Guitar Pictures

Tag: guitar building

  • The TrueChannel Jig: Your Secret to Flawless Guitar Binding

    It’s the luthier’s scarlet letter: a bad binding job.

    The StewMac TrueChannel Binding Routing Jig in action on an acoustic guitar body, showing the complete setup.

    Those ugly gaps and uneven lines are more than a simple mistake; they’re a very visible, permanent scar. For a builder, it reflects a shortcoming—not enough experience, a bad method, or a simple slip. But the real devastation is the timing. It’s a failure at the finish line. After you’ve poured countless hours into a million perfect little steps to get to that point, a flawed binding job is utterly heartbreaking. It all traces back to a hidden, geometric problem: the non-square channel caused by a router tilting on an angled guitar back.

    📚 Dan Erlewine’s Elegant Solution

    This is precisely the kind of high-stakes problem Dan Erlewine excels at solving. He didn’t just accept this frustration; he engineered an elegant solution that de-risks one of lutherie’s most nerve-wracking tasks. Watch how he makes a complex problem simple.

    💡 The Genius of Staying Square

    The beauty of the TrueChannel Jig is that it solves a complex problem with an almost obvious mechanical principle. It “takes away the human mechanical variables,” transforming a high-wire act into a guided, repeatable process. As Dan shows, the jig simply rides along the top edge of the instrument, using it as a stable guide. This single point of contact forces the router bit to remain perfectly square to the sides, regardless of the back’s radius. The result? A perfect, 90-degree channel, every single time.

    A diagram showing the problem of a tilted router on an angled guitar back and the TrueChannel Jig's solution.

     

    ⚙️ A Closer Look: The Engineering of Precision

    For a high-ticket item, understanding the mechanics is key. Let’s break down the two critical adjustments that make this jig so effective and versatile.

    1. Dialing in the Height.
      Guitars have different body depths and binding comes in different heights. The jig accounts for this with a simple and robust height adjustment. The entire router mount slides up and down on the main vertical tower, allowing you to precisely position the router bit exactly where you need it on the guitar’s side. This ensures your binding channel is perfectly centered and consistent all the way around the body.
      2. A close-up of the height adjustment mechanism on the TrueChannel Jig.

       

    2. Controlling the Depth with Bearings.
      While the jig keeps the cut square, the depth of the channel is controlled by the bearing on your router bit. This is why using a dedicated Binding Router Bit Set is so important. By swapping out the bearings, you can precisely set how deep the bit cuts into the wood, allowing you to create stepped channels for multi-layered bindings with absolute precision. The jig handles the X-axis (squareness), the bearings handle the Y-axis (depth).
      3. The StewMac Binding Router Bit Set with interchangeable bearings for different cut depths.

    🎸 Beyond Acoustics: A Tool for Your Entire Fleet

    For a builder like me—an “intelligent hack” who is learning—the goal is to build smart systems. This jig isn’t just for one type of guitar; it’s a “one system to rule them all” for binding jobs. It works flawlessly on carve tops, flat tops, and just about anything that has binding. This versatility means you don’t need a drawer full of different ad-hoc solutions. You master one perfect, universal workflow, which is satisfying and unlocks the ability to confidently take on work for customers, not just personal projects.

    💰 The Investment in Flawless Lines

    Let’s be honest: taking a high-speed router to the edge of a nearly finished instrument is terrifying. This jig acts as a “confidence multiplier.” It doesn’t ask you to be a robot; it provides a safety net that lets you leverage the speed of a power tool without the risk of a project-ending mistake. It’s a strategic investment in a guaranteed, professional-level outcome.

    You’re buying your way out of a skill gap, which is the smartest move a craftsman can make. The core of the system is the StewMac TrueChannel Binding Routing Jig. (Note: This is a pro tool and can sometimes be out of stock, but it’s the one to get). Of course, the jig is only half the equation. You’ll need the right bits to make the cut, and the StewMac Binding Router Bit Set is engineered to work perfectly with it.

    ✨ The Payoff: “Glad I Called That Guy”

    When the binding is glued, scraped flush, and that first coat of finish makes the seam disappear into a single, perfect line, the feeling is incredible. It’s that “Billy Madison” moment where you look at the perfect result and think, “Glad I called that guy.”

    You outsourced the risk to the right tool. From that moment, you feel the excitement that you CAN and WILL build more guitars and get this critical step right, every time. You’ve proven you can identify a high-stress “mini job” and apply a targeted solution to reduce its stress to zero. That’s the win.

