RICKENBACKER AND MADELEINE STRINGS ACOUSTIC GUITARS

THE BUILD PROCESS

"FLASH" DETAIL

This slide show follows roughly a step-by-step progression.

Slides advance every 10 seconds, but you can also go forward or backward using the arrows on each slide.

WE CALL IT THE "FLASH". IT'S THE TRAPEZOID-SHAPED BIT OF WOOD THAT COVERS THE BOTTOM SEAM ON A GUITAR BODY, AND WE DESIGN IT TO BE A UNIQUE FEATURE OF EACH GUITAR.

THE "FLASH" FITMENT BEGINS WITH A ROUTED RECESS AND A TIGHTLY-FITTED STRIP OF CONTRASTING WOOD SPECIES.

THE WOODEN PIECE IS CLOSELY-FITTED AND GLUED INTO PLACE OVER THE BOTTOM BODY SEAM.

CLAMPS HOLD IT IN PLACE AS THE GLUE DRIES, THEN THE BINDING ROUTING IS CONTINUED OVER THE "FLASH".

HERE THE WOOD "FLASH" HAS BEEN SANDED FLUSH WITH THE SURROUNDING SURFACE, AND THE BINDING ROUTE HAS BEEN EXTENDED ACROSS THE WOOD PIECE.

A CONTRASTING TULIPWOOD "FLASH" AGAINST A MAPLE BACKGROUND.

A PADAUK "FLASH" ON A ROSEWOOD 730S, ONCE IT HAS BEEN BOUND AND THE BINDING SCRAPED FLUSH.

A MAPLE "FLASH" SET INTO A ROSEWOOD BODY WITH WHITE BINDING STRIPS SETTING IT OFF FROM THE TWO BODY HALVES.

A TULIPWOOD "FLASH" WITH CHECKERBOARD AND WHITE BOUND EDGES, ON A MAPLE GUITAR.

A SHADED WALNUT "FLASH", BOUND IN "CHECKERBOARD" AND WHITE, ON A GREENBURST MAPLE 730L.

THIS PADAUK "FLASH" HAS BEEN MASKED FOR A SHADED GRAPHIC PATTERN.

THE SAME SHADED PATTERN, OUTLINED IN GOLD, BEFORE FINAL DETAILING AND CLEAR COATING.

ANOTHER VARIATION ON A SHADED PADAUK "FLASH" ON A ROSEWOOD GUITAR.

ULTIMATE "FLASH": THE "CALIFORNIA SUNSET" 700C/6 HAS A FULL-COLOR ILLUSTRATION OF THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE, FLANKED BY WHITE BINDING STRIPS FOR EMPHASIS.

TO NEXT PAGE—FITTING AND GLUING THE NECK TO THE BODY

RICKENBACKER AND MADELEINE STRINGS ACOUSTIC GUITARS

THE BUILD PROCESS

"FLASH" DETAIL

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