Search found 1674 matches

by Clay Schaeffer
Thu Mar 14, 2024 6:52 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Stew Mac already body built kit? Thinking of ideas for neighbors' kids
Replies: 4
Views: 1032

Re: Stew Mac already body built kit? Thinking of ideas for neighbors' kids

stick dulcimer.jpg Stick dulcimers might be another possibility. I build them with Formica back and sides, "A" grade spruce that doesn't pass the runout test or western red cedar from the lumber yard, walnut (or other hardwood) necks with the frets pressed into the neck (no separate finge...
by Clay Schaeffer
Sat Jan 20, 2024 11:41 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Mini tuners
Replies: 5
Views: 9072

Re: Mini tuners

You could buy two sets and have 4 left over (for a ukulele, tenor guitar, dulcimer) or buy three sets and have 10 left over for a cittern. Happy building!
by Clay Schaeffer
Sat Jan 20, 2024 11:33 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Soundboard woods
Replies: 6
Views: 8318

Re: Soundboard woods

If you built an arch top you wouldn't have to worry about the "peel strength" of redwood.
by Clay Schaeffer
Sat Jan 20, 2024 11:23 am
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Paisley Ukulele
Replies: 6
Views: 11718

Re: Paisley Ukulele

Love the paint job! Ukes are fun little instruments to build and play- an instrument that doesn't have to be taken "seriously", but can be.
by Clay Schaeffer
Fri Nov 17, 2023 4:53 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: ...I found this under the house...
Replies: 2
Views: 7996

Re: ...I found this under the house...

Hi Robert, Whenever I have a question about a wood I have no experience with I consult the online Wood Database. For Anigre here is their listing: https://www.wood-database.com/anigre/ The listings give a description of the wood and its physical properties and it's common uses, workability, and toxi...
by Clay Schaeffer
Tue Nov 07, 2023 12:43 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Favorite Router?
Replies: 5
Views: 10466

Re: Favorite Router?

For an all around type router I like the Porter Cable 690. It takes both 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch collets, can use either a fixed or plunge base, and is reasonably powerful but not too large or heavy. You can still find them (and accessories) on the used market. My favorite small router is the Rockwell...
by Clay Schaeffer
Tue Nov 07, 2023 11:37 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: relief in a classical guitar neck
Replies: 4
Views: 9918

Re: relief in a classical guitar neck

Hi Rob, When I "level" the fretboard, I do somewhat as you suggest - I start by lightly filing the frets, and as those nearest the nut are "leveled" I move the file (or sanding beam) down the fret board. I don't mind if the over all effect is to give the fret plane a tiny bit of ...
by Clay Schaeffer
Tue Oct 24, 2023 11:49 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: The Mighty WEN 9" Bandsaw!
Replies: 3
Views: 7039

Re: The Mighty WEN 9" Bandsaw!

If you can find a 1/4 inch skip tooth blade (3tpi) it might cut thick stock a little easier because the extra gullet space allows the saw dust to have a place to go.
by Clay Schaeffer
Sun Sep 03, 2023 11:39 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: H.E. Brown’s “improved” Torres classical guitar
Replies: 11
Views: 12574

Re: H.E. Brown’s “improved” Torres classical guitar

Hi Alan,
I use a single 10-24 socket head cap screw low down in the heel to hold the neck on steel string guitars so it should work fine for classicals and weigh much less than a couple of 1/4 -20 bolts many people use.
by Clay Schaeffer
Thu Aug 03, 2023 11:43 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Question About Sitka
Replies: 11
Views: 14616

Re: Question About Sitka

You might want to check the runout on the boards before you mill them for guitar tops.
by Clay Schaeffer
Sat Jul 29, 2023 12:30 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Maintaining polished brass inlays on guitar body
Replies: 8
Views: 10213

Re: Maintaining polished brass inlays on guitar body

They make polishing cloths for woodwind instruments that might work:
https://www.westmusic.com/band-orchestr ... ish-cloths
by Clay Schaeffer
Sat Jul 29, 2023 12:18 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Can This Be Fixed?
Replies: 3
Views: 6679

Re: Can This Be Fixed?

Perhaps a good opportunity to try your hand at a sunburst finish (if it's out near the perimeter)? +1 on the sunburst idea!. If it is not near the perimeter you could do a "black face" or painted top. Many glues can be dissolved or softened with solvents - water, vinegar, acetone, lacquer...
by Clay Schaeffer
Thu Jul 20, 2023 7:57 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Please educate me on headless bass bridge/tuner hardware
Replies: 6
Views: 8618

Re: Please educate me on headless bass bridge/tuner hardware

Congratulations on the new addition Matthew! No help on the bass hardware, except to say most of the cheaper Chinese made stuff i have used is usually of "lighter construction". I have also bought some Chinese made stuff that is good quality and still priced competitively but not uber cheap.
by Clay Schaeffer
Mon Jul 10, 2023 9:22 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Laminated Veneer Sides.
Replies: 3
Views: 6031

Re: Laminated Veneer Sides.

I've glued and bent three layers of veneer of that thickness using West system epoxy and a solid block type bending form and a lot of clamps. The epoxy resin "wets out" the veneer enough to make it pliable to bend. I use matched veneers reglued in the same order they were sawn. With clear ...
by Clay Schaeffer
Mon Jul 10, 2023 8:56 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.
Replies: 26
Views: 44490

Re: First Guitar as done as it's going to be.

Very nice looking guitar. What made you decide to go with 7 strings?
by Clay Schaeffer
Wed Apr 19, 2023 10:01 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Building some size O guitars-- tips? trying to fasttrack it (having a baby)
Replies: 14
Views: 6300

Re: Building some size O guitars-- tips? trying to fasttrack it (having a baby)

Hi Matthew,
Congratulations on the new Family! What type (size, model) of guitar does your wife desire?
For a steel string guitar, X braced guitars of the Martin designs are hard to go too far wrong with. P.M. me if I can be of any help to you.
by Clay Schaeffer
Tue Jan 31, 2023 7:32 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Protecting Acrylic Art
Replies: 1
Views: 5965

Re: Protecting Acrylic Art

You can buy Rust-Oleum clear gloss acrylic lacquer in a spray can from Home Depot or Walmart for $11 or pay $15.50 to Amazon and combine it with something else to get "Free" shipping. When Amazon can't gouge the manufacturer they just up the price to the consumer to cover the "free&qu...
by Clay Schaeffer
Mon Jan 23, 2023 11:35 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Using persimmon
Replies: 9
Views: 10634

Re: Using persimmon

That is a very nice looking dulcimer. The only persimmon I had was a very unimpressive plain looking sand color with a few black dots.
by Clay Schaeffer
Sat Jan 21, 2023 9:42 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: How to fix misplaced bridge?
Replies: 15
Views: 12526

Re: How to fix misplaced bridge?

Try to fix one small syntactic mistake and that's what you get! :roll:
by Clay Schaeffer
Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:55 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: How to fix misplaced bridge?
Replies: 15
Views: 12526

Re: How to fix misplaced bridge?

The pins are set to the compensation. They are supposed to be at the leading edge of the saddle toward the nut. The pins are on the other side of the saddle. The saddle slot is 1/8” wide so the bridge is over that distance too far forward. Thanks, -Eric Keep in mind that the pins usually mark the &...

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