Search found 349 matches

by Randolph Rhett
Tue Aug 31, 2021 1:40 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Tonewood & body thickness
Replies: 12
Views: 7991

Re: Tonewood & body thickness

I’ve built several thinner than 3”. There are so many factors it is hard to say what exactly the tonal difference. I can say that a 2” archtop 18” long and 15” at the lower bout is my most comfortable to play. I think the thickness and carve of the top plate is much more influential on tone. A thin ...
by Randolph Rhett
Sun Aug 04, 2019 4:13 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: cutaway at neck body join
Replies: 12
Views: 12442

Re: cutaway at neck body join

I do actually contour my neck block to match the taper and even swoop a little into the cutaway (by sanding it a little against a form). But it never seems to line up perfectly anyway :( so I live with a little mismatch and finesse the fingerboard and extension a little. The results are usually fine...
by Randolph Rhett
Mon Jul 29, 2019 11:05 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: arch top how to align neck,neck block and end block
Replies: 3
Views: 6486

Re: arch top how to align neck,neck block and end block

I’m not 100% sure I understand your question. The head and tail blocks don’t necessarily have to be in any tight alignment. You generally cut your neck dovetail after the box is closed up. Assuming you’ve used two pieces of wood for your top, the seam will define your center line. The mortise would ...
by Randolph Rhett
Sun Jul 21, 2019 7:43 pm
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Distributed Mode loudspeakers - Have there been any discussions?
Replies: 5
Views: 9880

Re: Distributed Mode loudspeakers - Have there been any discussions?

There is a guy on YouTube that did an exhaustive test of different materials and exciter/dampener placement. It is impossible to know what they sound like from a YouTube video, but the whole thing was less than $50. Worth the experiment. A crossover and a subwoofer would fix any low end issues. Ther...
by Randolph Rhett
Sun Jun 23, 2019 12:46 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Tap tones for archtop top-plate, help needed
Replies: 21
Views: 32128

Re: Tap tones for archtop top-plate, help needed

As you must already know, the use of frequency histograms to tune a top was completely unknown to all the previous master builders. From Benedetto to D'Angelico, none ever saw a histogram. To the best of my knowledge, the principal architect of using a histogram to tune a top is Trevor Gore. His boo...
by Randolph Rhett
Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:30 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Rasps on sale @ StewMac
Replies: 17
Views: 15138

Re: Rasps on sale @ StewMac

Ahh the Auriou... I usually make do with cheaper tools, but this is the jewel in my arsenal. Although they seem to have doubled in price since I last bought one. :( Still worth it.
by Randolph Rhett
Mon Jun 03, 2019 11:15 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: build challenge?
Replies: 4
Views: 6938

Re: build challenge?

I would love to see a travel guitar challenge. I'm going on a trip and have been wondering what I would do if I was to whip up a guitar for the road.
by Randolph Rhett
Fri Mar 29, 2019 2:35 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Retail CA - which is best?
Replies: 27
Views: 24439

Re: Retail CA - which is best?

The problem I have with CA is that I open a bottle, use it, close it tightly, set it aside for a month or so until next use, open it again, throw it out, open a new bottle... So I find myself using the single use bottles and the GlueBoost Accelerator. Is the Locktite better (or Satellite City, or Gl...
by Randolph Rhett
Wed Mar 27, 2019 4:29 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Need some advice on fingerstyle guitars
Replies: 16
Views: 17426

Re: Need some advice on fingerstyle guitars

I've played without a pick for thirty years. I do think some guitars are better suited tonally. Generally I avoid guitars with boomy lows and sparkling highs and look for something more balanced. As a result I rarely pick up a dread or jumbo. But you can't really make anything more that vague genera...
by Randolph Rhett
Sat Feb 23, 2019 1:09 am
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Charlie Christian pickup with coil tap/
Replies: 3
Views: 8256

Re: Charlie Christian pickup with coil tap/

I believe CC pickups are single coil, so do you mean a tap to split the winding? So like after 5,000 windings you insert a switch and then do 5,000 more windings? I've never heard of that, but the best CC pickups I've ever used are from Pete Biltoff at Vintage Vibe Guitars. He sends them to you with...
by Randolph Rhett
Sat Feb 09, 2019 1:25 am
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Best Way to Remove Waterslide Decals
Replies: 6
Views: 8815

Re: Best Way to Remove Waterslide Decals

You're trying to REMOVE them? Geeesh. Some people don't appreciate class. ;-)
by Randolph Rhett
Fri Feb 08, 2019 12:50 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Neck Mortise and Tenon Jig ?
Replies: 5
Views: 7892

Re: Neck Mortise and Tenon Jig ?

