Search found 494 matches

by Freeman Keller
Sun Jan 28, 2024 8:42 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Thick binding in cutaway of Gibson archtop
Replies: 13
Views: 12275

Re: Thick binding in cutaway of Gibson archtop

I ran into that when I built my LP clone and just bent the binding to follow the up and down - it stays 1/4 tall. Then a week or so ago I got a lovely Andersen archtop across my bench and he does it on both the top and bottom.
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by Freeman Keller
Wed Jan 24, 2024 3:58 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: LP style neck tenon
Replies: 3
Views: 891

Re: LP style neck tenon

Mine have been like that. The pickup ring covers the little end of the neck
IMG_0720.JPG

Click on the picture and it should blow up.
by Freeman Keller
Wed Jan 24, 2024 2:18 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: LP style neck tenon
Replies: 3
Views: 891

Re: LP style neck tenon

Pictures would help a lot. What I do is open the jpeg with MS Paint, click on the option to resize. For my photos 25 percent is about right, then save it (I do it under a different name). Once resized you should be able to go to the full editor and attach it to your thread. I've built several LP sty...
by Freeman Keller
Tue Jan 09, 2024 2:51 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Guild 12 strings
Replies: 8
Views: 12664

Re: Guild 12 strings

Taylor also uses three tone bars on their 12 strings.
by Freeman Keller
Thu Apr 20, 2023 4:05 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Building some size O guitars-- tips? trying to fasttrack it (having a baby)
Replies: 14
Views: 6300

Re: Building some size O guitars-- tips? trying to fasttrack it (having a baby)

Hey Freeman, Those are gorgeous! Any tips for working with MOP/Paua inlay? Thank you. My daughter's spirit animal is the blue darner dragonfly so that became the headstock inlay IMG_0431-1.jpg Andy DePaule cut the pearl for me, I routed the cavity with a dremel router. I buy the precut pau abalone ...
by Freeman Keller
Thu Apr 20, 2023 11:50 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Building some size O guitars-- tips? trying to fasttrack it (having a baby)
Replies: 14
Views: 6300

Re: Building some size O guitars-- tips? trying to fasttrack it (having a baby)

I have made three "small concert" aka "parlor" guitars from the Scott Antes plans and using short scale premade necks from LMII. One was for my daughter, and a friend's daughter, I kept the third for myself. At one point in the past LMII offered this as an option for their kit wi...
by Freeman Keller
Mon Apr 03, 2023 12:06 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: 12 String Top radius?
Replies: 4
Views: 1659

Re: 12 String Top radius?

Joel, I have built two 12 strings, a long Martin scale OM sized guitar that is tune two or three steps down and a 26 inch scale 000 that is tuned to C. I also have an old Martin D12-28. The Martin has a bit of a belly and the neck has been reset to whatever dome the top has, the other two were built...
by Freeman Keller
Sat Dec 17, 2022 1:45 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: No f-holes?
Replies: 3
Views: 6014

Re: No f-holes?

Along with the f-holes functioning as Alan discusses above it is my understanding that they have another function - weakening the top along the recurve on each side of the bridge. I recently built an acoustic archtop and did a lot of tapping with some spectrum analyzing software, when the f-holes we...
by Freeman Keller
Sun Dec 04, 2022 3:01 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: ES175/L4CES
Replies: 3
Views: 6196

Re: ES175/L4CES

Hans, I have built two acoustic guitars sort of like what you are suggesting. The first was built from the ALS ES-173 plans but were intended to be totally acoustics so I used a single piece of spruce thicknessed to slightly less than 1/8 inch and X braced it in a 16 foot radius dish. That gives a l...
by Freeman Keller
Tue Oct 04, 2022 1:23 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Alternative to X/Parallel bracing
Replies: 10
Views: 11275

Re: Alternative to X/Parallel bracing

I recently built my first (and probably last) carved arch top guitar and I debated for a long time which of the two standard bracing patterns to use. Both the archtop panel discussion at the GAL conference a few years ago and Benedetto's book indicated that "in general, a thinly carved top with...
by Freeman Keller
Fri Sep 02, 2022 11:51 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge Source
Replies: 13
Views: 4867

Re: Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge Source

Bob, that was the second semi hollow that I built and I learned a lot from the first one. I tried carving a one piece block to fit the arches of the first one kind of like how you would carve a les paul with several templates - it worked but was a lot of work. You still have to make some sort of sle...
by Freeman Keller
Wed Aug 31, 2022 7:04 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge Source
Replies: 13
Views: 4867

Re: Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge Source

Bob, I did do a build thread on a different forum that shows how I made the center block. It might help answer some questions

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/lets-buil ... 5.1057700/
by Freeman Keller
Tue Aug 30, 2022 5:45 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge Source
Replies: 13
Views: 4867

Re: Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge Source

The 12 string bridge worked fine for the 12 string neck on my double. The width of the neck at the body joint (16) was a hair over 2-1/4, 1-7/8 nut. The 6 string neck is 2-1/8 at the same place with a 1-3/4 nut. I have built two 335 style guitars and a couple of full hollows. Your center block will ...
by Freeman Keller
Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:51 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge Source
Replies: 13
Views: 4867

Re: Wide Tune-O-Matic bridge Source

Bob, I recently built a double neck guitar based on the old Gibson EDS 1275. I was able to find a 12 string TOM bridge that allowed 2-1/4 spacing (I think standard is 2-1/32 to 2-1/16. This allowed me to bump the neck width up for the 12 string side. The saddles were not notched but had very small s...
by Freeman Keller
Tue Aug 23, 2022 1:20 pm
Forum: Builders' Supplies and Services
Topic: Laminated Archtop plates and rims
Replies: 2
Views: 7087

Re: Laminated Archtop plates and rims

Welcome back. This could tempt me to build another semi hollow. What sizes/shapes will you have and is there a web page?
by Freeman Keller
Wed Aug 10, 2022 3:48 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: First post… questions
Replies: 20
Views: 38354

Re: First post… questions

The couple of guitars that I built using a radiused sanding stick required considerable clamping force to close the gaps all the way around the back. The top isn't quit as bad. When I switched to using a radius dish the back (which was also braced in the dish) just seems to drop on and not require a...
by Freeman Keller
Wed Aug 10, 2022 12:09 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: First post… questions
Replies: 20
Views: 38354

Re: First post… questions

On my first couple of guitars I made a radiused sanding board with 24 and 16 foot radii (which I think is what Cumpiano shows) and attempted to sand the little angle into the rim and kerfing. The problem is that the back slopes at the head block and the waists need to be taller than the bouts - the ...
by Freeman Keller
Sun Jul 31, 2022 3:07 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Bending Machine Recommendations
Replies: 5
Views: 2862

Re: Bending Machine Recommendations

I have one of the original Fox style benders with a silicon heating blanket and stainless slats. I has bent fifteen or so sets of sides with absolutely no issues. I make the bending form and body mold at the same time for each size guitar. I don't normally do cutaways, the couple of times I have I b...
by Freeman Keller
Tue Jul 12, 2022 4:58 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Alternating binding idea
Replies: 13
Views: 4565

Re: Alternating binding idea

Mike, LMII sells a premade rope style binding/purfling that I have used on several vintage styled guitars. And for what it is worth I only use water thin CA for binding now days. I get the channels perfect, take my time fitting the binding until it too is perfect. I space my tape about 1 inch apart ...

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