Ambrosia Maple Rosette and Headstock

[Danny Seamon]

Working on No. 3. Wenge b/s. Sitka Spruce Top. I originally wanted to do a spalted maple rosette but couldn't find an appropriate piece so I settled for a 3/4 inch ambrosia maple board. I found a good looking section and made the patterned rosette. (see rosette picture). Then I wanted to use the ambrosia somewhere else on the guitar. I experimented with the headstock cutting bookmatched pieces cross grained. (see the headstock picture). My style is normally more toned down than this but I found it interesting. I'd be interested in your opinion.

Danny

[Ron Daves]

Danny: Interesting peghead treatment. Is this a veneer or the complete peghead? Where did you find "ambrosia maple"? How'd you glue the rosette together? Some kind of clamping fixture? I made a pieced rosette out of Bubinga and used a clamping fixture for glue up. A picture of what you used would be interesting.

[Mark Swanson]

I think that's pretty nice. I like to make segmented rosettes too and use many different types of woods, and think it's a good idea to match the peghead veneer. You can match the end graft, too....even the binding if it's right.
I have glued together small bookmatched pieces by just using tape pulled tightly. The most important thing is to have the joints at the seams fit well. If they fit well, then you don't need a ton of clamping and tape works fine.

[Danny Seamon]

Ron, The peghead is a veneer. It will be thinned more and glued to the actual peghead. The ambrosia maple was found at a local lumber supply. The rosette was made by routing out a channel in the top and, after making the rosette pieces, glueing them in the channel with waxed paper and a weight on top.

Mark, Thanks.

[Danny Seamon]

Ron, I don't have any pictures of this one in progress but here are some pictures of a previous rosette made out of ribboned sapele.