FROM PLANKS TO A
FINISHED INSTRUMENT

Click on any of the thumbnails below to see an
enlarged picture along with a descriptive caption.

 

[Case sides]
Poplar case sides

[Key bed and pin plank]
Key bed and pin-plank

[Boring tuning pin holes]
Boring tuning pin holes

[Front piece]
Front piece being glued to the plank

[Key bed glued]
The key bed has been glued to the spine

[Cheek side prepared] [Cheek side prepared]
The cheek side is prepared for assembly

[Soundboard header and key bed]
Before the plank can be glued...

[The first major glue stage][The first major glue stage]
The first major glue stage...

[Soundboard liner]
Soundboard liner cramped to the tail

[Soundboard liner being glued]
Spine soundboard liner being glued...

[Underside of plank etc...]
Underside of plank etc...

[Preparing the bentside]
Preparing the bentside

[Gluing the bentside][Gluing the bentside][Gluing the bentside]
The bentside is glued to cheek and tail

[Bentside soundboard liner]
Bentside soundboard liner

[Ruckers particularity] [Ruckers particularity] [Ruckers particularity]
Frame members glued to the soundboard liner

[Bottom board and top timbers]
The bottom board and top timbers...

[Ready for planing]
The bottom board is ready...

[Bottom board glued] [Bottom board glued]
The bottom board is glued to the case...

[The case is finally planed]
The case is finally planed...

[Fitting the lids] [Fitting the lids]
Fitting the lids...

[Making the legs] [Making the legs] [Making the legs]
Making the stand legs

[Stand support rails] [Stand support rails]
Stand support rails have been bored...

[The first coats of paint]
The first coats of paint are applied!

[The final stages] [The final stages]
Decorating with gold leaf and the final result

Page 2 - The keyboard and action
Page 3 - The soundboard