Search found 31 matches

by Bob Ionta
Fri Nov 03, 2023 11:42 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Veneer source
Replies: 3
Views: 5143

Re: Veneer source

I've been very happy with a couple of recent purchases from certainlywood.com and dyed-veneer.com (B&B Rare Woods).
--Bob
by Bob Ionta
Mon Jul 24, 2023 12:49 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.
Replies: 26
Views: 45039

Re: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.

by Alan Carruth » Sun Jul 23, 2023 2:42 pm I've been using the cycloid arches for some time; done right they seem to be very stable. I've seen too many archtops with the bridges cranked up to the limit because of the sinking top. Hi Alan. Yes! Curtate Cycloid arches are beautiful and work beautiful...
by Bob Ionta
Fri Jul 14, 2023 1:26 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.
Replies: 26
Views: 45039

Re: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.

Yeah, hard maple lives up to its name for sure. Before I built that guitar I partially carved a hard maple back for a 17" Benedetto build. I screwed up so many other things on that guitar I finally gave up. I still have the rough-carved back hanging around somewhere. But I must be a masochist. ...
by Bob Ionta
Fri Jul 14, 2023 11:55 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.
Replies: 26
Views: 45039

Re: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.

It's my first archtop and my second build so please be gentle. :^) I built it as an experimental platform and tinkered with it for a couple of years. At one point I removed the top and shaved braces (they're parallel). The acoustic sound got better. People often fret (pun intended) about carving an ...
by Bob Ionta
Tue Jul 11, 2023 3:43 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.
Replies: 26
Views: 45039

Re: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.

+1 for the idea of a multi scale 7-string. I built a 7 string, short-scale (24.75"), archtop guitar and I'm still playing around with string gauges, trying to get a low B that sounds good acoustically. Plugged in (Seymour Duncan "Benedetto" floating pickup) it sounds quite good with a...
by Bob Ionta
Sat Jun 17, 2023 12:19 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Building a Semi-Hollow Archtop Bass
Replies: 5
Views: 8057

Re: Building a Semi-Hollow Archtop Bass

FWIW, a 1966-ish Gibson EB-2 I repaired was maple. Very thunky sound with round-wound strings through an old Ampeg B-15N.
by Bob Ionta
Thu Feb 16, 2023 11:02 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Problems with EnduroVar II, Time to Change
Replies: 5
Views: 6803

Re: Problems with EnduroVar II, Time to Change

My experience with original Endurovar was different from yours - even that stuff has a strong odor, to me. I built a roomful of floor-to-ceiling cabinets and finished it all with Endurovar (original). I pre-finished most of the parts in the shop and let them outgas for at least 3-4 weeks before asse...
by Bob Ionta
Sat Jan 14, 2023 5:29 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: about the dovetail neck joint
Replies: 7
Views: 9151

Re: about the dovetail neck joint

I made an archtop with a bolt-on neck. I had to make a 2 ft. long Allen wrench that fit through the hole for the end-pin jack (for a floating pickup). Once I got that thing made it was easy enough to insert the bolts and tighten them through the end-pin hole.
by Bob Ionta
Sun Jun 12, 2022 7:08 pm
Forum: Giveaways
Topic: "Make Your own Electric Guitar", third edition
Replies: 6
Views: 9865

Re: "Make Your own Electric Guitar", third edition

Well, I appreciate having the chance!
by Bob Ionta
Thu Dec 16, 2021 6:02 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Thinking of making an archtop - how can I best use this wood?
Replies: 19
Views: 22499

Re: Thinking of making an archtop - how can I best use this wood?

Personally, I'd favor the desired arching over grain matching so I would not do choice #1. Between #2 and #3, #2 seems much more difficult for little advantage. The only advantage I can see is that you'd conserve wood. I used choice #3 on the cherry back of an archtop and it looks great. I never eve...
by Bob Ionta
Thu Dec 09, 2021 11:16 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Almost looks like a guitar
Replies: 11
Views: 6534

Re: Almost looks like a guitar

That looks really great! Check this place for your seventh string. I've tried several different gauges on my 7-string, ranging from .059 to .070. https://www.stringsandbeyond.com/singlestrings.html For example, here are phosphor bronze up to .070: https://www.stringsandbeyond.com/dphbracsist.html Or...
by Bob Ionta
Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:17 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Router bit slips
Replies: 11
Views: 6862

Re: Router bit slips

I have found this stuff to work very, very well:
https://www.precisebits.com/products/ch ... etcare.asp
by Bob Ionta
Tue Jun 01, 2021 9:20 am
Forum: Detailed Builds/Tutorials
Topic: Squareneck Resonator - Detailed Build Notes
Replies: 62
Views: 90601

Re: Squareneck Resonator - Detailed Build Notes

I hear what you are saying about lacquer. It is a lot more technical and gear intensive than a brushed finish. And there is no reason that a brushed finish can't look great. But personally, I would rather see a well done clear finish instead of blotchy dye applied directly to wood. Interesting. I h...
by Bob Ionta
Wed Mar 03, 2021 5:01 pm
Forum: Bowed Stringed Instruments and Bows
Topic: A 'Harlequin' fiddle
Replies: 19
Views: 27369

Re: A 'Harlequin' fiddle

Very cool Alan!
by Bob Ionta
Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:22 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: MIMF News & a giveaway
Replies: 33
Views: 133160

Re: MIMF News & a giveaway

Me too, Please. Thank you.
by Bob Ionta
Sat Jan 16, 2021 6:36 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Acoustic guitar Finishing advice
Replies: 36
Views: 26923

Re: Acoustic guitar Finishing advice

Beautiful! Nice inlays. And that's your first build? Amazing. I was at the limit of my skills just getting binding on my first (and 2nd and 3rd), with no thoughts of fancy inlays. Very nice job. Enjoy playing it!
by Bob Ionta
Fri Nov 06, 2020 1:14 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: water based finish over linseed oil
Replies: 10
Views: 11972

Re: water based finish over linseed oil

I switched to Pure TUNG oil on light wood. Over the years I have used figured Maple a lot and want oil for initial wash coat. Even driers will tint it brown. Dilute it and give it several days to dry. It is the best of naturally drying oils due to molecular structure. I have had old linseed oils re...
by Bob Ionta
Mon Oct 26, 2020 10:26 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Outdoor glue for deck railings
Replies: 7
Views: 9905

Re: Outdoor glue for deck railings

I used gorilla glue with W.R.cedar for an arched arbor at my previous house. Scarf joints all over it. It held up perfectly for at least 8 years of New England sun, rain, snow and wind. Then we moved so I don't know what's happened to it since.
by Bob Ionta
Tue Aug 25, 2020 9:11 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Glue for colored veneer marquetry in spruce top
Replies: 48
Views: 39537

Re: Glue for colored veneer marquetry in spruce top

Shrinkage! (Apologies - irresistible Seinfeld reference.) I'm definitely not good at inlays and rosettes so ... grain of salt and all that ... but if you want to know how things can go wrong ask somebody who makes lots of mistakes. I did something like that with pieces of very thin burl veneer using...
by Bob Ionta
Fri Aug 21, 2020 7:33 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: water based finish over linseed oil
Replies: 10
Views: 11972

Re: water based finish over linseed oil

Hi Alain, I know it gets darker and eventually quite dark. The very old examples I've seen didn't appear yellow to me but perhaps because they were on dark wood or maybe because they were so old they went beyond yellow.

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