Contouring. When building a guitar, attempt to get the contour of the sides as accurate as possible. This little fixture helps to do that.

First the mold side set needs to be secure and tight in the mold.

The photos show a spreader system.

The center of the radius disk should be in the center of the guitar.

The spreader allows this adjustment. Then determine the desired radius.


The disks I use are twenty and twenty-eight foot mostly. I do have a fifteen and thirty foot also. The twenty foot is the back radius. Place reference marks on the set and begin removing the material.

When the radius is established then glue in the kerfing and remove that material. Take it down to where the blocks are also shaped to the contour radius.

Both the top and back are done in the same manner. Once the reference lines are reached you are finished and ready to continue building. The fixture is simple to make with a plumbers flange and nipple.

• continue to next tutorial >>