Search found 84 matches

by Jim Hepler
Sat Feb 06, 2021 1:12 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: 12 fret 000 / 14 fret body shape
Replies: 7
Views: 7248

Re: 12 fret 000 / 14 fret body shape

Andy, I made one several years ago. I had played a 000 28 in a store that I liked quite well, so I set out to make something loosely inspired by it. It had a very thick triangle shaped neck that I found oddly appealing, so I did something like that on mine. Also it has fairly wide string spacing. I ...
by Jim Hepler
Sat Feb 06, 2021 12:42 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Roast your own Ash
Replies: 3
Views: 7317

Re: Roast your own Ash

I have roasted small pieces of wood in my oven. I've done fingerboard and bridge blanks from osage orange at 350 or 360F (175 -180 C). I wrap them in aluminum foil and cook them until they are the colour I'm looking for. It takes several hours. I'm not sure the foil is necessary,but that's what I've...
by Jim Hepler
Fri Jan 31, 2020 11:08 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: It's Been a While
Replies: 11
Views: 18160

Re: It's Been a While

Gordon, I am really sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself and reach out to your friends and communities when you need to. I am glad to see you back here and look forward to seeing more of your wonderful work.
-Jim
by Jim Hepler
Wed Aug 28, 2019 10:05 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: StratoJag
Replies: 9
Views: 9645

Re: StratoJag

John, I really like this guitar. Great shape and overall look. I don't have any direct experience with this, but I recently read that high E string breaks are common on guitars with jazzmaster type tailpieces. It seems the problem is the roundhead screw at the back end just under that string that ma...
by Jim Hepler
Sun Aug 11, 2019 1:08 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Drawing curves
Replies: 16
Views: 13744

Re: Drawing curves

Mark, I think the geezer math you are looking for is something called a long compass. I remember some discussions about it in some threads about radius dishes and also perhaps sanding blocks for putting the cross section curve on fingerboards. In any event, search the archives for "long compass...
by Jim Hepler
Thu Sep 13, 2018 7:21 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: tone and volume on top plate actual effect?
Replies: 15
Views: 15044

Re: tone and volume on top plate actual effect?

Brian, I know this doesn't answer your question, but you could just wire a floating pickup directly to the output. Set the volume and tone on the amp where you want it. If you need to make adjustments on the fly, I actually prefer a volume pedal since my hands are busy when I'm playing. I'm more lik...
by Jim Hepler
Wed Jul 25, 2018 10:03 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Cucumber magnolia nylon string
Replies: 9
Views: 10532

Re: Cucumber magnolia nylon string

John, I'm not sure how it works, but I can play them on various computers, but not on my ipad. Don't know anything beyond that.
Jim
by Jim Hepler
Mon Jul 16, 2018 6:44 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Cucumber magnolia nylon string
Replies: 9
Views: 10532

Re: Cucumber magnolia nylon string

I was also surprised to find that I could get a pretty nice slide sound on it which I didn't expect from nylon strings. i have to be careful not to whack the neck with the slide since the strings have less tension than the steel ones I'm used to, and I suspect that I would have a problem with that i...
by Jim Hepler
Mon Jul 16, 2018 6:42 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Cucumber magnolia nylon string
Replies: 9
Views: 10532

Re: Cucumber magnolia nylon string

I've finally gotten around to recording this guitar a little, so I will try to post some clips. I've been enjoying playing the fretlees neck so much, I haven't changed to the fretted one yet. When I do I'll take some pictures of the process and time it so you can understand John's neck joint. I have...
by Jim Hepler
Fri Jan 05, 2018 8:03 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Best neck pickup location
Replies: 6
Views: 10391

Re: Best neck pickup location

Greg, I don't think there is one best position. The closer you move towards the bridge, the brighter/thinner the sound. You probably already know this. I have heard people claim there's a magic spot for harmonics, but that never made sense to me since every time you fret a different note, all the ha...
by Jim Hepler
Tue Jan 02, 2018 11:38 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: walnut semi hollow body
Replies: 19
Views: 29127

Re: walnut semi hollow body

Jason, You are right, there was a bit more discussion of cooking wood in a thread called "orange is the new brown" which you can find from the search box at the top of the page. There's a few more details and some conjecture and ideas for experimentation, but so far, I've just been using t...
by Jim Hepler
Tue Jan 02, 2018 12:29 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Happy New Year!
Replies: 5
Views: 8036

Re: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you too Gordon, and everyone else on here. This is a good place.
- jim
by Jim Hepler
Sat Dec 30, 2017 10:13 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: walnut semi hollow body
Replies: 19
Views: 29127

Re: walnut semi hollow body

Jason, I wrap the fingerboard blank in aluminum foil and bake it in the oven at 350 F for several hours until I like the colour.
by Jim Hepler
Sat Dec 30, 2017 12:44 am
Forum: Detailed Builds/Tutorials
Topic: Roasting pan resonator
Replies: 8
Views: 36420

Re: Roasting pan resonator

Thanks for the information and the quick response time Peter. By the way, that's quite the view you have in the background. It's 30 below here right now, so I won't be building anything right away, but lots to think about.
jim
by Jim Hepler
Sat Dec 30, 2017 12:40 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: walnut semi hollow body
Replies: 19
Views: 29127

Re: walnut semi hollow body

Here's a side view of the bridge. Hopefully you can see the break angle and the type of posts on the bridge I'm using.
by Jim Hepler
Fri Dec 29, 2017 9:14 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: walnut semi hollow body
Replies: 19
Views: 29127

Re: walnut semi hollow body

Freeman, that's spectacular! My bridge is more like this one: http://www.stewmac.com/Hardware_and_Parts/Bridges_and_Tailpieces/Bridges_and_Tailpieces_for_Electric_Guitar/Tune_o_matic_Bridge_For_Archtop_Guitar.html except that I made the bottom part myself. I see bridges that look like that on lots o...
by Jim Hepler
Fri Dec 29, 2017 8:50 pm
Forum: Detailed Builds/Tutorials
Topic: Roasting pan resonator
Replies: 8
Views: 36420

Re: Roasting pan resonator

Peter, thanks for the quick response! A few questions come to mind: How much work was it removing the handles etc from the pan, and how did you do it? My experience with drilling stainless steel is that it's usually difficult. Did you use special bits or anything for all those holes? Also in the oth...
by Jim Hepler
Fri Dec 29, 2017 1:28 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: walnut semi hollow body
Replies: 19
Views: 29127

Re: walnut semi hollow body

Thanks Markku. I like your yellow one a lot. My guitar has a regular tune-o-matic. I couldn't find a suitable roller bridge, so I went with the regular one. Gretch often seems to use the regular ones, and from what I see, they are the guys who sell the most guitars with Bigsbys. I haven't found that...
by Jim Hepler
Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:19 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: End pin jack being pulled forward
Replies: 22
Views: 32893

Re: End pin jack being pulled forward

That would be great Peter. Thanks a lot. I'll keep an eye out for it.
Jim
by Jim Hepler
Thu Dec 28, 2017 1:12 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: End pin jack being pulled forward
Replies: 22
Views: 32893

Re: End pin jack being pulled forward

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I am quite fascinated by Peter's roasting pan resonator. I'd love to see any other info about that. I guess I'm asking for a new thread on that one Peter. I'm also curious to see what the problem turns out to be with the travelling jack and what solution you c...

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