Search found 193 matches

by Steven Smith
Tue Oct 27, 2020 6:46 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Oak Classical
Replies: 7
Views: 7357

Re: Oak Classical

Chuck, that's really nice and I think it sounds really good too. John Arnold has a white oak steel string that I've played and it's an awesome guitar. Reminds me that I have a nicely quartered piece of white oak that has been seasoning in my shop for about 10 years just waiting to be sliced into a c...
by Steven Smith
Tue Oct 27, 2020 6:34 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Chapman stick?
Replies: 31
Views: 51855

Re: Chapman stick?

I don't know about accomplished but when I was young I sure did like try different instruments. Being retired lets me practice for an hour of so every day. I play in church and we usually get the music with only a few days notice. It can be challenging when a song pops up and has an acoustic solo pa...
by Steven Smith
Tue Oct 27, 2020 12:13 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Chapman stick?
Replies: 31
Views: 51855

Re: Chapman stick?

Pretty darn cool but for me, I think I have enough trouble with the acoustic guitar! I'm finding that learning a musical instrument is "additive". I played (mostly electric) 6-string guitar for many, many years. Started noodling with a bass a few years ago, and picked it up fairly quickly...
by Steven Smith
Mon Oct 26, 2020 4:32 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Chapman stick?
Replies: 31
Views: 51855

Re: Chapman stick?

Just saw this video of Rodrigo Serrão playing a Chapman stick. Pretty darn cool but for me, I think I have enough trouble with the acoustic guitar!

https://kksound.com/artist-of-the-month ... &year=2020
by Steven Smith
Mon Oct 26, 2020 4:27 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: a pseudo go-bar deck
Replies: 6
Views: 7084

Re: a pseudo go-bar deck

Anything that works is good and looks like it should work fine. I would not leave instruments too close to a go-bar deck, sometimes the go-bars come loose and shoot out with a fair amount of force.
by Steven Smith
Fri Aug 07, 2020 3:33 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Using Kevlar instead of cleats for crack repair.
Replies: 4
Views: 5311

Re: Using Kevlar instead of cleats for crack repair.

For a similar type of reinforcement I have used linen and hide glue. I prefer something that can be reversed unless I am working on a cheap Chinese guitar. I still put cleats on cracks for the reason that Barry stated.
by Steven Smith
Sat Jun 27, 2020 6:49 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: falcate bracing
Replies: 21
Views: 16090

Re: falcate bracing

As I understand it, falcate bracing is based on work by Trevor Gore and Girard Gilet as documented in their book Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build . Based on the info in the book I built a falcate dread in 2012, it came out quite nice. I think it is a good bracing system although I see y...
by Steven Smith
Thu Jun 18, 2020 4:47 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Advice for changing bridge type mid-build
Replies: 9
Views: 8498

Re: Advice for changing bridge type mid-build

I'm with Barry, I would tell them it's not a reasonable change at this time.
by Steven Smith
Sat May 30, 2020 3:24 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Bending Torrified or Baked sides
Replies: 2
Views: 4137

Re: Bending Torrified or Baked sides

My experience with torrified spruce and maple is similar to Alans - it gets brittle and is prone to splitting.
by Steven Smith
Sat May 30, 2020 10:58 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Need advice on "high end" parts for dreadnaught
Replies: 39
Views: 36062

Re: Need advice on "high end" parts for dreadnaught

K&K mini is good advice, I've used them in several guitars and I play out every week. I use a Red Eye preamp. Sound guys like what they get too. Only disadvantage is the K&K will pick up top noise if the player has a tendency to tap the top - I had to retrain myself a bit but it wasn't a big...
by Steven Smith
Mon May 04, 2020 11:26 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: 24"x4"×3" Neck Blanks
Replies: 5
Views: 8338

Re: 24"x4"×3" Neck Blanks

I routinely get two necks out of the 24 x 4 x 3 blanks. Unlike the drawing above I plane the surface of the blank and then layout the neck from there although I expect the drawing was just to show that two necks would fit. If the wood does not have significant defects then it should be no problem.
by Steven Smith
Mon Apr 20, 2020 4:05 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Aqua Coat grain filler
Replies: 7
Views: 7802

Re: Aqua Coat grain filler

Yes, on Honduran rosewood. I just used the clear version and it did look good, but, since the Honduran is pretty light anyway, I think it would have looked better if it was tinted really dark as you are looking for.
IMG_20190613_103232288.jpg
by Steven Smith
Mon Apr 20, 2020 3:03 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Aqua Coat grain filler
Replies: 7
Views: 7802

Re: Aqua Coat grain filler

I've used it on several guitars under French polish. I like it. I have not tried to tint it. They have a number on their website for questions, you could contact them and ask.
by Steven Smith
Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:50 am
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Crack repair
Replies: 8
Views: 12955

Re: Crack repair

I've been using the GluBoost since it came out and I do like it a lot for finish repairs. I prefer HHG for bridge/brace reglues and crack repairs unless it's a very low-cost guitar with a client on a low budget. One thing I do is that when I fix anything on the finish I tell the owner that I'll make...
by Steven Smith
Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:44 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Loss of bass lowering the saddle?
Replies: 40
Views: 37096

Re: Loss of bass lowering the saddle?

Square topped braces are not an issue. I know of one top luthier that leaves his braces square. If the top is voiced properly it just doesn't matter.
by Steven Smith
Sat Feb 29, 2020 10:12 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: open discussion about binding/purfling fitting
Replies: 23
Views: 26120

Re: open discussion about binding/purfling fitting

Like Randy says it's important to seal with shellac before using the CA. I tried to go back and edit my post but looks like there's a time limit with the new softaware?
by Steven Smith
Thu Feb 27, 2020 7:48 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: open discussion about binding/purfling fitting
Replies: 23
Views: 26120

Re: open discussion about binding/purfling fitting

Another vote for CA. I almost always use wood bindings and I've found that making sure that the binding fits the channel makes a huge difference. I tape my bindings together and bend them on a pipe. I also use a razor blade to scrape the inside corner of the binding which helps the fit. I use 3/4&qu...
by Steven Smith
Thu Feb 27, 2020 7:38 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Number 3 Celtic themed 12 fret 000
Replies: 4
Views: 6610

Re: Number 3 Celtic themed 12 fret 000

That's nice Bob, I like oak guitars!
by Steven Smith
Sat Jan 18, 2020 6:12 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Alvarez “bridge”
Replies: 11
Views: 13259

Re: Alvarez “bridge”

Michael Lewis wrote:Have fun with the StewMac Bridge Saver. It is a very good tool for this application.
It sure is a handy tool when things aren't too far gone, I hate pulling bridge plates.

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