Search found 44 matches

by Tim Douglass
Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:03 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: It almost happened to me: ye olde safety thread
Replies: 21
Views: 16425

Re: It almost happened to me: ye olde safety thread

I find that the personal horror stories are, most of the time, the best reminder to me. Even after 40+ years of working with power tools (or maybe especially after) it is easy to forget and do something dumb. Every time I read about someone else getting bit I am more cautious for a few weeks. A book...
by Tim Douglass
Sat Jul 27, 2013 3:50 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

Hmmm... I've never had a problem with poplar being fuzzy when machined - in fact one of the nice things about it is that it can be shaped very neatly, which is why it is popular for making cheap furniture. I wonder if what you had was actually willow or cottonwood, both of which occasionally get mis...
by Tim Douglass
Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:45 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Spool Clamp idea
Replies: 5
Views: 5451

Re: Spool Clamp idea

I like this idea. I use my spool clamps a lot and it is always a pain running them up and down the rods.
by Tim Douglass
Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:59 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: And now for something completely different...
Replies: 12
Views: 10917

Re: And now for something completely different...

Very nice chair. The techniques and concerns for furniture building are so very different from what is important in instrument construction, a fact that was hammered home to me many times in the first couple years I was building guitars. I came to instruments from being first a rough carpenter, then...
by Tim Douglass
Mon Jul 08, 2013 2:34 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: 12 fret Parlor guitar from Mark Swanson
Replies: 27
Views: 16213

Re: 12 fret Parlor guitar from Mark Swanson

Very nice! I've been eyeballing those vintage tuners myself. Good to have an actual hands-on report. I hope to have a shop again by the end of the summer so I can build something to try them on!
by Tim Douglass
Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:23 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: When do you decide to simply buy an instrument?
Replies: 25
Views: 26181

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

As someone who plays badly I would rather use up my time building. If I could actually coax real music out of an instrument I think I would have a bit different take on it. Basically, if I wanted to, say, start playing the banjo I would buy one because it would take me at least a year to get one bui...
by Tim Douglass
Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:24 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Five String Flying V bass
Replies: 12
Views: 13443

Re: Five String Flying V bass

Really like that overall look. Great build!
by Tim Douglass
Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:23 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Smells like smoke....
Replies: 6
Views: 6521

Re: Smells like smoke....

Something to tuck away for future reference would be to see if a company like Servicemaster in your area has an ozone chamber. After a fire we had a bunch of stuff treated and I was amazed at how well it took all the smoke smell out of things.
by Tim Douglass
Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:18 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Pianos at the dump--
Replies: 17
Views: 16305

Re: Pianos at the dump--

While I hate to see instruments going to the dump, there is also a very practical side to it. For most families any more the piano is just a large cabinet that collects dust and gets banged on by pre-school kids. There are also so many alternatives if you actually want to make keyboard music that th...
by Tim Douglass
Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:44 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Just finished this headless semi-hollow seven-string
Replies: 14
Views: 15919

Re: Just finished this headless semi-hollow seven-string

I like that a lot, Michael! I would like to see a better shot of the back of the neck and how you worked the volute in there.
by Tim Douglass
Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:42 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Using the same 25' radius for top & back
Replies: 3
Views: 4567

Re: Using the same 25' radius for top & back

I use the same radius for top and back, probably at least 25', but it is pretty approximate. So far, so good.
by Tim Douglass
Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:44 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: A Princess of Mars
Replies: 8
Views: 8866

Re: A Princess of Mars

I just added "A Princess of Mars" to my Kindle. I somehow doubt that I'll get to the movie while it is still in theaters - just never seems to work that way for me.
by Tim Douglass
Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:34 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Smallest body size that works well for standard tuned guitar (steel or nylon)?
Replies: 16
Views: 14311

Re: Smallest body size that works well for standard tuned guitar (steel or nylon)?

I made the one in the center for one of the $100 challenges. Lower bout: 11" Upper bout: 7 1/4" Body length: 18 3/4" Thickness @ Tail: 3 1/4" (this was supposed to be 3 1/2", but ???) Thickness @ Neck: 3" Scale: 25.4" Dreadnought scale It definitely sounds like a &...
by Tim Douglass
Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:49 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Questions regarding top and back radius choices
Replies: 11
Views: 11317

Re: Questions regarding top and back radius choices

I do a sort of approximate radius, since I don't use a dish, but it is about 25' for both top and back. I think the one caveat with the flatter back is that you may want to make sure that you are building in the lower end of the humidity range.
by Tim Douglass
Sat Mar 10, 2012 6:18 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Nathan Noel's "Faith" tele.
Replies: 23
Views: 23673

Re: Nathan Noel's "Faith" tele.

Oh, yeah! That is one I'd take any day! Very nice job and very nice design.
by Tim Douglass
Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:19 pm
Forum: Bowed Stringed Instruments and Bows
Topic: New Design Peghead using lightweight Tuners (Pics)
Replies: 21
Views: 30852

Re: New Design Peghead using lightweight Tuners (Pics)

Nice! Wish I'd had those when I was designing my headless acoustic.
by Tim Douglass
Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:10 pm
Forum: Wind, Percussion, and Miscellaneous and Experimental Instruments
Topic: Rain drums - drums played by the rain.
Replies: 6
Views: 9890

Re: Rain drums - drums played by the rain.

Just spitballing, but I'd make redwood or cedar shells and use wood ring tensioned with stainless steel or brass screws. I think any normal drum hardware will corrode within a pretty short time. It's an interesting idea. Try just setting an old drum outside for a while to see what the sounds are and...
by Tim Douglass
Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:40 pm
Forum: Challenges
Topic: The next MIMF challenge- ideas anyone?
Replies: 59
Views: 154221

Re: The next MIMF challenge- ideas anyone?

I really have to agree with Deb here. One of the real values to me on the old forum was cruising the "Proud of my work" section of the library for inspiration.
by Tim Douglass
Sat Feb 25, 2012 10:29 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Ron Daves' # 2 classical
Replies: 15
Views: 22841

Re: Ron Daves' # 2 classical

Nice work. I really like the neck and headstock. The outside workroom is a nice bonus of a dry climate - one that I miss since I moved to the rainy country.

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