Search found 23 matches

by Mattia Valente
Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:33 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Fan Fretted template
Replies: 6
Views: 7445

Re: Fan Fretted template

1. Take 2 aluminum L angles. Slot each to the appropriate scale, I used my stew mac slotting jig and templates
2. Taper your fretboard
3. Stick the two guides on as desired
4. Cut using handsaw.

Mike Doolin used to have this on his website with pictures, but it's pretty low-tech and works well.
by Mattia Valente
Tue Sep 01, 2015 10:23 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Separate bridge pieces for 6 string
Replies: 9
Views: 8995

Re: Separate bridge pieces for 6 string

ETS hardware in Germany also makes some nice stuff, which can be ordered direct (for a price..)
by Mattia Valente
Wed May 15, 2013 9:23 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: A Grounding in Woodwork Prior to Doing a Lutherie Cousrse
Replies: 17
Views: 9682

Re: A Grounding in Woodwork Prior to Doing a Lutherie Cousrse

Flat as in flat and *smooth* (no bumps, rough spots, divots, etc). I know what flat means. I'm just not sure what he meant given my understanding that the wood I'll be using will already be flat. So it means no warping etc. No warping doesn't mean the piece has been jointed (planed flat, power join...
by Mattia Valente
Mon Jan 14, 2013 5:13 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Grain mill
Replies: 15
Views: 16734

Re: Grain mill

Nice. My only 'concern' would be the food safety of those wheels...
by Mattia Valente
Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:23 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Rosette purfling problem
Replies: 14
Views: 9548

Re: Rosette purfling problem

I'm with Chuck and co - it's much, much easier to route for the main wood ring (no need to be super precise or tight), glue it in, and then route channels for the purfling lines. Makes installation a snap.
by Mattia Valente
Thu Jul 12, 2012 9:24 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: When do you decide to simply buy an instrument?
Replies: 25
Views: 26176

Re: When do you decide to simply buy an instrument?

Honestly? If I just wanted a really great acoustic guitar or two, the best option would have been to simply spend a few thousand on it. Instead, I've chosen to spend a large multiple of that on tooling and materials for a large multiple of that number of guitars. More fun? Yes. Cost-effective way of...
by Mattia Valente
Tue May 01, 2012 5:10 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Ash wood
Replies: 10
Views: 9877

Re: Ash wood

I've only built guitars with swamp ash and some furniture with hard ash, and I do prefer both the look (subtle difference, granted, but still) and definitely the workability of swamp ash over hard ash. It is a bit more of a pain to grain fill, but only marginally so, and the weight is what sells it ...
by Mattia Valente
Tue May 01, 2012 5:06 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Hello to all question about double neck electrics
Replies: 10
Views: 10663

Re: Hello to all question about double neck electrics

Well, it's precisely because you appear to build various types of wooden things, including some that involve a fair degree of carving, that I don't get why you'd want a kit instead of building from scratch ;)
by Mattia Valente
Tue May 01, 2012 5:03 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: bolt on, bolt IN and set necks
Replies: 26
Views: 15614

Re: bolt on, bolt IN and set necks

Um, a creative marketing department? I consider all necks attached with bolts, no matter where said bolts reside, as 'bolt on necks'. I also believe that while there are some tonal differences between various attachment methods, the 'improved sustain' myth is just that, a myth, and that any solidly ...
by Mattia Valente
Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:14 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Hello to all question about double neck electrics
Replies: 10
Views: 10663

Re: Hello to all question about double neck electrics

If you can build an acoustic, you can definitely build an electric (certainly simple slab bodied ones). I never quite understand the appeal of electric kits - you get to do all the 'annoying', fiddly stuff (wiring, finishing, sanding, more sanding, fret dressing, setup) and don't get the fun bits (t...
by Mattia Valente
Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:59 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Japanese woodworking bench?
Replies: 4
Views: 5281

Re: Japanese woodworking bench?

