Search found 42 matches

by Jim Kirby
Thu May 18, 2017 8:40 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: elevated fingerboard
Replies: 3
Views: 5754

Re: elevated fingerboard

Mick Lazar did a nice tutorial that originally appeared on Mario DaCosta's luthierforum.com site. I don't know if mario's site is still in existence, since he passed. Mick's design is derived from Byer's double fan lattice (all wood). Tooling up for such a build is work - much more time building jig...
by Jim Kirby
Sun Jul 12, 2015 9:56 am
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Forster oddball archtop
Replies: 35
Views: 26377

Re: Forster oddball archtop

I'm thinking it would be a little more independent, going back to something more like the mechanism of a regular bridge with tailpiece, but with the tailpiece just replaced by the end of neck. But I've never built even a conventional archtop, so I'm just speculating.
by Jim Kirby
Sat Jul 11, 2015 9:47 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Forster oddball archtop
Replies: 35
Views: 26377

Re: Forster oddball archtop

So, I'm wishing I had more CAD drawing skills to illustrate what I'm thinking... I'm imagining a bridge assembly where the bridge is resting in an insert in the neck that is floating in an opening in the neck and bears directly on the top, and which is free to adjust vertically relative to neck posi...
by Jim Kirby
Sun May 03, 2015 8:00 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Question about making Solera
Replies: 20
Views: 22550

Re: Question about making Solera

Hi Joel, Since my two Reyes-style guitars, I've built one more blanca, using the Barbero plan published by GAL. That one was a very conventional material choice - euro spruce and med. cypress, cedro neck. Nice guitar, actually a little fuller sounding than the first two - good volume in the trebles ...
by Jim Kirby
Sun Apr 12, 2015 6:09 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Mujingfang finger planes
Replies: 8
Views: 9881

Re: Mujingfang finger planes

I have one of the longer versions of the plane. Pretty good for straight stuff and small stock. Not so hot for braces. The finest plane for braces, IMO, is the Stephen Boone planes. They are awesome! Beveled on the sides to address brace shaving and sharp beyond your imagination. I have 3 of them. ...
by Jim Kirby
Sun Apr 12, 2015 5:57 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*
Replies: 27
Views: 19529

Re: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*

"I'm not going to take the fish glue bait anymore either. I now have ten years of fish glue guitars out there, and still don't know what the big deal is." Fish Glue....I've got a Manuel Reyes flamenco made in the 60's with fish glue...today the top, binding and purfling are all undone and...
by Jim Kirby
Sun Apr 12, 2015 5:33 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Question about making Solera
Replies: 20
Views: 22550

Re: Question about making Solera

Nothing much to add here that hasn't been said. The question of how much neck angle vs. how much doming of the top revolves around how much action you want at the 12th fret and how much string height you want above the top at the bridge. You can formulate this as a simple arithmetic problem, althoug...
by Jim Kirby
Sun Apr 12, 2015 5:08 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Question about bandsaw blade
Replies: 13
Views: 11501

Re: Question about bandsaw blade

It sounds like you don't have resawing in mind. A 3/8" 6 TPI Timberwolf will work just fine. That's what I have on my saw, until I want to resaw and then its a 1/2" Lennox Tri-master. Iturra is really good. I have their tensioning spring and adjusting wheel assembly on my 14" Delta. T...
by Jim Kirby
Sun Apr 12, 2015 3:08 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*
Replies: 27
Views: 19529

Re: Here is your chance to pick on me, I'm thinking about making a steel string, *GASP*

Hi Stephen, If you don't mind adding to your plantillas, you might want to consider the Martin size 1. It makes a nice small bodied guitar with a full size sound. I think the added length(19 in.) supports the low notes better than shorter bodied guitars, while the narrower body (12 3/4 in. L.B.) gi...
by Jim Kirby
Fri Feb 06, 2015 10:47 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: My first build - where to start
Replies: 29
Views: 28697

Re: My first build - where to start

Just want to jump in here with a couple of things. Flamenco guitars are made with Spanish Cypress, difficult to get, however, there is Monterey Cypress on the West coast and with some digging you could probably find some. The cypress is part of the brassy sound known in flamenco guitars. Unless you...
by Jim Kirby
Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:13 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: My first build - where to start
Replies: 29
Views: 28697

Re: My first build - where to start

I started about your age and I wish I had bought more books and bit the bullet and taken a class with someone to build one. I have now built about 15 acoustics and still feel like a beginner but my new parlor guitars are going surprising well so maybe I have learned a thing or two. Also, having the...
by Jim Kirby
Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:06 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: My first build - where to start
Replies: 29
Views: 28697

Re: My first build - where to start

Dennis - After reading more about Alaskan yellow cedar it seems it is more related to cypress than cedar, so I guess it does make sense for good back and sides. The same is true for Port Orford cedar. I have heard Spanish cedar is hard to get but there is some coming out of Turkey. There are severa...
by Jim Kirby
Thu Jan 29, 2015 9:59 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Rethinking Alaskan Yellow Cedar
Replies: 5
Views: 6573

Re: Rethinking Alaskan Yellow Cedar

I don't think Alaska Yellow Cedar looks right for a top wood. I love it for backs and sides. I've built two blancas with it and have wood for several more. One of the guitars is, I think, probably the second best of the ones I've built, after an Indian and Cedar Romanillos classical. At any rate, I ...
by Jim Kirby
Wed Jan 28, 2015 11:14 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Advice for first acoustic please! - body size
Replies: 19
Views: 12685

Re: Advice for first acoustic please! - body size

Unlike most plans, the Antes ones are drawn as tho you were looking thru the top (X ray vision) while most of them are the back of the top. It is fairly easy to build a guitar with the tone bar running in the wrong direction - ie a left handed bracing. Don't ask me how I know this....... Do you kno...
by Jim Kirby
Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:32 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Spanish Heel Shim.
Replies: 4
Views: 3875

Re: Spanish Heel Shim.

Sounds like the answer to the question is there. I don't know how much proud I leave mine, in terms of a number, but I have the arched radius stick there to see whether it's enough as I'm trimming things to height before putting in the back linings.
by Jim Kirby
Thu Mar 20, 2014 7:17 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Shop size?
Replies: 28
Views: 18900

Re: Shop size?

That would be a very narrow 12' office space :^)
by Jim Kirby
Tue Feb 11, 2014 10:15 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Alcohol for French Polish in California
Replies: 22
Views: 28588

Re: Alcohol for French Polish in California

I'm glad we can get real Everclear here in Delaware, so I use that, but if you can get the 91% isopropyl from a pharmacy, that works. I've read in other threads that it is a little slow in dissolving flakes, but flashes off well during use.
by Jim Kirby
Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:48 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Why does the nozzle on CA bottles always clog and how can I keep them from clogging?
Replies: 19
Views: 16244

Re: Why does the nozzle on CA bottles always clog and how can I keep them from clogging?

David King wrote:Star Bond used to do the woodworking shows. They have the thinnest thin CA out there, great stuff but it has a shorter shelf life.
I've found that it lasts longer than most of the standard 2 oz bottles I try to keep it in :o I've learned to put the CA bottle back in it's glass jar without fail.
by Jim Kirby
Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:20 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Using wood from antiques?
Replies: 17
Views: 12116

Re: Using wood from antiques?

If it's not of historic value, I'd encourage you to use whatever nice wood that you can! If nothing else, it's traditional. During the World Wars, there was a shortage of good material in Spain. My understanding is that several prominent builders would use furniture or antiques for wood. If I'm not...

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