MIMF

11:59 AM 4/13/2023 Hello all. Been years since I posted here or made any instruments --- violins and one classical guitar. I am buliding a Jazz bass replica. I am having a difficult time finding a spoked wheel truss rod. I purchased a stewmac 20.25 duel action spoked rod. It is too long for my 20 fr...

I had the same situation with my Guild 12 string. The repair was beyond my ability, so I took it to a pro who removed it and reglued. On yours: I don't know what type of glue was originally used. If it was Titebond, then as I understand it, all the old glue has to be removed, as titebond does not ad...

Hello all. Haven't posted here in quite a while. When making my violins I always had music playing. My favorite being Vivaldi's Four Seasons. As I shaped the tops and backs, I could feel them vibrating. After they were finished I would lay the plates against the speakers for hours getting them to vi...

Refinishing a solid body mini flying V Initial finish is Krylon Metallic Purple Shimmer. The manufacturer suggests to not cover with a clear finish. It will loose it's "sparkle". It is now a sort of a matt semi-gloss finish. I would like a shiny finish. I am considering coating with Behlan...

I haven't seen the guitar in person. The owner sent me many detailed photos. I'm a little hesitant of taking this on. I'll see the actual guitar in a couple of weeks.

I saw a couple on ebay for 1200 and 1500. Not sure if the exact same model. Labeled "Vintage 1880s-1910s Lyon & Healy style American Parlor Guitar". Looked the same except had pin bridge.

Thanks, Charlie.

Searched for "Arion" guitars. Found two. Made over a hundred years ago. Not sure if I want to take this job on. If it were mine, probably --- part time --- taking a year to complete with my schedule. I did my Dad's tenor guitar in almost as bad shape once.

A friend asked if his family heirloom could be repaired. It is in really bad shape. Picture of the worst of many cracks. I think that a complete disassembly is required. I googled "rion" guitars and came up with nothing. Good guitar? Cheep guitar? I suspect not worth the time and effort. M...

I did try heat with no affect. Maybe not hot enough. I had tried scraping some. Very hard, and it did smell sort of like epoxy or fiberglass resin. I had advised the owner to NOT DO IT !! Opening a can of worms. The finish was good. He just didn't like the color. He started it, so I guess I'll just ...

Bushings easily removed per Dan's suggestion. Used heat gun to remove the red finish. But now, underneath that color layer, and covering the underlying wood is a thick layer of something? It appears to be an epoxy or plastic like very light brown color. Tried paint remover. No effect. I'm thinking a...

I fought the "Holiday" traffic this morning and bought a 5/16-24 bolt. Wrong thread. Went back out and bought an 8mm bolt. I had picked out one from the bin, and the sales guy told me that they come in "fine" and "course". I bought both. The "course" 8mm fits....

I see what you mean. A 5/6-18 goes in for about a turn before jamming. Could be a 5/6-24. I can't find one in my junk box. Will go to the hardware store.

Thanks, Dan.

I will do that ---as soon I get a metric bolt. Tried several American threads. No go. I am assuming that it has to be metric.

I am finishing up the stripping off of the finish on a Gibson Mini Flying V that someone else had started. Using a heat gun. How are the threaded inserts for the bridge attached? Press fit? Screwed in like many threaded inserts are? How to remove for finishing? Thanks John Threaded inserts100_8876 A...

I returned the guitar to my friend. He was happy. He even said that it was adequate for what he does. If he progresses, rather than put all that work into it, just get a better instrument. Cost of neck reset and refret could go a long way towards a new instrument (even though I did --- would do the ...

Thanks for the replies and suggestions and offer to help. You guys at MIMF have been helping me for over 15 years now. Planning off the fingerboard is a technique that I wasn't aware of. I cleaned up the frets, and found that they do have a very slight radius on top. I adjusted the truss rod, deepen...

I built a classical guitar from scratch and fretted it, and I did refret my a banjo-mandolin and tenor guitar. So, I think I can do it. But a little apprehensive about working on someone elses instrument. My friend is a beginner, and it is not an expensive guitar. He has been playing it as is. So, o...

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I would really like to not refret.

A friend of mine asked to clean up, adjust, and put new strings on his Alvarez Model 5227 guitar. It has flat frets, No crown. Never seen that before. Is that the way Alvarez manufactured it? Or did someone do a fret job like that. Should I put a crown on to make it more playable and/or improve into...

Here is what I did on a guitar that I restored. I had to replace a brace.

I used a tapered rectangle of wood with rounded edges. I inserted it at a sight angle until it made contact with the brace and opposite side, then twisted it to apply pressure.