Project -
Bookbag Santa Guitar

Roanoke, VA Aug 30, 2020 - Gary Hunt (right) hands off the Bookbag Santa Guitar to Bob Schmucker, its proud new owner.

In Bob's words-
Denise and I acquired the legendary Bookbag Santa Guitar from Mr. Gary Hunt recently. This beautiful looking and sounding custom guitar was made by the Blue Ridge Luthiers group from planks of ziricoat wood Gary picked out in Belize, which was used on both the back and sides. It looks absolutely stunning and sound even better. Proceeds from the purchase will help support Gary's Bookbag Santa charity that provides school supplies for the children of Belize. He's quite a guy and it's quite a guitar!

Roanoke Times: Aug 30, 2017 - CASEY: Rightful owner reclaims unique guitar

Bookbag Santa Guitar Spec Sheet

Thanks

to these folks for their generous contribution of parts or discounts

Wood From Belize

Gary brought some wood back from Belize for the Bookbag Santa guitar.

Milling the Ziricote sides and other parts.

Ziricote Test Bend

Stabilizing a crack in the Ziricote side

Ziricote rosette

This rosette is made from ziricote cutoffs from the back of the Belize guitar (for Bookbag Santa). The dark wood is the heartwood, and the light part is the sapwood (young wood).

Bookbag Santa neck and end wedge

The stacked the heel, neck tenon, and end wedge.

Bolt on Neck

For the Bookbag Santa guitar we're using bolts and threaded inserts.

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line

Bookbag Santa Guitar

Done! (Feb 2016) (click on any image to start a slide show)

Over 20 years ago, the germ of an idea occurred Gary Hunt. He was appalled at the waste that happens at every school in America at the end of the school year. What if all the pens, pencils, rulers, and paper that get thrown out could be put in a collection box, instead of the trash...

Then, the good stuff could be donated to poor kids ? It's as simple as that...

Bookbag Santa is a small, Roanoke, VA based children's charity that donates school supplies to poor kids in the U.S. and overseas, including an annual delivery trip to Belize. The proceeds from auctioning a hand-made guitar built from wood from Belize, will help us pay on-going expenses.

Gary Hunt (Founder, Bookbag Santa)

More about Bookbag Santa at bookbagsanta.com.

Ziricote Back Plates

Making the Neck

Neck blank donated by Hibdon Hardwood.
More photos on the neck scarf joint process here.

Jointing and Joining Top Plate

Shape the Back Bracing

Attaching the Back.

More info here.
Laser cut kerfed linings donated by Kevin Ryan Guitars.

Top and back purfling for the Bookbag Santa guitar

Cutting the neck mortise for the Bookbag Santa guitar

Howard used his jig to hold the guitar body and align the mortise, then cut the mortise with a router in multiple passes. The tenon will be trimmed for a good fit.

Fret Slots and Radiusing the Bookbag Santa Fretboard

First, cut the fret slots. Then the fretboard is ready to be radiused.

Procedure goes like this: Align the fretboard on the jig, set the router bit depth for the initial pass, adjust the depth for each additional pass, clean it up with some sandpaper.