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by Mark Wybierala
Mon Feb 10, 2020 3:13 pm
Forum: Bowed Stringed Instruments and Bows
Topic: Cello Jig
Replies: 5
Views: 15972

Re: Cello Jig

A picture is located in the Stringed Instrument Repairs Political... section.

For bowed instrument repair questions, should I post here or there? In this case, I posted in both for different reasons with different types of questions -- I think -- it made sense at the time but was probably a bad idea.
by Mark Wybierala
Mon Feb 10, 2020 3:08 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Cello reassembly
Replies: 5
Views: 8867

Re: Cello reassembly

The end result was good but with a slightly less angle on the neck than optimal. I've seen far worse neck angles on new cellos and I can still employ a standard replacement replacement bridge. The cello was owned by a school and it was one of six that was presented to me for repair. All of them had ...
by Mark Wybierala
Mon Feb 10, 2020 11:53 am
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Repairing a wasted 53 Les Paul Gold
Replies: 5
Views: 9179

Re: Repairing a wasted 53 Les Paul Gold

I would think that a new neck would be more straight forward and without all of the unknowns. A new neck is what Gibson would do. It would be a guitar without potential issues. Maybe your headstock repair can be successful but in the end, its a structure that is not as originally designed. There is ...
by Mark Wybierala
Wed Feb 05, 2020 8:28 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Repairing a wasted 53 Les Paul Gold
Replies: 5
Views: 9179

Re: Repairing a wasted 53 Les Paul Gold

I would walk away. I'd encourage the owner to send it to gibson. The client is looking for a miracle. I know a guy who could maybe pull it off but this looks like a great opportunity to fail.
by Mark Wybierala
Mon Jan 20, 2020 2:46 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Position Markers -- Drilling holes and tear-out
Replies: 9
Views: 26989

Position Markers -- Drilling holes and tear-out

I'm drilling in canary wood and I'm having a problem with tear-out. Even without fretslots to make the situation complicated, a new 1/4" drill bit often causes a little tear-out on a piece of scrap. I only see forstner bits down to 1/4 and some of the postion markers are about 5/32". On a ...
by Mark Wybierala
Wed Jan 15, 2020 12:18 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: about using an eggbeater drill
Replies: 15
Views: 23403

Re: about using an eggbeater drill

I use an old Stanley that I picked up at a flea market and repaired. I use it for all sorts of stuff because its handy. Even more, I often use a home-made drill which is simply a large handled screwdriver with a keyless 3/8" drill chuck. If I need to be very careful, this is my go-to tool.
by Mark Wybierala
Wed Jan 08, 2020 11:39 am
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Shards and splinters
Replies: 7
Views: 9680

Re: Shards and splinters

This was a problem that I thought was a bigger problem than it ended up being. :D I've always looked at a botched joint as something that was permanently ruined. Tickled pink that my new thriftshop cappuccino machine saved the day. The gorilla glue was the ugly bubbly stuff that makes a mess and has...
by Mark Wybierala
Tue Jan 07, 2020 2:43 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Shards and splinters
Replies: 7
Views: 9680

Re: Shards and splinters

I like using the stewmac black CA for rosewood fretboard repairs and I was gonna use this by default but the mention of epoxy is probably a good idea. I can tint the epoxy a dark brown or black and I think its more suited. There is enough thickness to the upper side that will actually make leveling ...
by Mark Wybierala
Mon Jan 06, 2020 1:51 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Banjo neck angle
Replies: 5
Views: 10714

Re: Banjo neck angle

If this is a one-off antique build by a craftman many years ago, there are no rules. I'd suggest putting yourself in the position of the original builder and set the angle for optimum playability for a 5/8" or 3/4 bridge. Maybe draw out plans using the pieces you have and just make it work.
by Mark Wybierala
Mon Jan 06, 2020 1:27 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Shards and splinters
Replies: 7
Views: 9680

Shards and splinters

Long story short. Client broke their trussrod on a solidbody neck-thru bass of some value. Client attempted to remove fretboard. Client broke off a part of the section of the fretboard between the nut and the first fret splitting this section with the grain. I have the surface of the fretboard and t...
by Mark Wybierala
Sun Jan 05, 2020 1:45 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: need basic P-bass setup advice.
Replies: 5
Views: 7152

Re: need basic P-bass setup advice.

Bass setups seem to me a little dependent on the playing style of the owner. There is no perfect setup that satisfies everyone. Relief adjustment is always individual to each instrument. Nut slot adjustment is much like that of a guitar but with a little more clearance over the first fret. When I fr...
by Mark Wybierala
Sun Jan 05, 2020 12:36 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Steam generation
Replies: 8
Views: 9427

Re: Steam generation

Oh darn... I went to the thrift shop and immediately saw a little Krups IL Primo cappuccino machine in new condition for $7.99 and took it home. Since it was from the thrift shop, I had no idea if it worked so of course I had to try to make myself a cappuccino. Darn... It was delicious. So now I'm l...
by Mark Wybierala
Thu Jan 02, 2020 12:33 pm
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Build your own preamp
Replies: 5
Views: 11255

Re: Build your own preamp

Unfortunately, I gotta agree with Brian. Newer (in the last 15 years) good quality preamps seem to do a lot more than simply amplify the signal. Kinda like they promote the acoustic flavor via lots of stuff beyond my level of understanding. The $20 premaps on ebay work okay if they're replacing the ...
by Mark Wybierala
Thu Jan 02, 2020 12:06 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: 2019 Solid Body
Replies: 8
Views: 11450

Re: 2019 Solid Body

Yes, no-nonsense stands on its own. I'm not a fan of glitz. The mojo comes from other things.
by Mark Wybierala
Thu Jan 02, 2020 11:58 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: REPAIR
Replies: 8
Views: 9357

Re: REPAIR

I've yet to try the dental composite but it sounds very cool. I either elevate the entire nut with a shim and recut all slots or I use a 4-corner file, cut a vee, and use CA to bond a donor vee shaped insert.
by Mark Wybierala
Mon Dec 30, 2019 12:11 pm
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Build your own preamp
Replies: 5
Views: 11255

Re: Build your own preamp

I built a number of preamps but was never happy with the result. A commercial preamp that I did like was the Artec CLE. I don't know if they still make it or who might be a distributor.
by Mark Wybierala
Sat Dec 28, 2019 4:12 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Drop filling
Replies: 9
Views: 10615

Re: Drop filling

I've encountered this problem many times and have made many different tools to apply CA. A plastic drinking straw cut at a long angle to a sharp tip and the tip split to different lengths. A pair of short lengths of guitar strings inserted into a dowel handle. Tooth picks cut like a quill pen. Whipp...
by Mark Wybierala
Sat Dec 28, 2019 3:58 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Gluing surfaces
Replies: 10
Views: 11134

Re: Gluing surfaces

Three types of information, Fact, Myth, Lore. I believe that this idea is an example of incomplete lore that maybe could evolve into fact with some experimentation. Any advantage in joint strength would be dependent on the species and individual characteristics of the part. Close grained maple doesn...
by Mark Wybierala
Wed Dec 25, 2019 3:37 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Cello reassembly
Replies: 5
Views: 8867

Re: Cello reassembly

I gotta say that I've been real lucky here. I doubt anyone ever built a kit that went together so accurately. After checking, double checking, taking it apart, testing my clamping method, and then checking alignment again, I glued the neck into the neck block without the top installed. I let the Tit...

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