Search found 99 matches

by Brad Heinzen
Sun Jun 11, 2017 11:10 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Contemplating a classical build
Replies: 7
Views: 8139

Re: Contemplating a classical build

I'd agree that the toughest thing is getting the trebles right. Bass is easier. Getting a nice sounding 3rd string is always a problem. If I can get trebles that are clear, sweet, a little punchy, and with relatively even timbre across the three nylon strings, I'm happy. I don't mind a guitar that h...
by Brad Heinzen
Mon Feb 06, 2017 1:18 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Parlour guitar questions
Replies: 29
Views: 30024

Re: Parlour guitar questions

Hey Stephen, I've built some guitars based on a plantilla very similar to the guitar in your third photo. My regular, daily players are both based on that shape. The SS is bubinga with Eng spruce, and the CG is CA walnut with Eng spruce. I also built a SS from CA walnut with Eng spruce for a friend....
by Brad Heinzen
Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:23 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: A "parasite" tone
Replies: 71
Views: 81433

Re: A "parasite" tone

If we're talking about the same problem, I've found it to be remarkably difficult to eliminate by messing around with the neck. 7 or 8 years ago, I had a bad one, and decided I'd do whatever it took to get rid of what I assumed was a zip. I started with the easy stuff - c-clamps on the head stock, r...
by Brad Heinzen
Sat Sep 03, 2016 12:08 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: A "parasite" tone
Replies: 71
Views: 81433

Re: A "parasite" tone

Sure sounds like the 'zip tone' to me. I have no idea why it varies so much from guitar to guitar, but I've had a handful of really bad ones - maybe 4 guitars out of 50. On my guitars, I've always had the best luck with EJ4x strings, and the worst with Hannabachs. Augustines are somewhere in the mid...
by Brad Heinzen
Tue Aug 30, 2016 11:48 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: A "parasite" tone
Replies: 71
Views: 81433

Re: A "parasite" tone

Any chance the is the 'zip tone' problem again? That can be really maddening to diagnose, and it always exhibits that same fretting behaviour (it goes away when you fret right at the fret). It's usually only the fifth, and especially the fourth strings in my experience.
by Brad Heinzen
Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:08 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: nut size on a classical?
Replies: 5
Views: 6062

Re: nut size on a classical?

Mine are the same thickness as the file I use for cleaning out the slot between the fretboard and the head stock veneer. I can't think of a more practical reason than that. I'd be fine with zero frets too, but most players would probably think they looked funny. I can't think of a good argument for ...
by Brad Heinzen
Tue May 17, 2016 11:26 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Converting an existing guitar to just or pure intonation
Replies: 13
Views: 13140

Re: Converting an existing guitar to just or pure intonation

I think you'd have to pick a key, and even then, you couldn't have continuous, single frets at each location. Our standard frets only line up at each string because of equal temperament (more or less!).
by Brad Heinzen
Fri May 01, 2015 9:21 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Question on smoothing plane
Replies: 15
Views: 13052

Re: Question on smoothing plane

Playing around with attack and bevel angles for different purposes can really make hand planes a pleasure to use. As others have noted, good blades make a big difference. I find that I like using both O-1 and A-2 steel blades. The O-1 is smooth, sharpens beautifully, feels to me like it takes a bett...
by Brad Heinzen
Sun Apr 05, 2015 11:40 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Question about making Solera
Replies: 20
Views: 22591

Re: Question about making Solera

I'd go with full size, hand drawn. I'd also do it on a piece of 1/8" plywood or Masonite. I find it helpful to have the pattern hanging on the wall for reference, and paper patterns are a pain to work with. I still do full size patterns each time I do something that's a departure from my standa...
by Brad Heinzen
Sat Apr 04, 2015 11:05 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Question about making Solera
Replies: 20
Views: 22591

