| I had on several occasions brought myself to the | | | | how to build guitars, I started the impossible |
| brink of the momentous event and then studied | | | | dream.I decided, once and for all to build that |
| the smooth perfect forms of each of the guitars | | | | damn guitar and what's more, write a book about |
| that I owned, heaved a deep sigh of regret, and | | | | it at the same time! |
| once again slid back from the task. | | | | Having visited many websites and read a few |
| I kept asking myself, 'What's the problem? You've | | | | interesting books on guitar making I realised there |
| built a 42 foot yacht, learned to fly a plane, | | | | were a few different methods of building a guitar |
| learned a smattering of languages, became a | | | | from scratch. However, I decided that the safest |
| marine surveyor, but this one's got you beat!' | | | | method for me was to build a mould, an actual |
| It puzzled and irritated me and I thought it was | | | | replica of the guitar and a work-base that the |
| beyond my skills but great things were to happen. | | | | mould may be constructed on. |
| Some time ago I went to see one of my guitar | | | | The basic job of the mould is to give you a real |
| heroes, Jeff Lang play. Little did I know but this | | | | live 3D model of the guitar you intend to build, |
| event changed my whole life. Stunned, amazed | | | | literally, around the mould itself. The other function |
| and totally dumfounded I watched this guy take a | | | | of the mould is to have a very handy and |
| strange fig shaped guitar, lay it across his lap and | | | | immediate reference to work out front, back and |
| bring forth some of the best guitar slidin' howling | | | | sides dimensions of the precious timber you are |
| dog blues sounds that ever slid out of the Delta. | | | | about to cut. The work-base is exactly what it |
| My amazement continued as Mr Lang tuned and | | | | says. It's a flat base constructed from MDF |
| retuned for more whiny, Orientally inclined Celtic | | | | board, two pieces ¾" thick each glued |
| and Asian megarythyms until I was numb. You | | | | together for strength to form a mini 'strong back' |
| CAN'T get that sound from a guitar…not | | | | to build your guitar on. |
| possible….guess what, you can, and he did! | | | | The work-base has handy slots cut into it around |
| I wanted one of these Weissenbourns real bad! | | | | the perimeter and these are used to slide small |
| I was hooked, I slunk home now thoroughly | | | | clamps into when gluing on the back fitting the |
| depressed. My guitars hid in shame, we ignored | | | | sides or even keeping the mould or guitar still. |
| each other for days. The die was cast. Come hell | | | | So, the work-base is your bench, your mould is |
| or high water, I was gonna get me a | | | | the basic pattern that your Weissenbourn guitar |
| Weissenbourn slip 'slidin' lap top steel guitar! Three | | | | will be built on and around. Once the basic body of |
| to five grand was out of the | | | | the guitar has been constructed, naturally the |
| question….dare I try to make one? | | | | mould is then taken away and the build |
| Here good fortune struck. Thanks to the great | | | | continued…..are you with me so far? Good, |
| kindness and encouragement of my good friend | | | | we'll slide on (pun intended) to how this was to be |
| and incredible Luthier of Tamborine Mountain Kim | | | | achieved......In fact the whole thing was going to be |
| Hancock and his two boys Sean and Dane, I | | | | really awkward for me as I live on a forty two |
| decided to take the plunge. With Kim's further | | | | foot yacht in a marina...So what? It was going to |
| help and assurance and the supply of some really | | | | happen come Hell or high water, literally. |
| beautiful timber in a long box and a great book on | | | | |