STEM 1522: Stem Guitar II - Acoustic

Week 1, Introduction STEM Guitar II – Acoustic

• Learning Objectives:
  • Explore the history of Guitarbuilding.org
  • Review the types of builds at Guitarbuilding.org
  • Define the typical KCC acoustic build.
  • Describe and discuss the need for PPE in the lab area, specifically focusing on safety glasses, hearing protection, and dust masks.
  • Assemble the bent sides, neck block, and tail block of the soundbox.
• In-Class Activities:
  • Review Syllabus
  • Review Canvas
  • Sign photo/video release
  • Review safety procedures
  • Sign KCC Safety Contract
  • Hand out guitar bent sides, neck block, tail block, and body forms
  • Review gluing procedures.
  • Prepare to glue the bent sides to the end blocks.
  • Glue rim to end blocks.

Week 2, Constructing the Soundbox - I

• Learning Objectives:
  • Visually identify and properly name the components of a hollow-body acoustic guitar on a pictorial diagram of a guitar or on an actual, physical guitar.
  • Analyze an acoustic-guitar manufacturing plan.
  • Demonstrate proper use of the tools used in the fabrication of acoustic guitars.
  • Describe, and demonstrate the basic steps in the process sharpening edged, cutting tools, and deploying them safely in their appropriate uses.
  • Install the kerfing.
  • Create a 25-foot radius to the bent sides.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 2 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
• In-Class Activities:
  • Create a 25’ radius to each side of the rim.
  • Glue in the kerfing.
  • Create a 25’ radius to each side of the rim with kerfing.

Week 3, Constructing the Soundbox - II

• Learning Objectives:
  • Calculate quantities of materials, costs, and sizes of an acoustic guitar in a spreadsheet.
  • Analysis of costs and benefits of critical guitar components.
  • Analyze the real-world problem of wood-species extinction relative to the legacy materials used in guitar construction.
  • Define the concept of “tone woods,” list at least three of these, and describe their specific uses in acoustic guitars.
  • Assemble soundbox top bracing.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 3 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
• In-Class Activities:
  • Prepare to glue the top bracing to the top.
  • Draw a center line on the backside of the spruce top.
  • Dry fit all top bracing pieces to the spruce top.
  • Locate the bracing from the top.
  • Use locating tool for proper placement of the bracing to the spruce top.
  • Glue the bracing to the spruce top using the go-bar deck.
• Acoustic Guitar Progress Check #1

Week 4, Constructing the Soundbox - III

• Learning Objectives:
  • Explain the application of the Golden Mean (Golden Ratio) to the size, shape, and physical form of an acoustic guitar.
  • Explain and demonstrate how to nondestructively bend and form thin pieces of wood to create curved forms for soundbox sides.
  • Visualize relationships between two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects.
  • Assemble the top bracing to the soundbox.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 4 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
• In-Class Activities:
  • Remove DO NOT GLUE pieces.
  • Prepare to notch the top kerfing.
  • Notch the kerfing.
  • Trim the top with a bandsaw.
  • Glue the top to the rim using spool clamps.

Week 5, Back Bracing and Rim Preparation

• Learning Objectives:
  • Make formal geometric constructions with a variety of tools and methods.
  • Apply geometric methods to solve design problems.
  • Assemble the back bracing.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 6 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
• In-Class Activities:
  • Draw a centerline on the inside face of the guitar back.
  • Glue on back bracing to the back.
  • Notch the rim for the rear bracing ends.
  • Apply 1/4 inch radius to the ends of the neck

Week 5, Routing the Neck Pocket

• Learning Objectives:
  • Demonstrate how to read a ruler.
  • Demonstrate precision measurement and marking out of measurements.
  • Discuss the significance of material-hardness relative to the process of sharpening edged, cutting tools for wood working.
  • Create the neck pocket with a router.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 5 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
• In-Class Activities:
  • Flush trim the entire top perimeter with a router.
  • Prepare to rout the neck pocket.
  • Insert the open-ended insert.
  • Drill a hole in the center of the neck pocket.
  • Set the router bit.
  • Router the neck pocket.
  • Router for the neck shims.
• Acoustic Guitar Progress Check #2

Week 7, Neck Glue-up

• Learning Objectives:
  • Explain and demonstrate how deflection can result from the interaction of tension and compression in a guitar neck’s truss rod.
  • Explain and demonstrate the direction of torque on a truss-rod adjusting nut to cause an upward deflection in the middle of the guitar neck.
  • Explain and demonstrate the direction of torque on a truss-rod adjusting nut to cause a downward deflection in the middle of the guitar neck.
  • Assemble the fretboard to the neck.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 7 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Week 8 Wednesday 5:15 PM
• In-Class Activities:
  • Locate the fretboard on the neck.
  • Prepare to tack the fretboard to the neck.
  • Put the neck and fretboard together.
  • Take the neck and fretboard apart.
  • Using rubber bands, glue your neck and fretboard together.
  • Remove the rubber bands after 45 minutes.

