Search found 367 matches

by Bill Raymond
Fri Feb 03, 2017 5:23 pm
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Can someone walk me through speaker design? I have no idea.
Replies: 9
Views: 11131

Re: Can someone walk me through speaker design? I have no idea.

Wharfedale used to produce a speaker system with a sand-filled baffle. Gilbert Briggs, Wharfedale's founder, claimed that it produced superior damping of the baffle. I believe they used 2 layers of 1/2 inch plywood separated by maybe 1/2 inch of sand. I doubt that they still manufacture one, but it ...
by Bill Raymond
Fri Feb 03, 2017 2:22 am
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Can someone walk me through speaker design? I have no idea.
Replies: 9
Views: 11131

Re: Can someone walk me through speaker design? I have no idea.

I'm not sure how I got that emoticon or emoji or whatever you call that thing in my post, but it was a mistake--I never use the things!
by Bill Raymond
Fri Feb 03, 2017 12:12 am
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Can someone walk me through speaker design? I have no idea.
Replies: 9
Views: 11131

Re: Can someone walk me through speaker design? I have no idea.

I believe the preference for MDF is because it has a higher damping factor than plywood, although ply will make a fine speaker enclosure as well. As for aesthetics, I believe that's a matter of individual taste. Some might be happy with a nice coat of paint, others would prefer a fine veneer, and th...
by Bill Raymond
Thu Jan 26, 2017 12:59 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Bending Luan Plywood?
Replies: 5
Views: 7755

Re: Bending Luan Plywood?

Bob's suggestion is a good one. I've bent lauan plywood to make a guitar case, so it can be done, but I think you'd have trouble with tight bends.
by Bill Raymond
Thu Jan 26, 2017 12:55 pm
Forum: Solid-Body and Chambered or Semi-Solid Electric Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Nut width/string spacing vs bridge string spacing
Replies: 9
Views: 12743

Re: Nut width/string spacing vs bridge string spacing

Only to folks used to/preferring the narrower nut width. It makes perfect sense to me, as I'm used to the wider necks and can't seem to play those skinny necks. I believe that Fender necks come in several different widths, though the skinny ones seem to be more common.
by Bill Raymond
Sat Jan 07, 2017 10:48 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Aging a china made zink cast bigsby
Replies: 5
Views: 8100

Re: Aging a china made zink cast bigsby

The fellow on the following site aged a zinc (not "zink") table top with cupric sulfate: http://vanhookandco.blogspot.com/2012/08/aging-zinc.html Just do a Google search for "aging zinc"; there are a few other sites where aging zinc counter tops is mentioned. One person said that...
by Bill Raymond
Fri Jan 06, 2017 11:37 pm
Forum: Wood and Materials Q&A
Topic: Aging a china made zink cast bigsby
Replies: 5
Views: 8100

Re: Aging a china made zink cast bigsby

David, I believe zinc is the primary component of "pot metal". And I'd wonder why they would cast a Bigsby in magnesium, when aluminum or some formulation of "pot metal" would probably be easier to cast for this purpose.
by Bill Raymond
Sat Dec 31, 2016 1:13 pm
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: What's the best fix for a broken dovetail on a Gretsch archtop?
Replies: 5
Views: 7560

Re: What's the best fix for a broken dovetail on a Gretsch archtop?

"Here is a 1975 Gretsch with a kind of funky neck bolt arrangement." That's not really a neck "bolt", but a wood screw that is driven through the heel and makes up for a possibly ill-fitting dovetail. Gretsch seemed to have some problems with their neck joints and took to using t...
by Bill Raymond
Wed Dec 28, 2016 6:22 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: gradient/progressive reading glasses
Replies: 40
Views: 41440

Re: gradient/progressive reading glasses

I'm happy that Mario has had success retaining his youthful vision, but those considering this method might be interested in this article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22820471
by Bill Raymond
Tue Dec 13, 2016 3:09 pm
Forum: Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Heat bending linings
Replies: 6
Views: 5886

