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I am building a Panormo copy and decided to document the build here. Louis Panormo was a premier English luthier and was personal friends with Sor, our beloved classical guitarist from the 19th century who wrote vast scores of guitar music that every serious student studies even today. Panormo’s guitars are credited as being one of the final steps from the earliest 6-string guitars to the work of Torres, which is the introduction of our modern-day classical guitar.

Many of his guitars had a very interesting headstock carved from maple. The headstock was made very light to help balance the guitar, thus the unique “skeletal” appearance. The copy that I am building will be made with a hybrid spruce top, cocobolo sides and back, and an ebony fingerboard.

Ok - let’s get started...

Edinburgh University Photo

This is what I’m attempting to duplicate for the headstock - neck joint. It’s an inserted V-joint, and pretty tricky to make.

I start by making a poster board template of the guitar. I’ll use this template as a guide when bending the sides, and cutting the top and bottom. The neck shape and exact length are critical for layout as well.