Green Dome Top Build

I really enjoyed building this guitar: the client’s wood choices were spectacular, the green finish was intriguing to me, and Dome Tops are just fun!

A flamed Koa back starts this off.  If you’re unaware a dreadnaught guitar is typically called a flat top but it isn’t really. there needs to be a radius in the top and back top provide strength. The radius on a D style guitar back is about 15 feet and tops are 25 to as flat as 52 feet. I call these guitars Dome Tops for a reason. The back AND top hold a 7 foot radius. These guitars are visibly dome shaped.

The braces and rim hold the radius in place. Here you can see just how curved the back(and sound board) will be.

This is the back in the ‘Go Bar’ deck. If you look under the back you’ll see a circular piece of MDF. That is called a radius dish and it is carved out to the desired radius. In this case convex 7 feet. If you can picture a ball with a14  foot diameter it would fit in that dish perfectly. In this case we place the back in it and apply our 7 foot radius braces. The fiberglass rods apply pressure to bend and hold the back to shape while the glue dries.

Here I’ve mapped out the brace pattern on the inside of the soundboard.

Setting up the elliptical soundhole.

The channel for the double bound Koa rosette.

Nice pic of the rosette installed and level sanded.

Here’s a great pic of just how much arc there is in a Dome Top.

Check out the scalloped ladder brace!

The completed top after bracing! The ladder brace is set at scale length. That mean the floating bridge will mount above it and transfer string energy efficiently to the soundboard.

The bent sides are clamped and glued up in a jig to make the rim.

Here is the completed rim with kerfing radiused to 7 feet. Getting ready to start closing up the body.

Fitting the back: notches are cut in the rim to allow clearance for the braces.

Same procedure with the soundboard. Create clearance for braces and dry fit the glue joint.

It feels like there are waypoints in a guitar’s journey. To me closing up the body is one of those. Notis the 7 foot radius dishes being used as clamp pauls.

Look at the flame in that Koa! Here’s a great shot of the unbound body.

Nice shot of the bound body plus you can see the dome in the top.

The tailpiece, fingerboard, and finger rest in process.  Notice the green binding.

There are always moments like this in a build.  A moment when you look at the instrument and realize that I’m doing this. That it’s my logo on the headstock and it’s my dream and my vision. I’m grateful for the chance to live this dream.

On the bench and ready for final assembly.

The completed guitar! I hope you enjoyed the journey. I’m looking for a video of this guitar. I hope I can add one later!