    What’s the one binding ‘trick’ or tool that saved a project for you? Share your wisdom below.

  • A Luthier’s Only Vise

    If you’re currently using a clunky, old woodworking vise with foam pads taped to the jaws to hold your precious guitar—stop.

    The StewMac Guitar Repair Vise with included accessories, ready for professional luthier work.

    Just stop. That improvised setup, that slight wobble you try to ignore, that nagging fear in the back of your mind every time you apply pressure is the single biggest unaddressed risk in your workshop. You’re one slip away from a damaged finish, a cracked neck, or worse. As a fellow serious hobbyist, I believe some tools aren’t just purchases; they are foundational decisions. A proper vise isn’t about convenience; it’s the heart of your workbench, the trusted hands that hold your instrument while you perform surgery. The goal is to build a setup so reliable that you can remove all doubt and focus entirely on your craft, knowing with certainty that the tool will not fail you.

    🎦 The Master’s Viewpoint

    To understand the professional standard, we look to the master, Dan Erlewine. In this video, he walks through why a specialized vise is so central to his workflow. It’s not just a holding device; it’s an enabling tool that makes complex jobs possible. His insights set the benchmark for why this tool is different.

    🛠️ The Cornerstone Investment: Why This Vise is Essential

    This isn’t just a vise; it’s a purpose-built system for lutherie. I can say with full certainty this is a cornerstone tool, because its design solves the exact problems guitar work presents. Three features make it non-negotiable for holding tapered, irregular shapes:

    1. Independent Swiveling Jaws.
      They can tilt and adjust side-to-side, allowing them to perfectly match the tapered angle of a guitar neck without slipping.
    2. 360-Degree Jaw Rotation.
      Each jaw can be completely spun around and then locked, letting you find the absolute perfect grip for any job, from fretwork to body routing.
    3. Frictionless Operation.
      A custom roller bearing ensures the vise glides open and shut smoothly, while the removable hand crank means it never snags your clothes or gets in the way during a delicate task.
    A detailed view of the StewMac Guitar Repair Vise showcasing its robust construction and smooth operation.

    Ultimately, it’s about absolute trust. Users describe it as a “game changer,” and after experiencing that rock-solid stability, you’ll understand why it’s worth every penny. This is the one you buy once. Find the latest version, which now includes protective neck inserts, here: StewMac Guitar Repair Vise (Amazon).

    💰 Price vs. The Lifetime Promise

    Let’s address the elephant in the room: the price. It’s a serious investment. You can find other “pattern maker” vises, some for slightly less. But here’s the crucial distinction: you’re not just buying a piece of steel, you’re investing in the StewMac ecosystem. If you wait for one of their frequent sales, you can get a great discount. But more importantly, if you ever have an issue, they will look after you. Their lifetime guarantee isn’t a marketing slogan; it’s an operational promise. That peace of mind, knowing the company stands behind the most critical tool on your bench, makes the upfront cost a long-term bargain.

    ✅ The Pro’s Tradecraft: Two Details for Perfect Use

    Owning a pro tool is the first step; using it like a pro is the next. Here are two pieces of “insider knowledge” that make a difference.

    1. The Safety Net Rule.
      Any pro will tell you that a moment of carelessness can lead to disaster. The biggest risk is loosening the jaws before you have a new grip, causing the neck to drop onto the vise’s metal rails. While the new version of this vise commendably includes foam “Neck Protectors,” you can add a “belt-and-suspenders” safety net with a simple, folded microfiber cloth draped underneath. It’s a zero-cost piece of tradecraft that provides total peace of mind.
    2. The Mounting Choice.
      The vise offers two mounting heights depending on whether you install it on top of or under your workbench (for an 8″ or 9-3/4″ height). Take a moment to consider your primary working stance—sitting or standing—and choose the height that minimizes strain on your back during long sessions.

    🏆 The Payoff: The Sound of Silence

    The true prize of owning this vise isn’t what it does, but what it stops. It stops the doubt. It silences the fear. It eliminates the risk of your improvised setup failing at the worst possible moment. Plug in your guitar, and it sounds the same. But work on it, and the confidence you feel is a new kind of music. You achieved a professional result because you invested in a professional foundation.

    The workbench isn’t complete until the right vise is bolted to it. Do you agree that this is the first cornerstone of any serious workshop? Join the discussion below.