Get a workmate. It folds up small, add a top for larger projects, you've got a built-in vise...great tool. Probably one of my most used bits of workshop kit, even though I have a 'proper' workbench, mostly because I like working outside, weather permitting.
by Mattia Valente
Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:32 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Hello to all question about double neck electrics
Replies: 10
Views: 10663

Re: Hello to all question about double neck electrics

I've never seen a double-neck kit as such. Warmoth sells a few bodies... I've played with the idea of building one several times over the years, even drawn up a number of plans, but what keeps stopping me is the fact that besides looking cool, I very much doubt I'd actually play the thing very often...
by Mattia Valente
Mon Apr 23, 2012 9:26 am
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: First time build
Replies: 5
Views: 6655

Re: First time build

1. Sapele makes a fantastic neck. Sometimes/often heavier than 'true' mahoganies, and a little less easy to carve. I've used Sipo, Sapele and Khaya 'african mahoganies' for both bodies and necks without problems or hesitation. I like honduran better in terms of carving, but only slightly, and it's t...
by Mattia Valente
Wed Mar 21, 2012 5:56 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Thinking of Spooncarving
Replies: 6
Views: 7708

Re: Thinking of Spooncarving

Try wood turning. It's kind of like crack when your 'normal' woodworking projects (= guitars) involve 100+ hours of cutting, planing, sanding, scraping and fiddling with tiny details. I bought a cheapie lathe on a whim, and I'm not really any good or all that experienced (few pens, couple of bowl/je...
by Mattia Valente
Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:57 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Chocolate Recipes to cure your Cabin Fever!
Replies: 15
Views: 18023

Re: Chocolate Recipes to cure your Cabin Fever!

Well, yes, but butter is easily substituted. The chocolates I use contain letchin, but no casein or whey. I tend to buy bulk Valrhona or Callebaut chips (usually the latter for 'regular' use as they are fairly cheap and really quite good. Have several kilos left).
by Mattia Valente
Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:19 am
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Chocolate Recipes to cure your Cabin Fever!
Replies: 15
Views: 18023

Re: Chocolate Recipes to cure your Cabin Fever!

Does anyone have a recipe for dairy free chocolate I can make at home? Kurt, dairy-free chocolate what? Chocolate shouldn't have dairy in it - just cocoa solids, butter, generally some degree of sugar (I'm not a big fan of unsweetened, but then again you don't really see that at all over here) and ...
by Mattia Valente
Sat Mar 17, 2012 1:34 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: 10 or 12 inch Jointer/Planer
Replies: 4
Views: 5980

Re: 10 or 12 inch Jointer/Planer

If you're building guitars, I'd say the 10" should be fine - only thing it won't do is joint or plane 1-piece electric guitar body blanks, but neither will the 12", so it's a bit of a non-issue in that regard. I have a basic 'portable' 13" planer and have just bought a 6" jointer...
by Mattia Valente
Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:06 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Fancy figured woods...
Replies: 97
Views: 87682

Re: Wood porn...

Very nice! Where did you get the Pernambuco? I've got a shipment of fretboards coming in from Spain, should land tomorrow. In the meantime, some 'oldie but goodie' from my stash pile: Bit of traditional quilt maple: http://mvalente.home.xs4all.nl/maple/quilt_billet03a.jpg My 'Darth Vader' (or possib...
by Mattia Valente
Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:27 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Dragon rasp?
Replies: 19
Views: 19046

Re: Dragon rasp?

I have a pair of the large ones, from DICK gmbh in Germany, but I believe its the same product. They are nice, especially for the price, but nowhere near as nice as my Arious... The 'Chinese' rasps from Dick (which don't seem to be available any more) look very similar to the Dragon rasps, so I'm g...
by Mattia Valente
Thu Mar 15, 2012 5:18 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Is the Bosch POF 1200 AE suitable for neck cavities?
Replies: 8
Views: 10577

Re: Is the Bosch POF 1200 AE suitable for neck cavities?

I have owned the smaller green line Bosch router - unimpressed with durability, OK adjustment. The blue line stuff is good to great (had a euro plunge model I liked OK, and have a 1617EVS, US, running on a step down transformer that I like a lot). Arnt's right - spend a little more and get a good qu...

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