Wenge Triple-O

Some time ago I had purchased a Wenge back and sides set from the good people at LMI in Healdsburg, CA.

This is the first instrument I have constructed using hot hide glue instead of modern glues. It’s pretty messy – comes in crystal form and must be heated to 140 degrees to liquify sufficiently. Very short work time compared to vinyl glues like Titebond, so you have to work extremely fast getting the clamps on.

The top is from my 30+ year-old spruce haul. Very tight grain and a beautiful color – the tap tone is superb.

I decided to make this guitar with some methods that Martin discontinued in the 1890’s – namely, fabricating the neck and headstock separately, then joining them with a special type of joint called a “bridle” joint. Essentially a wooden tongue tapered to fit in a matching slot. With a supporting volute exposed underneath, this is the origin of the volute that still graces the back of the neck on many of Martin’s classic guitars. Unlike normal scarf joints used almost exclusively today, the bridle joint actually gets stronger the more stress is placed on it by the strings. An additional advantage is the grain direction isn’t compromised by the headstock angle, also adding strength. The last picture shows the headstock assembled on the neck, and attached to the body. I installed a two-way truss rod in the neck for adjustment later.