Search found 170 matches

by Jon Whitney
Fri Mar 10, 2017 1:17 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Glue for skin drum/banjo head?
Replies: 7
Views: 11468

Re: Glue for skin drum/banjo head?

I've built a couple of tack head banjos. I used hide glue to glue on the hide head, but found the glue gelled (not the same as cured!) long before I was able to get all the tacks in to hold the head in position while the glue cures. This is due to the evaporation from the wet head cooling the glue. ...
by Jon Whitney
Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:08 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Wipe on clear top coat?
Replies: 5
Views: 6799

Re: Wipe on clear top coat?

If the Rust-o-leum is an enamel you may be in for a bit of a challenge. I'd contact Rust-o-leum and use their compatible rattle can clear coat assuming it exists. Once the Rust-o-leum is completely dry (no detectable odor) I'll bet the Tru-Oil will be just fine if you have the patience to deal with...
by Jon Whitney
Wed Mar 08, 2017 8:51 am
Forum: Bowed Stringed Instruments and Bows
Topic: Plans for electric cello?
Replies: 7
Views: 14640

Plans for electric cello?

A good friend of mine would like me to make an electric cello for him. He's interested in portability and being able to play through headphones, though obviously it should be able to play through an amplifier also. Are there any plans available anywhere? Also any suggestions for woods, pickups, prea...
by Jon Whitney
Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:45 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Fretting a uke
Replies: 3
Views: 8981

Re: Fretting a uke

If the fret wire truly was an L, it wouldn't make any difference which way you face it, as far as intonation goes. But you would have to be consistent with each fret.
by Jon Whitney
Mon Mar 06, 2017 10:41 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Ektara, Gopichand, Goatskin problems?
Replies: 5
Views: 9366

Re: Ektara, Gopichand, Goatskin problems?

They look like simplified gourd banjos. I've never made a gourd banjo, though I probably will some time, but I've made a couple of tack head banjos with wood rims. Use hot hide glue, or probably fresh liquid hide glue would also be OK. When I mount a wet skin head with hot hide glue, the evaporation...
by Jon Whitney
Mon Mar 06, 2017 8:01 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Wipe on clear top coat?
Replies: 5
Views: 6799

Wipe on clear top coat?

I'm currently working on my first solid color instrument finish (a solid body bass guitar). I've sprayed the body with several coats of black paint - Rust-o-leum - from a rattle can. During this process I got runs, orange peel, you name it - despite taking great care. I have sanded it flat (more or ...
by Jon Whitney
Sun Nov 22, 2015 12:49 am
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Ukulele bracing questions
Replies: 4
Views: 9694

Ukulele bracing questions

I'm building my first ukulele from scratch. I'm patterning it from an old busted up pineapple soprano uke. This uke has (or had) two transverse back braces, 1 about 3 5/8 from the heel, the other about 7 inches from the heel. The overall body length is 9 3/8" The top also has two transverse bra...
by Jon Whitney
Wed Nov 18, 2015 10:18 am
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Need Advice on Ukulele Setup
Replies: 9
Views: 13066

Re: Need Advice on Ukulele Setup

It's hard to tell if your steaming method will work without knowing what the neck joint looks like. Your method is for a dovetailed joint that is more or less standard on guitars. Many ukulele neck joints are much simpler, even to the point of being a simple butt joint. The only advice I can give yo...
by Jon Whitney
Wed Nov 18, 2015 1:35 am
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: Need Advice on Ukulele Setup
Replies: 9
Views: 13066

Re: Need Advice on Ukulele Setup

Answer to the second question is yes. I have a very little experience with ukes (I'm building one right now, though), but I did replace a bridge on one a year or so ago, under the tutelage of a pro repairman, and he had me make a compensated saddle and everything. I can't give an authoritative answe...
by Jon Whitney
Wed Nov 18, 2015 1:25 am
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Okie Adams Banjo
Replies: 3
Views: 7556

Re: Okie Adams Banjo

I can't help you but you might want to try posting on banjohangout.org. There are thousands of banjo addicts there.
by Jon Whitney
Wed Oct 14, 2015 3:35 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: a 'universal' fret slotting jig for the one-handed luthier
Replies: 19
Views: 27614

Re: a 'universal' fret slotting jig for the one-handed luthier

I don't know if any banjo players could be sold on the multi-scale! :) Lately, I haven't seen many banjos with a 23" or 24" scale. But maybe it's different in your neck of the woods. Really? I think short scale banjos (23 - 24" compared to 26 - 27") are becoming more popular the...
by Jon Whitney
Mon Mar 02, 2015 12:41 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Banjo bridge notches
Replies: 8
Views: 11793

Re: Banjo bridge notches

And here I thought that the British simply didn't know how to build banjos the correct way :twisted:
by Jon Whitney
Fri Nov 07, 2014 4:13 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Building a Welsh Harp
Replies: 15
Views: 19212

Re: Building a Welsh Harp

I'm not an expert, but I am a thinker. Violin strings are low tension, and usually don't cause structural damage. Guitar strings (steel ones especially) do cause structural damage even in a well made guitar- they pull the bridge up and back, and bend the neck. Neck resets needed every 20 years or so...
by Jon Whitney
Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:35 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: My first two builds
Replies: 5
Views: 9086

Re: My first two builds

You are right, lutherie is quite addictive. Those ukes are a great start. Good luck on your next career.
by Jon Whitney
Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:12 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Building a Welsh Harp
Replies: 15
Views: 19212

Re: Building a Welsh Harp

In my opinion, the huge advantage of the Paraguayan harp, which the Sweetharp seems to share, is the double neck, which allows a much lighter structure because the neck is pulled straight down, rather than being pulled off to one side as in traditional Celtic harp designs. In the Kovacs model of Par...
by Jon Whitney
Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:57 am
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Building a Welsh Harp
Replies: 15
Views: 19212

Re: Building a Welsh Harp

The sweetharp looks pretty close to a Paraguayan harp. For beginners, you can't go to far wrong looking up John Kovac, harpmaker on the internet. He sells a book with full-size plans for each of three harps - 3, 4, and 5 octaves. I built two of the 4-octave harps from solid wood (sides and ends of b...
by Jon Whitney
Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:32 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Building a Welsh Harp
Replies: 15
Views: 19212

Re: Building a Welsh Harp

From your description, it sounds like you are looking for information on the triple harp. Here is a wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_harp It appears that the founder of the company Bob links to, is the son of the man who revived building triple harps in Wales. However I could f...
by Jon Whitney
Fri May 23, 2014 10:46 pm
Forum: Ukuleles
Topic: New ukulele
Replies: 4
Views: 8219

Re: New ukulele

Very nice looking. I like the rope binding. What size is the cone?
by Jon Whitney
Tue May 20, 2014 3:50 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Coconut ukuleles
Replies: 3
Views: 5524

Re: Coconut ukuleles

I second Michael's suggestion. Dowel sticks or rods, or perch poles as some folks call them, work for gourd banjos so they should work for coconuts.
by Jon Whitney
Fri Apr 25, 2014 5:09 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Building my first Hammered Dulcimer
Replies: 7
Views: 9824

Re: Building my first Hammered Dulcimer

Extra bonus points if you can figure out what those doors are off of.

I don't think they are from a DeLorean or an A/C Cobra, despite having the look of aluminum. Maybe it's just the lighting. I would guess an old Ford Bronco.

Oh, and the HD looks nice too.

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