Search found 111 matches

by John Hamlett
Sat Jul 09, 2022 4:47 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: MIMF Archtop Guitar Project
Replies: 65
Views: 779137

Re: MIMF Archtop Guitar Project

I haven't logged in here for quite some time and thought I would check progress on the archtop guitar project. Looks like it failed. :cry:
by John Hamlett
Wed Apr 11, 2018 6:33 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: bridge pins
Replies: 7
Views: 12391

Re: bridge pins

If anyone is interested, I got some pins from guitarpartsandmore. The look is pretty close to authentic according to internet photos of Foden special guitars.
Here are some before and after pictures.
front1.jpg
front2.jpg
bridge1.jpg
bridge2.jpg
by John Hamlett
Mon Apr 02, 2018 11:07 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: bridge pins
Replies: 7
Views: 12391

Re: bridge pins

I had already found "guitarsaddles.com" and a couple of others that I will call tomorrow. Just seeing if anyone here makes custom pins or knows someone who does.
by John Hamlett
Mon Apr 02, 2018 11:05 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: bridge pins
Replies: 7
Views: 12391

Re: bridge pins

Making bridge pins on a lathe is quite possible. I have made quite a few. I do my own end pins ( I use persimmon—I’ve never seen anyone selling that). If you have access to a lathe with a chuck and someone to show you the basics, you can get competent at it pretty quickly. The way to get six matchi...
by John Hamlett
Mon Apr 02, 2018 9:32 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: bridge pins
Replies: 7
Views: 12391

bridge pins

Hi folks! Long time no see!... but I have a question. I'm about to finish up a restoration of a CF Martin Foden Special guitar. It is one of few ever made and the only one I have seen. It had a very rough homemade bridge on it when it came to my shop so I had to make a replica bridge as near as I co...
by John Hamlett
Wed Nov 14, 2012 2:15 am
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: Achieving a flat (Non-glossy) finish
Replies: 12
Views: 10368

Re: Achieving a flat (Non-glossy) finish

When I want a less-than-high-gloss finish I add silica powder to my usual finish. I've used it successfully in lacquer, varnish, and shellac. It is a powder so there are no compatibility issues that I know of with any finish. The trick is to have no imperfections on the surface before the final coat...
by John Hamlett
Wed Nov 14, 2012 1:49 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Cutaway "pocket" building tips
Replies: 22
Views: 17751

Re: Cutaway "pocket" building tips

I did this one for a couple of reasons. -I thought it looked cool and took it as a challenge (it was!). -I already had an order for a cutaway guitar and the customer was excited about the look, so this was my chance to give it a try. I don't know if the extra air in the guitar compared to a more sta...
by John Hamlett
Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:01 am
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Cutaway "pocket" building tips
Replies: 22
Views: 17751

Re: Cutaway "pocket" building tips

So.... I had a customer order a cutaway dreadnaught, and I saw that picture from Alan, so I emailed the pic to the customer. Of coarse he liked the idea, so armed with one picture from the internet(!), I put in some head-scratching time, and after a styrofoam model or two, came up with this. I'm app...
by John Hamlett
Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:13 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Really Nasty old glue.....
Replies: 8
Views: 8861

Re: Really Nasty old glue.....

Ron Belanger wrote:...Is there glue squeeze-out on the inside? ...

Wouldn't that be glue "squeeze-in"?
by John Hamlett
Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:07 am
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Fret Crowning File- which one is the one?
Replies: 18
Views: 16926

Re: Fret Crowning File- which one is the one?

It is true that you have to pick through the Gurien burrs to find the ones with a smooth cut, but I've owned and worn out enough of them (burrs) over the years to adapt to the ones that don't cut as well as I'd like. After all, I don't expect to file the top of the fret with the burr and call it don...
by John Hamlett
Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:37 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Fret Crowning File- which one is the one?
Replies: 18
Views: 16926

Re: Fret Crowning File- which one is the one?

I use the Gurien file; the handle with replaceable burrs. It is my favorite, I like it far, far better than the "diamond" files, (my Stewmac double edged diamond file stays in the drawer and I nearly never use it) but it only does part of the job. I follow it with a safe-edge triangular fi...
by John Hamlett
Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:30 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Looking for mentor to guide me through replacing a top-Gibson A-style Mandolin
Replies: 5
Views: 6580

Re: Looking for mentor to guide me through replacing a top-Gibson A-style Mandolin

I've reshaped several old Gibson mandolin tops, some removed from the instrument and "sandbagged" in a plaster form, the most recent one reshaped still on the rim using a Watlow heater and "ingenuity". I've added splines and various braces and reinforcements to maintain the shape...
by John Hamlett
Mon Sep 03, 2012 11:21 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: HHG
Replies: 10
Views: 10944

Re: HHG

I use a heat gun, it has a low and a high setting, I use low. For large glue-ups, like gluing tops or backs to rims, I usually also set up a heat lamp in a swing arm lamp at a "respectable distance" to keep things warm during the application of the glue and clamping. For really big, slow, ...
by John Hamlett
Thu Aug 23, 2012 2:56 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Runout
Replies: 25
Views: 22870

Re: Runout

Another observation;
I've seen trees with more wind near the ground and less further up. Your straighter splitting billets may be from higher in the tree. If that's the case, the ones with more twist should be bigger billets(?).
by John Hamlett
Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:44 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Acer rubrum vs Acer pseudoplatanus
Replies: 5
Views: 6702

Re: Acer rubrum vs Acer pseudoplatanus

A tonewood expert friend of mine says that the working characteristics of maple, soft or euro', can vary quite a bit with how it is dried. According to him, many of the European wood driers do a good job of drying, so maple tonewood from Europe can sometimes be easier to work. My own experience with...
by John Hamlett
Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:34 am
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Runout
Replies: 25
Views: 22870

Re: Runout

Stuff like that happens. I have no experience with engalmann trees, only the wood in top-blank form, but certain species of tree are more or less prone to spiral grain, (wind, as it's called, not like the wind that blows, but like winding a clock), and the growth patters can change for no apparent r...
by John Hamlett
Tue Aug 21, 2012 11:08 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Runout
Replies: 25
Views: 22870

Re: Runout

Ever see ribbon grain mahogany? The grain twists one way for a time then the twist reverses for a time. Other trees do it too, like certain gum trees. I suppose those trees must move from the northern to the southern hemisphere every few years in order to do that... Some trees, like western red ceda...
by John Hamlett
Tue Jul 24, 2012 6:17 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Help w/ compression fretting - or somethin'
Replies: 15
Views: 16794

Re: Help w/ compression fretting - or somethin'

I didn't recommend heat setting because I've not had good, permanent results from that either, and of the others that I know who have done lots of them, only a percentage of those necks are improved long term. Also, Titebond can cold creep, hot hide glue does not. If the board were to be removed and...
by John Hamlett
Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:18 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Help w/ compression fretting - or somethin'
Replies: 15
Views: 16794

Re: Help w/ compression fretting - or somethin'

I have a couple of different fret wires with tangs that are around .022" to .024" thick. Got them by accident (that's the tang itself, the "bumps" not included). I think you'd be better off forcing wider fret tangs into the slots than trying to build up the slots, but even so, I'...
by John Hamlett
Fri Jul 20, 2012 6:47 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Split Martin bridge
Replies: 10
Views: 10757

Re: Split Martin bridge

Doesn't fit very well with the design of my bridge slotting jig, but something to consider none the less.

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