Search found 16 matches

by John Tuttle
Thu Dec 15, 2022 3:57 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: No f-holes?
Replies: 3
Views: 6128

No f-holes?

I have a customer request for an archtop with no f-holes. I have never made an archtop without f-holes and I'm curious what the input from this group is on this topic. I have found a number of archtops out there on the market that have no f-holes, some have side ports some nothing at all. If you hav...
by John Tuttle
Thu Nov 10, 2022 5:49 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Alternative to X/Parallel bracing
Replies: 10
Views: 11510

Re: Alternative to X/Parallel bracing

I am in the middle of a build for a customer who asked for something a bit atypical. This customer wants an acoustic archtop with a floating neck pickup but he wanted to know if there was a way to design the structure of the build to allow for the possibility of installed pickups at a later date if ...
by John Tuttle
Tue Jul 05, 2022 3:13 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Tru-Oil Substitute for Necks
Replies: 12
Views: 9536

Re: Tru-Oil Substitute for Necks

Am I missing something here? The manufacturer of TruOil, Birchwood Casey is still producing it.
It can be purchsed directly through their website, I believe.

https://www.birchwoodcasey.com/gun-refinishing/wood/
by John Tuttle
Wed Sep 22, 2021 12:45 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Tuning Machine Opinions
Replies: 7
Views: 22246

Tuning Machine Opinions

Many years ago when I was getting started in luthiery, the field of guitar tuners was pretty small and Schaller was considered the top of the list by many (they were also $30 a set). Over the years so many new options have become available I thought I would ask this sage community for opinions based...
by John Tuttle
Tue Sep 17, 2019 1:28 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Bondic UV light curing glue
Replies: 4
Views: 7459

Re: Bondic UV light curing glue

I use Bondic and other UV light-cured glued in technology repairs. It's great for surface coverage and protection applications and cable abrasion repair. successive layers can be applied after curing to build body and I haven't witnessed delamination in that scenario. Incomplete curing causes issues...
by John Tuttle
Thu Sep 05, 2019 2:33 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Sapele bending help
Replies: 8
Views: 7525

Re: Sapele bending help

I have experienced spring back with Sapele and found that my pipe temperature was too low. Something to do with the lignin in there, I suppose. I have to bend Sapele with a much hotter pipe than anything else to avoid the spring back. This, of course, increases the odds of burn marks if you're not m...
by John Tuttle
Thu Sep 05, 2019 2:28 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Color Theory
Replies: 10
Views: 9686

Re: Color Theory

Instead of mixing up a color batch for aging the look of new wood, have you tried Potassium Permanganate in water? It's an oxidizer that I use often to achieve the darkening caused by time and exposure to air. Kind of like speeding up time. You can dilute to suit the amount of oxidizing you need.
by John Tuttle
Sun Mar 24, 2019 9:30 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Ukulele Intonation Mystery
Replies: 9
Views: 18169

Re: Ukulele Intonation Mystery

Hurray for the MIMF!

A quick update. It was indeed the string itself which was the cause of my intonation woes.
I was so focused on the scale math that I seriously doubt I would have considered that the problem could be with the string!

Thanks again everyone!
by John Tuttle
Mon Mar 18, 2019 1:21 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Ukulele Intonation Mystery
Replies: 9
Views: 18169

Re: Ukulele Intonation Mystery

This is GREAT Feedback! I will explore each of these things and report back. Can't thank you all enough for helping me out with this.
by John Tuttle
Sun Mar 17, 2019 4:00 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Ukulele Intonation Mystery
Replies: 9
Views: 18169

Ukulele Intonation Mystery

I have a problem with a current ukulele build that has me stumped. I built a concert size ukulele with a 14.75" scale length. Pretty straight forward build. The problem I have run into concerns the intonation of the third string (C). Strings 1,2 and 4 intonate perfectly but the 3rd string is an...
by John Tuttle
Sat Sep 09, 2017 10:21 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Walnut for fretboards?
Replies: 5
Views: 8459

Re: Walnut for fretboards?

I have used walnut for fretboards on numerous instruments over the years. While it is true that walnut is softer than many of the standard options, I have fund that the durability is often determined by the player. One customer has a walnut fretboard on an SG concept copy which was built 10 years ag...
by John Tuttle
Mon Aug 07, 2017 2:05 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Spare holes in fretboard-how to cover
Replies: 15
Views: 15328

Re: Spare holes in fretboard-how to cover

Bob, I have felt your pain. Think of this as an opportunity. Bob Gramann's suggestion is the direction I would take first. If you have any scrap from the fretboard available to test on see how well it takes to a closely matching inlay. The grain of the wood should be matchable as it appears quite st...
by John Tuttle
Tue Feb 03, 2015 2:29 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Rethinking Alaskan Yellow Cedar
Replies: 5
Views: 6573

Re: Rethinking Alaskan Yellow Cedar

I've used it for numerous guitars and have been very happy with the tonal quality. The wood I have was cut in 1890 and is from old vinegar tanks so the smell and taste is closer to pickles than skunk.
cedar_top.jpg
by John Tuttle
Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:09 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: fretboard/bridge woods
Replies: 25
Views: 22621

Re: fretboard/bridge woods

Here's that picture of the walnut fretboard. Curly maple Inlays give it plenty of contrast. Gave it a Tru Oil wash before radiusing, then a liberal application of orange oil after all inlay and finish sanding was completed. This shot is a just after the orange oil was applied. After a week the color...
by John Tuttle
Wed Jun 26, 2013 8:45 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: fretboard/bridge woods
Replies: 25
Views: 22621

Re: fretboard/bridge woods

I've used walnut in quite a few fretboards and have not experienced the softness mentioned by others. On fretboard is now 10+ years old and gets regular use by an aggressive player and it is fairing better than some rosewood fingerboards I've seen. I'll post a picture later this evening.
by John Tuttle
Thu Feb 02, 2012 11:55 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Mistakes made while building early guitars
Replies: 59
Views: 64547

Re: Mistakes made while building early guitars

My biggest lesson learned was understanding humidity and its effect on the build process. I live in Minnesota and early on I built a few guitars in the summer and the following winter when the humidity dropped my guitars cracked in a BIG way - tops and backs. In frustration I made a call to a local ...

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