The mahogany end blocks are planed into a radius to match the inside of the ribs.

The neck and tail block are carefully placed, then clamped like hell.

Here, the blocks have been glued in.

The bridge caul is made of plywood, cork, and plexiglass. It covers slightly more than the footprint of the bridge, and will ensure that the bridge is well supported when it is clamped to the top during final assembly.

The top is braced in the Gibson manner with Adirondack Spruce; I’ve used the characteristic knife-edge brace profile and small maple bridge plate. Both x-braces and tone bars are tapered, not scalloped. Rather than butt the x-braces together in the original fashion, these are notched and capped with spruce. Hide glue is used throughout.

The mahogany kerfing is glued to the ribs using hide glue and clothespins!