Re: Heat bending linings

I use 3 layers of 2mm basswood, glued up around the same form as I use for laminating the sides, then kerf where necessary to fit them in. My sides aren't contoured for a domed top or back, so that's no problem. I happened upon a lot of basswood venetian blind slats that, when planed to remove the f...
by Bill Raymond
Tue Nov 29, 2016 1:11 pm
Forum: Glues and Finishes
Topic: looking for red dot
Replies: 5
Views: 5426

Re: looking for red dot

I remember that Dan Erlewine (Stew-Mac repairman) suggested using the tip of a carmine red pencil superglued into a 1/16 inch hole in the side of a Gretsch fretboard that matched the original perfectly.
by Bill Raymond
Sun Nov 27, 2016 9:54 pm
Forum: Other Stringed Instruments
Topic: Anyone Building Spinets
Replies: 30
Views: 37152

Re: Anyone Building Spinets

Although Peter Barnes' website doesn't mention plans or book, I believe if you contact him by email he can supply you with either. I bought the book from him, but had to email him to ask whether it was available from him. I don't know why he doesn't put it on his site.
by Bill Raymond
Sun Nov 27, 2016 5:41 pm
Forum: Electronics
Topic: Ground contact to bridge - How To
Replies: 8
Views: 10189

Re: Ground contact to bridge - How To

Yes.
by Bill Raymond
Sun Nov 20, 2016 6:16 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Thick binding in cutaway of Gibson archtop
Replies: 13
Views: 12356

Re: Thick binding in cutaway of Gibson archtop

I don't really know how they made the "filler", as I've never looked inside one. However, I have a plan for the D'Angelico New Yorker and it shows a solid piece of spruce filling the gap. I have also seen photos of an old Gretsch top removed and it had a piece of tulip poplar (judging by t...
by Bill Raymond
Sat Nov 19, 2016 10:32 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Thick binding in cutaway of Gibson archtop
Replies: 13
Views: 12356

Re: Thick binding in cutaway of Gibson archtop

It may have been "laziness" as suggested above, but I think that aesthetics plays a role, too. To me, the "modern" way of making cutaway archtops, where the cutaway is arched to meet the sides is not as attractive, as the cutaway looks like a funny bubble--but that's just my opin...
by Bill Raymond
Tue Nov 15, 2016 9:19 pm
Forum: Archtop Guitars and Bass Guitars
Topic: Thick binding in cutaway of Gibson archtop
Replies: 13
Views: 12356

Re: Thick binding in cutaway of Gibson archtop

Yes, I believe that the arch is made symmetrical and then the cutaway is made after. There is no "gap", but the linings are supplemented by a piece contoured to fill the gap, then the binding ledges are cut as Barry suggests, not following the arch in the cutaway, but rather in the same el...
by Bill Raymond
Wed Nov 09, 2016 1:37 am
Forum: String Instrument Repair: Practical and Political Issues
Topic: Repairing a old Gibson archtop
Replies: 94
Views: 139608

Re: Repairing a old Gibson archtop

I second David's suggestion to replace the bars' full length. You could either put a thinner neck pickup on, or use something like a filtertron that mounts to the bars rather than the Gibson style mount.
by Bill Raymond
Tue Nov 01, 2016 4:44 pm
Forum: Jam Session
Topic: Bill Machrone
Replies: 9
Views: 11483

Re: Bill Machrone

I'm sorry to hear this. Bill was a real valuable participant in the MIMF, and helped me by hosting photos of my bandsaw when I didn't know how to post them a number of years ago. He will be missed.
by Bill Raymond
Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:20 pm
Forum: Tools and Jigs
Topic: Bending Iron Question
Replies: 7
Views: 7789

Re: Bending Iron Question

David is correct about the temperatures needed to vaporize galvanizing. If you search for "brass wool" or "bronze wool" you will find it available from a number of sources. Google (or your other preferred search engine) is helpful.

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