Re: Question about making Solera

The dish that you use when you glue down the bracing largely determines the doming. In my case, I have a specially carved dish that has an irregular dome only in the lower bout. The dish is the shape of an untrimmed top plate, and is made from a piece of 3/4" MDF. I pre-carve the lower sound ho...
by Brad Heinzen
Sat Apr 04, 2015 1:25 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Question about making Solera
Replies: 20
Views: 22591

Re: Question about making Solera

Yeah, a 3 mm drop sounds like a bit much to me too. It might be fine if your top is really flat. If you're using a normal solera method, the neck angle gets locked in when you attach the back. The solera acts like a jig that holds the angle until the glue dries. Once your top is braced, you'll know ...
by Brad Heinzen
Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:40 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Question about bandsaw blade
Replies: 13
Views: 11507

Re: Question about bandsaw blade

I do nearly everything with a blade in the range of 3/8" x 6 tpi, more or less. I switch it out for resawing, but that's about it. I think mine are mostly Lennox, but that's just what the tool store near me sells.
by Brad Heinzen
Sat Mar 28, 2015 11:51 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*
Replies: 27
Views: 19539

Re: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*

Oops - just saw a typo in my earlier post. That small plantilla I've been using is single O, not a 00, specfically an 0-18. As Clay notes, the 00 size guitars don't feel much different from a standard CG.
by Brad Heinzen
Fri Mar 27, 2015 11:49 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*
Replies: 27
Views: 19539

Re: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*

I'm not going to take the fish glue bait anymore either. I now have ten years of fish glue guitars out there, and still don't know what the big deal is. I also use one of my small classical bodies for SS guitars. It's close to a 00 size, and works really well for both CG's and SS's. I made a few SS'...
by Brad Heinzen
Wed Mar 25, 2015 1:02 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*
Replies: 27
Views: 19539

Re: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*

I can't say anything, Stephen. I've gone over to the dark side a few times myself. No advice except to say that I found the shorter scale SS guitars to be a bit more forgiving in structural terms (compared to longer scale SS guitars anyway). The compensation issues are magnified relative to CG's, es...
by Brad Heinzen
Fri Jan 16, 2015 11:27 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Fish glue?
Replies: 19
Views: 20485

Re: Fish glue?

I've used it extensively for years, and have never had any trouble whatsoever. As Barry said, it dries hard and crispy, and has long working and open times. The only downside that has had any effect on me is the long clamping time, which is easy to work around. I date the bottles when I get them, an...
by Brad Heinzen
Sat Aug 16, 2014 10:40 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: neck order
Replies: 4
Views: 3727

Re: neck order

Don't know if this is what you're after, but for traditional CGs, I do the following: Cut the scarf joint and the heel stack. Glue the above together at one time. Detail the face of the headstock, and glue on the faceplate. Carve the heel (leaving the neck shaft squared up), slipper foot, and cut th...
by Brad Heinzen
Sun Jul 27, 2014 1:04 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: How has luthiering affected your everyday life?
Replies: 12
Views: 10989

Re: How has luthiering affected your everyday life?

Wood collecting is it for me too. I can't demo anything without checking to see if there's something worth scavenging. Potential stock for necks, braces, tops, whatever - it all gets inspected, flexed, tapped, and if it looks like it might be useful, it gets milled and added to the stash. That's als...
by Brad Heinzen
Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:41 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Abalone--Who knew?
Replies: 4
Views: 4985

Re: Abalone--Who knew?

Geez. I found it interesting as well. I grew up going diving in that area with my dad. We never thought of it as being especially dangerous, and some of my friends still go ab diving up there. Red abalone shells were common fence decorations where I grew up. I also didn't much like abalone when I wa...
by Brad Heinzen
Sun Jul 27, 2014 12:17 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: polishing polyurethane to a satin finish
Replies: 7
Views: 9436

Re: polishing polyurethane to a satin finish

Yeah, if you try to achieve a matte finish through manipulating a scratch pattern, it'll get shiny wherever you inadvertantly polish it up through handling. If you use a finish with some sort of flatting agent in it, the sheen will likely stay more consistent over time. I've always found anything fl...

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