You can buy plans from Robbie O'Brien to make the exact same one as LMI sells. It is not too hard to build, but I understand that some people love building jigs and others not so much. Of course you can buy it from LMI for $200. While that is an outrage for a few sheets of MDF and some bolts it's a ...
by Randolph Rhett
Wed Feb 06, 2019 12:37 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Neck geometry question for semi?
Replies: 9
Views: 12665

Re: Neck geometry question for semi?

Thank you Freeman. 1/8” of arch is surprisingly little. On a couple of plans I found online, 1/2” seems more common. In any case, I have my answer. All the dimensions that make up the neck geometry are tweaked and not standard to Gibson arch top guitars despite some visual similarity. I’ve spent som...
by Randolph Rhett
Mon Feb 04, 2019 12:07 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Neck geometry question for semi?
Replies: 9
Views: 12665

Re: Neck geometry question for semi?

Thanks Bill. That was helpful. I've cross reference a couple of plans to try to get all the dimensions. Looking carefully I see that all the dimensions are cheated to make up for the missing .5". The arch rises above the rims .5, instead of .75, giving you half of the difference. The other half...
by Randolph Rhett
Sun Feb 03, 2019 6:17 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Neck geometry question for semi?
Replies: 9
Views: 12665

Re: Neck geometry question for semi?

Well according to one Gibson fan site the ES 335 (in fact the entire thinline ES line) specs 4° to the body. According to Stew Mac, and ABR-1 bridge is roughly half an inch thick and has roughly half an inch of travel. If both are true, the only thing left that can give is the height of the arch. Is...
by Randolph Rhett
Sun Feb 03, 2019 1:56 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Neck geometry question for semi?
Replies: 9
Views: 12665

Neck geometry question for semi?

I am interested in making for myself a semi- hollow archtop guitar guitar. Unfortunately I don't have one myself to study, so I'm having some issues understanding the neck geometry. On a traditional full hollow archtop, like an L5, the neck comes to the body at 4-5° and is elevated off the body abou...
by Randolph Rhett
Thu Jan 17, 2019 6:18 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Another 17" archtop
Replies: 12
Views: 18353

Re: Another 17" archtop

Nice. Very elegant looking.
by Randolph Rhett
Sun Nov 25, 2018 7:20 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: CAD file for archtop guitar plates
Replies: 1
Views: 4640

Re: CAD file for archtop guitar plates

The usual path, if you are not already an industrial designer, is to hire someone who is and pay them to develop a CAD file to your specs. The probe generally is to help you measure existing plates to get those specs. People don’t generally rely on probes to generate a finalized surface. There was a...
by Randolph Rhett
Tue Nov 13, 2018 6:02 pm
Forum: The Soundhole
Topic: National Statistics for Luthier Wages
Replies: 12
Views: 36489

Re: National Statistics for Luthier Wages

This is a question that comes up a lot at Palomar College where I help teach a guitar building class. The whole woodworking program has a massive bullseye on it because the administrators judge everything on salary and wages. "What is the state's outlook for 'saw operator' jobs and what is the ...
by Randolph Rhett
Thu Nov 01, 2018 12:11 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: ES335 style center block questions
Replies: 5
Views: 8914

Re: ES335 style center block questions

Thank you Barry. I'm definitely leaning toward doing the center block in three pieces even if I have the capacity to do it in one. I can't get over the idea of a difficult glue up. It seems much easier to glue the center to the plates first, create a flat mating surface, and then glue that to a flat...

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