The project became confusing at this point. Plans (from Roy Courtnall) referred to bending each half of the soundboard in order to create an arch at the bridge position before joining. This was an unexpected complication.
Bill and I have corresponded at length on the domed front, trying to piece together information to confirm its authenticity and if so, how it could be constructed. Bill pointed out a photograph in The Story of Selmer Guitars, of the press used for gluing the centre join which maintained the angle of the bend in the soundboard.
There were makers of Maccaferri
type guitars on the web and I emailed asking their advice on this point, with
due respect for any refusal to give away confidential construction details. I received very
helpful advice from each of the makers, and found that
opinion was divided as to whether it was necessary to heat bend the arch in the
top or to form the arch with curved bracing.
I must give a big thanks to Michael
Dunn, John LeVoi and David Hodson for being so openly helpful with their expert advice.
The first time I heard the term "pliage" was on a visit to Paris. I was fortunate to be able to discuss whether the domed front was pre-bent with Madame Charle, when buying a copy of The Story of Selmer Guitars. She explained that there was a definite "pliage" (folding / pleating) across the soundboard behind the bridge area of the original Selmers she had studied.
Later construction plans available from R.F.Charle also referred to bending a fold (pliage) at the bridge area to create a dome effect.
The closest I've come so far, to
seeing the inside of an original Selmer / Maccaferri is an article in a French
magazine -
Guitarist Acoustic #6
(August / September 2005) had
a photo-story recording the restoration of an original Selmer (No. 436), which
covered the extensive repairs required did not describe the original design features.
There were several pictures of the inside of the soundboard, which had been removed as
part of the restoration, but unfortunately too small to see in enough detail to
confirm a "pliage".
The guitar was restored by Benoit de Bretagne who now has a web site and forum which includes details of this restoration and Maccaferri construction.
I decided to try the simpler
approach on the guitar described here, so the arch was formed by braces carved with an arc 8mm
high at the bridge area. However, I have incorporated a
pre-bent dome, as an experiment on the next guitar, which is now well under way.
A line
was scored across the soundboard before gently bending on a hot pipe to get the
required angle before joining each half.
It will be interesting to find if there's a big difference in sound.
Any enlightenment that could be shared on the construction of original Selmer Maccaferri guitars would be most gratefully appreciated.
My own - Pliage Construction
Home, Sides 1 - 2, Back, Front 1 - 2, Binding, Body, Neck 1 - 2, Neck & Body, Finishing
Contact Peter Davies at - pluckandsqueeze@hotmail.com