Search found 91 matches

by Nick Middleton
Sat Aug 17, 2013 9:37 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Naptha in California
Replies: 14
Views: 12162

Re: Naptha in California

I just bought a bottle at Home Depot a few months back. Dang, I would have picked up more if I knew they were going to pull it.
by Nick Middleton
Fri Aug 16, 2013 11:20 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Amber tint for oil based varnish
Replies: 15
Views: 13489

Re: Amber tint for oil based varnish

Barry, Do you mean it's Colortone is similar, or do you mean it's actually made from the same company and re-labeled?
by Nick Middleton
Fri Aug 09, 2013 1:20 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Steve Benfords Surfmaster semihollow
Replies: 10
Views: 6658

Re: Steve Benfords Surfmaster semihollow

Looks great!

You mentioned you used tru-oil on the back and sides. What did you coat the top with?

What is the the notch on the back side? It doesn't look like it go through. Can you tell us more about that element?
by Nick Middleton
Fri Aug 09, 2013 12:44 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: CA glue shelf life and why "instrument grade"
Replies: 23
Views: 18085

Re: CA glue shelf life and why "instrument grade"

If you put the tape on the the scraper, you can flex the scraper a little and angle it forward to cut a little deeper than the tape is elevating the blade at.

For me it makes a great way to first knock it down to a rough and controlled depth before I flex and tilt for final leveling.
by Nick Middleton
Fri Aug 09, 2013 12:35 pm
Forum: Electronics
Topic: How to wire 1pu with tone control pot but no volume control?
Replies: 4
Views: 5523

Re: How to wire 1pu with tone control pot but no volume control?

If you look at a schematic with 1 vol and 1 tone, you'll see the tone intersects the pickup-hot wire (using one of the terminal on the volume pot) and then, after going through a cap and the tone pot, going to to ground. In your case, just wire across the output jack (Since you have no volume, your ...
by Nick Middleton
Wed Aug 07, 2013 10:50 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: CA glue shelf life and why "instrument grade"
Replies: 23
Views: 18085

Re: CA glue shelf life and why "instrument grade"

The thinnest tape I can find easily and cheap is clear packing/shipping tape. I'm also more likely to use it on the scraper instead of on the wood (a piece on each end of the blade as the depth-stop).
by Nick Middleton
Tue Aug 06, 2013 10:47 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Opinions on Linseed Oil
Replies: 8
Views: 7738

Re: Opinions on Linseed Oil

I have not tried it on a body, but it does make a great finish on rosewood and ebony fingerboards.
by Nick Middleton
Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:12 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Paul Kincaid's 2nd archtop guitar
Replies: 8
Views: 9289

Re: Paul Kincaid's 2nd archtop guitar

That tip on the switch is a nice touch!
by Nick Middleton
Mon Jul 22, 2013 7:09 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: poplar vs alder
Replies: 6
Views: 4843

Re: poplar vs alder

I can't hear the difference between the two. I prefer Alder for bodies that you'll be able to see the grain. If price is not a big difference, then you might as well get the Alder.
by Nick Middleton
Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:47 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Methods of thicknessing soundboard and online tutorials
Replies: 40
Views: 24910

Re: Methods of thicknessing soundboard and online tutorials

I also use the Wagner Safe-T-Planer to get my stock to rough-thickness. I then clean up the machine-marks and final-thickness with a hand-plane or scrapper.
by Nick Middleton
Sat Jun 29, 2013 2:56 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Installing a Floyd Rose in a Standard Strat
Replies: 7
Views: 5915

Re: Installing a Floyd Rose in a Standard Strat

As mentioned by Mark: Stew-Mac has templates and router-bits to help you cut the access you'll need to make it fit. I'd also recommend getting the Guitar Players Repair Guide. It's a must-have for any DIY person and it covers the exact conversion process you're doing. Also, the locking-nut installat...
by Nick Middleton
Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:03 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: KTM-9 and neck feel
Replies: 3
Views: 3975

Re: KTM-9 and neck feel

You probably have too-glossy of a surface. Try taking back down to a Matte-finish. I use either the white, grey, or green synthetic wool-pads depending on how much of an effect I'm going for.
by Nick Middleton
Mon Jun 17, 2013 2:08 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: First fret inlay?
Replies: 6
Views: 5535

Re: First fret inlay?

I guess I'm in the minority. I don't care for 1st fret inlays for a couple of reasons. First, I think the whole point of the inlay is to give you a quick reference-point to identify fret-locations in a hurry. I don't seem to have any trouble finding the 1st fret! ;) Second, inlays are usually propor...
by Nick Middleton
Mon Jun 17, 2013 1:57 pm
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Question about Pickups
Replies: 2
Views: 5153

Re: Question about Pickups

My favorite Duncan Pickup for a Tele is the Quarter-Pounder for both positions since they have a nice an thick and powerful sound. If you're more into a twangy-tone, you might want to try a different series (which I don't have a good suggestion for) or, you can order them with a "Tapped" o...
by Nick Middleton
Wed May 22, 2013 11:16 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: slotting the nut
Replies: 4
Views: 4188

Re: slotting the nut

You're welcome. I only bother with the rounded bottom nuts when replacing it on a guitar that came that way. I would not go out of my way to build a new on that way.
by Nick Middleton
Tue May 21, 2013 7:25 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: slotting the nut
Replies: 4
Views: 4188

Re: slotting the nut

It's a lot of work to make a matching nut-slot in that style. Since you are building a new neck then I would suggest to instead make a flat-slot on the neck and simply file the underside of the nut until it becomes flat and matches. Prep the nut first to make sure you know how deep to cut the slot o...
by Nick Middleton
Fri May 17, 2013 11:33 am
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Too much bass
Replies: 8
Views: 10460

Re: Too much bass

It sounds like it could be as simple as the pickup being too close to the strings on the bass-side, or the treble-side not high enough causing a muddy-tone. Can you give us a measurement of the gap between the top of the pickups to the bottom of the strings when pressing the strings down at the last...
by Nick Middleton
Thu May 02, 2013 10:57 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: About tuning a plane
Replies: 15
Views: 12232

Re: About tuning a plane

I will echo Adam's advice about setting up the frog for a tight-fit at the throat. I also agree you might want to sand up to a finer grit on the sole of the plane. At least 120 (or 220 if you're ambitious). Also, lightly dull the edge of the sole along the whole perimeter so there is no chance you'd...
by Nick Middleton
Wed May 01, 2013 12:03 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: 1st Guitar build, from kit
Replies: 5
Views: 4419

Re: 1st Guitar build, from kit

I like the color! Not bad figure for an eBay kit.

Roughly, how much you think you spent on the whole thing; including finishing materials/parts/etc?
by Nick Middleton
Tue Apr 30, 2013 5:07 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Would you rework the first guitar you built?
Replies: 9
Views: 7991

Re: Would you rework the first guitar you built?

I like what you did to the look of the guitar now. If the guitar was given to me, I'd replace the pickguard with one that is styles more-like a Les Paul Jr since the pickup/bridge combo give me that sort of vibe about it.

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