Search found 34 matches
- Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:19 pm
- Forum: Bowed Stringed Instruments and Bows
- Topic: Trapezoid cello
- Replies: 0
- Views: 6475
Trapezoid cello
Hi, all, I recently came across a book called Making a simple violin and viola by Ronald Roberts. He'd built several violins and violas with trapezoidal soundboxes, based on some experimental work done by Savart about a century ago. He claims that the sounds are comparable to the conventional violin...
- Fri Jan 11, 2019 4:34 pm
- Forum: Jam Session
- Topic: Instructions for using a chisel
- Replies: 20
- Views: 23258
Re: Instructions for using a chisel
I met a guy in the tonewood business on monday who had part of the tip of his left index finger missing thanks to a bandsaw. He has some nice guitars but can't really play them any more. That didn't stop Django Reinhart. Over the years, I've done horrible things to my right hand (I'm left-handed). ...
- Sun Oct 22, 2017 11:44 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: D'Addario string gauge mixup
- Replies: 6
- Views: 7198
Re: D'Addario string gauge mixup
That's the first place I went. Ball ends were the right shape, wrapping looked good, so I assumed that the strings were the genuine article.Clay Schaeffer wrote:D'Addario posted a guide on line for telling counterfeit strings from authentic.
http://www.daddario.com/upload/DABR_...wRes_12587.pdf
- Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:58 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: D'Addario string gauge mixup
- Replies: 6
- Views: 7198
D'Addario string gauge mixup
Hi, all: While stringing up a new build with D'Addario EJ16 strings, I happened to notice that the color-coded ball ends on the two upper strings were switched ... the first string's was purple, and the second string's was silver. I caught the error right away, but got to wondering if anybody else h...
- Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:47 pm
- Forum: Glues and Finishes
- Topic: Fretboard oil
- Replies: 9
- Views: 7069
Re: Fretboard oil
Just to expand on my comment, linseed oil is a drying oil - similar to a varnish. The difference is that "boiled" linseed oil is partially oxidized, so it dries and cures really fast. Raw takes several days, sometimes more than a week to dry, and longer than that to fully cure. Old time woodworkers...
- Sat Oct 21, 2017 9:43 pm
- Forum: Jam Session
- Topic: Instructions for using a chisel
- Replies: 20
- Views: 23258
Re: Instructions for using a chisel
Chisels should be very sharp on one end only. That end should not be pointed at body parts. I have 4 stitches in my left hand as reminder of that simple rule. Remember to keep the sharp side directed away from the parts you want to keep. -Jim I second that, having put a nice gash in my off-hand ind...
- Mon Jun 15, 2015 1:40 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Optimum thickness for red cedar soundboard?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 16755
Re: Optimum thickness for red cedar soundboard?
Good enough for me.Alan Carruth wrote: All I can do is tell you how I do it, and that may not be your cuppa.
- Wed Jun 10, 2015 11:11 am
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Optimum thickness for red cedar soundboard?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 16755
Re: Optimum thickness for red cedar soundboard?
Thanks for your response, Alan. I'm going to go for 2.8. If it ends up thinner than that by a wee bit, I can always make the braces a little taller. In fact, that might be the way to go, since I can always modify the bracing when the strings are off at string changes, reducing their height if the bo...
- Tue Jun 09, 2015 4:09 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Optimum thickness for red cedar soundboard?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 16755
Re: Optimum thickness for red cedar soundboard?
Thanks for your responses. The scale length is 24.9", and it's going to be a finger-picking guitar. I'll be putting either lights or extra-lights on it. As for the feel, I'm really not skilled enough to give an opinion, but it seems a little stiffer in flex than the spruce tops I've used before. I'v...
- Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:25 am
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Optimum thickness for red cedar soundboard?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 16755
Optimum thickness for red cedar soundboard?
I'm building a 000 12-fret with a western red cedar top. It's currently just a shade over 3mm thick. I've gotten two conflicting opinions from luthiers about what the optimum thickness should be: one says 3.5 mm and the other says 2.5 mm. What has your experience been with this material?
- Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:46 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Best place to locate a battery box?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1700
Best place to locate a battery box?
I'm building an acoustic guitar in which I'm installing an active microphone system (a Baggs Lyric). The unit came with one of those little nylon battery bags you're supposed to attach to the inside of the guitar with Velcro. Instead of using that, I'm going to build a battery case into the body. (I...
- Wed Apr 15, 2015 7:23 pm
- Forum: Tools and Jigs
- Topic: My new favorite tool - the Scraper!
- Replies: 22
- Views: 12047
Re: My new favorite tool - the Scraper!
This is a tool I've come to use all the time: http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Scrapers/Scraper_Burnisher.html t's really a "last step" tool for setting the hook. Most of the real work in sharpening scrapers, like sharpening plane blades, is truing up the surfaces. The flat surfac...
- Wed Mar 11, 2015 4:23 pm
- Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Any successful method of jointing backs and tops without power jointer or planes?
- Replies: 28
- Views: 14445
Re: Any successful method of jointing backs and tops without power jointer or planes?
Greg, make sure that your method didn't round off the joint in the sideways axis. This can happen when working freehand. The joint may look light tight, but can still have open places in the joint that can result in subsequent joint failure. That can be prevented by sandwiching the soundboard or ba...
- Wed Mar 04, 2015 2:07 pm
- Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
- Topic: Zero fret
- Replies: 34
- Views: 31078
Re: Zero fret
If you're interested in retrofitting a guitar to a zero fret, there's a company that makes that easier:
http://www.zeroglide.com/details.asp
I haven't tried their product, but it seems sound in theory, and will save you a lot of experimentation, tool buying, etc.
http://www.zeroglide.com/details.asp
I haven't tried their product, but it seems sound in theory, and will save you a lot of experimentation, tool buying, etc.
- Thu Feb 19, 2015 4:25 pm
- Forum: Electronics
- Topic: JJB SHC-200 -- anybody using one?
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3807
JJB SHC-200 -- anybody using one?
I've been using the JJB Prestige 330 in a couple of my guitars, and am getting another build off the ground. When I went to their website, I noticed a new product of theirs, the SHC-200, which seems to be a version of the 330, using the same transducers, but with passive volume and tone controls. No...
- Tue Jan 13, 2015 4:31 pm
- Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
- Topic: Short Mtn Dulcimer Scale Length
- Replies: 14
- Views: 11071
Re: Short Mtn Dulcimer Scale Length
Very pretty. I'm glad it worked out well for you.
- Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:14 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Guitar Finishers Recommendations
- Replies: 7
- Views: 5419
Re: Guitar Finishers Recommendations
I have used the Epiphanes gloss varnish for a couple mandolins and was pleasantly surprised how it went on and how good it looks. I have been told the oil varnish from Ace Hardware stores has a high phenolic content and dries very hard, but I haven't tried it yet. I used to use the Behlen's Rock Ha...
- Wed Jan 07, 2015 5:18 pm
- Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
- Topic: Guitar Finishers Recommendations
- Replies: 7
- Views: 5419
Re: Guitar Finishers Recommendations
I used to send my instruments out for finish but due to occasional shortcomings in the service I just bit the bullet and went back to doing my finising. Nobody cares about your stuff like YOU do. True, but care as I do, I'm still not satisfied with my work. Is the guy you used to use still around? ...
- Sun Jan 04, 2015 2:14 pm
- Forum: Jam Session
- Topic: December Giveaway
- Replies: 43
- Views: 23804
Re: December Giveaway
Congrats to the winners!
- Sun Jan 04, 2015 2:12 pm
- Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
- Topic: Short Mtn Dulcimer Scale Length
- Replies: 14
- Views: 11071
Re: Short Mtn Dulcimer Scale Length
Great! I'd love to see it!Andrew Porter wrote:I'll post a picture and let you know how it turned out.