Week 8, Neck Fitting and Attachment,

• Learning Objectives:
  • Fit the neck to the body.
  • Assemble the neck to the body.
  • Install side dots
  • Install fret dots * Optional
  • Create the fretboard radius
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 8 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Week 8 Wednesday 5:15 PM
• In-Class Activities:
  • Trim the edges of the neck flush with the edges of the fretboard.
  • Locate and drill two 1/8 inch diameter holes through the neck and fretboard.
  • Place the neck in the neck pocket and drill through the neck into the neck block.
  • Enlarge the holes in the neck and countersink.
  • Attach the neck using two 2” long drywall screws.
  • The fretboard end may be cut off.
  • Remove the neck and set aside.
  • Install side dots.
  • Install fret dots * Optional
  • Create fretboard radius.

Week 9, Attaching the Bridge

• Learning Objectives:
  • Locate the bridge to the body.
  • Attach the bridge to the body
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 9 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
• In-Class Activities
  • Prepare to locate and attach the bridge.
  • Sand the backside of the bridge to conform to the radius of the top.
  • Verify the string saddle fits into the bridge.
  • Use the bridge locating template to establish the bridge position.
  • Use a pencil to transfer the location of the two outer E strings to the guitar top.
  • You will glue the bridge to the guitar top.
  • Use the USGKIT bridge clamp to adhere the bridge to the body.
  • Places scrap bits of wood on the ends of the bridge.
  • Check if more clamping force is needed.
  • If you have glued the bridge on well, the entire bridge will be adhered to the top with no glue squeeze-out.
  • Allow the glue to dry 45 minutes and remove the bridge clamp.
• Guitar Progress Check #3

Week 10, Gluing on the Back, Flushing the Edges and Shaping the Neck Rear Contour

• Learning Objectives:
  • Attach the back to the body.
  • Flush the edges
  • Shape the neck rear contour.
  • Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the soundbox.
  • Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the fretboard.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 10 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal.
• In-Class Activities:
  • Prepare to trim the back to slightly oversize.
  • Remove the bracing pieces labeled “DO NOT GLUE”
  • Glue the back to the rim using spool clamps.
  • Rout all remaining back edges flush
  • Scrape and sand the top and back flush to the sides.
  • Round the edges of the top and back of the guitar.
  • Shape the neck rear contour.
  • Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the soundbox.
  • Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the fretboard

Week 11, Frets

• Learning Objectives:
  • Demonstrate understanding of the concepts of string instrument scale length and how fret locations are determined by calculation when given the scale length of the string instrument.
  • Explain sound frequency and wavelength.
  • Explain and demonstrate the frequency difference between the vibration of an open string and that same string shortened to the 12^th fret.
  • Explain guitar “scale length.”
  • Define a plan of parallel operations for guitar fabrication.
  • Prepare fretboard for fret install
  • Install frets.
  • File fret ends.
  • Level frets.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 11 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
• In-Class Activities:
  • Preparing the fretboard.
  • Install frets.
  • File fret ends.
  • Level frets.
  • Apply two more coats of Tru-oil to the soundbox.

Week 12, Headstock

• Learning Objectives:
  • Calculate how much a string post has turned based on a knob-turn amount expressed as degrees or fractional turns.
  • Calculate the linear distance of a string movement the post diameter, gearing ratio, and number of knob turns.
  • Create the headstock shape.
  • Install the tuners.
  • Install the string nut.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 12 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
• In-Class Activities:
  • Sand a 17 degree angle from vertical in the end of the ebony headplate.
  • Glue the headplate to the headstock.
  • Create a peghead shape and locate the six tuner holes.
  • Cut the headstock on the bandsaw.
  • Install the tuners.
  • Install the string nut.
  • Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the soundbox.
  • Apply two coats of Tru-oil to the neck only.
• Acoustic Guitar Progress Check #4

Week 13, Final Assembly - I

• Learning Objectives:
  • Attach the neck.
  • Fit the bridge saddle and pins
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 13 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal
• In-Class Activities:
  • Neck attachment overview.
  • Attach the neck to the body.
  • Verify that the fretboard extension is not pressing on the spruce top.
  • Fit your bridge saddle.
  • Fit the bridge pins.

Week 14, Final Assembly - II

• Learning Objectives:
  • Define acoustic strings
  • Install the strings.
  • Perform open tuning.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 14 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Finals Week Wednesday 5:15 PM
• In-Class Activities:
  • Install the strings.
  • Perform open tuning.

Week 15, Guitar Setup

• Learning Objectives:
  • Adjust string height.
  • Adjust truss rods.
  • Perform open tuning.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 15 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Finals Week Wednesday 5:15 PM
• In-Class Activities:
  • Measure the bridge string height.
  • Measure the first fret string height.
  • Filing the nut slots.
  • Verify the neck relief.
  • Changing the neck shims if needed.
  • Perform truss rod adjustment.
  • Perform open tuning.
• Acoustic Guitar Progress Check #5

Week 16, The Finishing Touches

• Learning Objectives:
  • Describe intonation basics.
  • Perform final intonation.
• Before-Class Activities:
  • Reading and viewing assignment – Online
  • Study Questions Homework – Online, Due Week 16 Wednesday 5:15 PM
  • Update your Acoustic Guitar Build Journal, Due Finals Week Wednesday 5:15 PM
• In-Class Activities:
  • Perform intonation

Finals Week, Final Guitar Quality Evaluation

• In-Class Activities:
• Exit survey
• Acoustic guitar quality evaluation
• Class photo
• Guitar jam