Guitar sound boards, found in acoustic guitars, help project tunes from the instrument's body. Acoustic guitars are mechanical and can produce sound through the soundboard without electricity. North American guitar makers favor the Sitka spruce wood in making their sound boards due to its light and firm nature. Reasons for making a soundboard are either due to repair of an old one through replacement or upgrading it by changing to a sounder one.
Instructions
1. Draw the outline of a guitar side on a Sitka spruce board to get the actual shape and size of the guitar body, ensure it conforms to the back board. The body has three parts: the back, side and top (which is also known as the soundboard). Cut out the shape using a router, then use that shape to make a second copy.
2. Bind the two pieces together using clamps to make a double wood sound board, cut out a section, the size of a side dish plate, from the inner board using a router, release it from the clamp and bind the two pieces again using glue, then let it dry. Drying may take awhile to achieve, depending on the type of the glue you use.
3. Construct a 3-inch circle in the middle of the soundboard between the number "8"-curved head and tail pieces using a compass. Draw two shapes on the "inner" part of the sound board the size of side dish plates ensuring that you do not overdraw nor move them too near the circle. Cut out the circle first using the router, then cut out the two shapes on the inner board only. This ensures that you have a strong top and a space to fit a nomex material.
4. Trim a nomex material the sizes of the routed out section, vacuum press it to bind it completely into the routed out space. This material helps to improve the sound by stemming out unnecessary vibration while the double top increases the rigidity of the sound board.
5. Make a saddle out of a 4-inch by 1/2-inch piece of maple spruce. Cut a notch lengthwise on top of the saddle using a hacksaw and fit a plastic bridge into the space. Put it on the soundboard in its position to check if it conforms to the surface, bind the saddle to the soundboard using glue and let it dry.
6. Apply glue on the sound board's edges then place it on the guitar's side with the glue binding to cover the top of the guitar body. Let the glue dry under clamps. Varnish the glue with lacquer, let it dry, sand it to a smooth grit and paint again.
