Search found 132 matches

by Dennis Duross
Sun Jun 14, 2020 11:49 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Why doesn’t the X in an X-braced arch top fall directly under the bridge?
Replies: 4
Views: 7463

Re: Why doesn’t the X in an X-braced arch top fall directly under the bridge?

FYI, I found at least one reference to the single tone bar I was referring to above, in the early archtops of a builder named Bill Barker, from my hometown, Toledo, Ohio:

http://www.vintagearchtop.com/66_barker.htm
by Dennis Duross
Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:26 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Why doesn’t the X in an X-braced arch top fall directly under the bridge?
Replies: 4
Views: 7463

Re: Why doesn’t the X in an X-braced arch top fall directly under the bridge?

Thanks for your reply, Barry. I have a vague memory of a builder who used a single brace, but maybe I’m mis-remembering. I guess that’s what started the wheels turning.
by Dennis Duross
Fri Jun 12, 2020 6:53 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Why doesn’t the X in an X-braced arch top fall directly under the bridge?
Replies: 4
Views: 7463

Why doesn’t the X in an X-braced arch top fall directly under the bridge?

Asking for a friend.

Seriously, if the three basic soundboard modes are up/down, left/right, and front/back, and the archtop is biased toward the up/down, would you not encourage the left/right by shifting the support to the center of the bridge?
by Dennis Duross
Sat Jan 11, 2020 3:05 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Restoration of a 1931 Martin 00-17
Replies: 201
Views: 125643

Re: Restoration of a 1931 Martin 00-17

Thanks for finishing the post AND the guitar, Barry. It really looks great. I figured it was headed for the kindling pile early on, but you really pulled it back from the edge.

Also, glad to see Michael Lewis poking around again. I hope that continues.
by Dennis Duross
Mon Dec 30, 2019 7:28 am
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Restoration of a 1931 Martin 00-17
Replies: 201
Views: 125643

Re: Restoration of a 1931 Martin 00-17

Hey! Where’s the end of the story? I’ve read nine pages worth of posts only to find that this story has no ending? Bump!
by Dennis Duross
Mon Aug 28, 2017 7:18 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Spanish solera question
Replies: 16
Views: 26856

Re: Spanish solera question

And you mount everything to the ceiling? Brilliant space-saving idea!
by Dennis Duross
Thu Oct 27, 2016 6:45 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: again please, solid vs adjustable bridge...
Replies: 5
Views: 8192

Re: again please, solid vs adjustable bridge...

I've recently gone with a one-piece, full-contact maple bridge with a lignum vitae saddle (and nut). Very nice sound.

You can use a fully-adjustable tune-o-matic style bridge until everything settles in, then use those measurements to make your one-piece from.
by Dennis Duross
Sun Jul 31, 2016 9:13 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Trimming the Achiles heel...
Replies: 13
Views: 14058

Re: Trimming the Achiles heel...

It doesn't help you solve your problem, but I'm going to agree with Randolph and say that I would not trim around the heel with light-colored wood. Not that you haven't done a nice job of it, and it certainly looks good, but if you're concerned at all about the gap being noticeable, the light-colore...
by Dennis Duross
Sun Jul 10, 2016 8:24 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Tru-oil finishing
Replies: 30
Views: 40361

Re: Tru-oil finishing

Is that because it's not as protective/durable as FP? Because it sure sounds faster, and it obviously looks great. Am assuming it would be easy to touch up and rejuvenate too.
by Dennis Duross
Sat Jul 09, 2016 9:01 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Tru-oil finishing
Replies: 30
Views: 40361

Re: Tru-oil finishing

Waddy:
Are you using Tru Oil on the soundboard as well, or are you French polishing it?
by Dennis Duross
Fri May 06, 2016 6:54 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: What Finish for Natural Feel?
Replies: 39
Views: 59975

Re: What Finish for Natural Feel?

But don't all the bubbles just add to your troubles?
by Dennis Duross
Wed May 04, 2016 8:11 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: making an ultra-light archtop.
Replies: 7
Views: 10860

Re: making an ultra-light archtop.

I've been working on dometop (and back) archtops off-and-on for the last several years. The arch of the dome is a little over 0.7" from neckblock to tailblock. Solid beam of wood running from neckblock to tailblock. Plate thickness of 0.12" and a single, 12" long x 0.3 x 0.6 brace run...
by Dennis Duross
Sun May 01, 2016 8:14 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: A sure fire way of using hhg for joining the top
Replies: 43
Views: 37055

Re: A sure fire way of using hhg for joining the top

What is the purpose of running a flame along the joint?
by Dennis Duross
Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:38 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: I know this has been asked before: bridge weight
Replies: 4
Views: 6169

Re: I know this has been asked before: bridge weight

Thanks for your reply, Alain.

Mine is a floating bridge. Is that what you're referring to, or are you talking about a fixed bridge?
by Dennis Duross
Mon Mar 07, 2016 10:42 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: I know this has been asked before: bridge weight
Replies: 4
Views: 6169

I know this has been asked before: bridge weight

But I haven't been able to find it.

I've got a one-piece African Blackwood bridge that weighs in at 36 grams.

Is this heavy?

Bridge-wise?
by Dennis Duross
Tue Dec 29, 2015 11:18 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Christmas guitar project
Replies: 11
Views: 12977

Re: Christmas guitar project

What a great idea, Patrick. Thanks for sharing it.
by Dennis Duross
Sat Sep 26, 2015 11:06 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Am I using the correct formula for downward force?
Replies: 11
Views: 10391

Re: Am I using the correct formula for downward force?

Randolph: Sorry it's taken me so long to reply to your question. The short answer is "no." The "archtops" I've been building for the last several years (I'm just doing this for my own amusement) are actually "dometops." Not carved out of thick pieces of wood, but thin s...
by Dennis Duross
Tue Sep 22, 2015 7:15 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: soliciting some honest critique and direction
Replies: 28
Views: 19098

Re: soliciting some honest critique and direction

I'm curious if anyone can answer whether the notes Ryan is hearing while tapping the tops are meaningful or not.

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