has this style of guitar in stock(and also full archtops) may help to get the 3 dimensional shape you are looking for, implanted into your head.If you still are having problems I could generate some templates from the plan I have, I guess I'll have to do it sometime!
Last edited by Nick on Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Jesus Loves You."
Nice to hear in church but not in a Mexican prison.
Nice to hear in church but not in a Mexican prison.
Paul,funkytwang wrote: One of the plans (356) at the guitargranny site looks like the go.
Firstly welcome to the forum.
Secondly, just in case you're not familiar with the Gibson 356 (and I'll apologise now if I'm being too presumptuous),..........it is a smaller body than the 335, actually close to a Les Paul in size so the contours will be noticably different. They're a (damned) nicely balanced guitar to play, and this is coming from someone who loves and owns 335 style guitars and LP's.
ChrisO
Music creates a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.
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funkytwang
- Wandoo
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hi
thanks for the info on the 356 Chris - I didn't realise that was the case. Nice looking guitar too - I just googled a few- nice one at Elderly Instruments http://www.elderly.com/brand/40U_gibson.html
They seem to have a ~14" lower bout. ~16" on the es335/355, and body length probably shorter? Think I will stick to the 335/355 for this project.
But...I noticed the granny 356 plan shows contours well. I can see the 'flatish' area you mentioned Nick, and I am familiar with the contours on an archtop too. Yes, trips to the music shop are always good
Thanks for the offer of the templates - I'll let you know if I need them. They have a distinctive contour and I want the replicate it, but I think I have a better idea now.
On the issue of the centre strip or block I was thinking of running it the full length (tail to neck). I was advised that it will greatly reduce feedback. Either way this is not affected by the plan.
Have you thought about timber selection for yours yet ? I am pretty sure I am going with the BB King "Lucille" style... sprayed black with white bindings. The current model does not have f holes but I think I might on mine.
Paul
thanks for the info on the 356 Chris - I didn't realise that was the case. Nice looking guitar too - I just googled a few- nice one at Elderly Instruments http://www.elderly.com/brand/40U_gibson.html
They seem to have a ~14" lower bout. ~16" on the es335/355, and body length probably shorter? Think I will stick to the 335/355 for this project.
But...I noticed the granny 356 plan shows contours well. I can see the 'flatish' area you mentioned Nick, and I am familiar with the contours on an archtop too. Yes, trips to the music shop are always good
Thanks for the offer of the templates - I'll let you know if I need them. They have a distinctive contour and I want the replicate it, but I think I have a better idea now.On the issue of the centre strip or block I was thinking of running it the full length (tail to neck). I was advised that it will greatly reduce feedback. Either way this is not affected by the plan.
Have you thought about timber selection for yours yet ? I am pretty sure I am going with the BB King "Lucille" style... sprayed black with white bindings. The current model does not have f holes but I think I might on mine.
Paul
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Nick
- Blackwood
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Haven't thought that far ahead just yet Paul, I'm nearing the end of knocking up a roughy at the moment and haven't thought which guitar in my head will be next, I have several I'd like to make. I know there would be some local interest in the 335 from guys possibly wanting one so that maybe next, I have some nice quilted Maple wedges I could use for the back and maybe I'll get hold of some curly for the front, then a nice tobacco burst similar to one of the archtops I madefunkytwang wrote:Have you thought about timber selection for yours yet ? I am pretty sure I am going with the BB King "Lucille" style... sprayed black with white bindings. The current model does not have f holes but I think I might on mine.
Paul
Who knows? I also want to make a classical and also a flat top with a New Zealand flavour and a Lute is floating around in the stew too so I'll take stock once I've got the current build finished.
"Jesus Loves You."
Nice to hear in church but not in a Mexican prison.
Nice to hear in church but not in a Mexican prison.
howdy paul.
the 335's are easily my fav electric and are definitely on the list of instuments i'd like to have a go at.
feel free to document your progress on the forum, i'm sure i wouldn't be the only one who would get a kick out of it.
i have a question though: can you tell me what the thinking is behind going to the trouble of proper carving a pair of arched plates then glueing a centre block in to almost entirely stop them from moving?
cheers, liam.
the 335's are easily my fav electric and are definitely on the list of instuments i'd like to have a go at.
feel free to document your progress on the forum, i'm sure i wouldn't be the only one who would get a kick out of it.
i have a question though: can you tell me what the thinking is behind going to the trouble of proper carving a pair of arched plates then glueing a centre block in to almost entirely stop them from moving?
cheers, liam.
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funkytwang
- Wandoo
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hi Liam
I like your question. Here's my thoughts but I do not claim to be an expert.
I think the answer to your question is that the es-335 is not an "archtop" guitar. Its chambered body will of course give it a distinctive sound but unlike an archtop the top and back do not provide amplification. Gibson did produce archtops like the es-175 but I think feedback was a problem. Probably because musicians wanted to play louder. So they created the "thinline" style with the centre block installed. Gibson do not carve the es-335 top and back - they are made from laminated veneers pressed by a mold.
I am carving them simply because I am making a one-off instrument. I could buy the laminated top but I like to do it myself.
I like your question. Here's my thoughts but I do not claim to be an expert.
I think the answer to your question is that the es-335 is not an "archtop" guitar. Its chambered body will of course give it a distinctive sound but unlike an archtop the top and back do not provide amplification. Gibson did produce archtops like the es-175 but I think feedback was a problem. Probably because musicians wanted to play louder. So they created the "thinline" style with the centre block installed. Gibson do not carve the es-335 top and back - they are made from laminated veneers pressed by a mold.
I am carving them simply because I am making a one-off instrument. I could buy the laminated top but I like to do it myself.
I've had one of these in mind ever since I built my first archtop.
The price of pre-manufactured laminated tops/backs is about the same as a piece of solid wood for carving!
I'd like to have a go at making the laminated tops/backs, even bought a book on it.
For years the author used to drive a wheel of his pickup truck onto the mould to compress the veneers to shape.
I can do that!
I wonder how many laminated tops/backs I could churn out before I'd have to change the ute's tyres?
The price of pre-manufactured laminated tops/backs is about the same as a piece of solid wood for carving!
I'd like to have a go at making the laminated tops/backs, even bought a book on it.
For years the author used to drive a wheel of his pickup truck onto the mould to compress the veneers to shape.
I can do that!
I wonder how many laminated tops/backs I could churn out before I'd have to change the ute's tyres?
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Rick Turner
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I love that guitar and have arrested development from the days when Clapton played a 335 complete with Hari Krishna stamp on the back of the head stock with Cream and later blind Faith - my two all time favorite bands. Beautiful guitar Ron!!!!
Paul welcome to the ANZLF M8!
Nick bro that guitar is stunning, love the burst too!!!
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