Maudal Musical Machines

Bullfrog Archtop

The Woods

Carving the sides from the same slab as the top

Part 1 — the tree crew, and why this method began
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Bullfrog Archtop — the tree Bullfrog Archtop — the tree Bullfrog Archtop — the tree Bullfrog Archtop — the tree Bullfrog Archtop — the tree

Carving the plates

Beginning the inside carve
Carving the inside of the top
Top carve with the scorp
Top carve, scorp tool
Top carve
Top carve in the template — insetting the top into the sides
Zpoxy fill during the top carve
Measuring the thickness of the top
Weighing the top
The router plane jig
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Concept

Bullfrog Archtop — concept Bullfrog Archtop — concept

The neck

Zero-degree neck and body angle, part 1
Zero-degree neck and body angle, part 2
Stage two neck carve and design
Dry fitting the neck — the finish on neck and back
Tres flores on the fingerboard
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The tailpiece

Grounding through the tailpiece · the inset magnet

The grounding solution in full — laminated blank, copper sheet, inset magnet
After the second french polish — a look at the magnet and ground
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Assembly

Clamping carved sides rather than bent ones
Clamping the sides to the back
Closing the box — the internal assembly explained
The carved top over the tuning disc, and the floating pickup
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Pre-fit

Building the platform for the pickguard and control pod
Changing the pickguard and pickup cover to ebony
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Finish process

Zpoxy fill · shellac and french polish

Button lac as an alternative to nitro lacquer
Zpoxy fill
Final prep — the risk and reward of an experimental finish
First french polish on the back — Indian KUSMI button lac, one drop of walnut oil
First french polish on the top
French polish, continued
French polish, continued
Drip fill repair with shellac honey
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Finish

The black walnut after finish
The finish before assembly
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Bridge and setup

Fitting the bridge · bow rosin for traction

The second bridge — wide footprint, bone cap
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The instrument

Schrödinger's guitar
Stills carousel, with a bonus track clip — horns and slide
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