Guiter Fabrication - Day 2

This past Monday, the day before Christmas, I walked up the hill to Luis' house for my first day of guitar making. The shop is full of wood chips, work benches, half-finished classical guitars, and many visiting family members. During my first day we sharpened tools and bonded two pieces of pine together for the soundboard. We also cut a piece of cedar for the neck and attached a block of harder wood from Cuenca for the heel of the guitar (where the neck attaches to the body). We ended early and allowed the soundboard and neck to dry until the next work day. Today, (the next work day) the first thing on our agenda was to cut the shape of the guitar. I decided to build an acoustic guitar with large curves and big body. When the shape was cut-out, we located the circular sound hole and began the inlay for the rosette using small strips of chiseled wood, natural and black in colour. At noon, I was invited into the family home for almuerzo (lunch). We ate soup, fish, rice, beans, and salad. It was delicious. After eating, I played guitar and waited patiently for Luis to wake-up from his siesta. We finished the day around 4PM and I walked down the hillside with the warmth of the sun.