Helpful websites

Please put your pickup/wiring discussions in the Electronics section; and put discussions about repair issues, including fixing errors in new instruments, in the Repairs section.
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Ed Minch
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Joined: Sun Dec 24, 2017 1:59 pm

Helpful websites

Post by Ed Minch »

On another thread, someone posted a website he refers to whenever he makes a neck scarf joint. Just like him, I build instruments at a leisurely pace - works out to one every 10 months or so. So I end up taking a lot of pictures so I can look at what I did last time, and I also have a few websites that I refer to to kick my memory in the butt.

What procedures do you refer to a handy website for when you build?

For starters - carving a Martin-style volute, I use the sequence about 1/2 way down here:

https://umgf.com/carving-the-martin-vol ... ChdlktGEso

Ed
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Jim McConkey
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Location: Way north of Baltimore, MD

Re: Helpful websites

Post by Jim McConkey »

Just to consolidate info, I am copying Brian Evans' post here:
I look up this website every single time I cut a scarf joint. I always forget how to do it between times....
http://www.mirwa.com.au/HTS_Headstock_Scarf_Joint.html
And speaking of cutting scarf joints, Kathy Matsushita has good details and plans for building a scarf cutting jig on her website, along with lots of other information on her tools and jigs.
MIMForum Staff - Way North of Baltimore
Ed Minch
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Re: Helpful websites

Post by Ed Minch »

Jigs are different than techniques. Besides, sometimes a jig takes the fun out of it. And in cases like this, there is barely a time savings
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Freeman Keller
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Re: Helpful websites

Post by Freeman Keller »

Ed, for what it is worth, I have a long page of book marks for sites that I go to frequently and articles that I refer to. They range from theoretical (start here)

https://www.liutaiomottola.com/

http://www.annarborguitars.com/index.html

Every one of the StewMac tips are great, as are Frank Ford's, John Hall's and so many more. The other lutherie forums are high on my list, the UMGF FAQ has some goodies (the string tension chart is handy). Speaking of string tension, both D'Addario's site and the Universal Tension Calculator are on my list. The wood database is pretty handy

https://www.wood-database.com/wood-finder/?fwp_paged=4

I also kind of hate to admit it, but I have a whole bunch of my personal build threads book marked - I go back to them for a variety of reasons
Ed Minch
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Re: Helpful websites

Post by Ed Minch »

Freeman

Yea I refer to a bunch of general sites too - love Frank Ford's, One of the best but little known is Paul Hostetter's.

http://www.lutherie.net/

He has been in the repair business since the 60's and is a friend of all those guys. He interviewed Nick Lucas twice before he died and is a top notch Nick Lucas Special expert. One of his daughters plays violin in Brooklyn and my daughter knows her. His other daughter plays local music in Ethiopia and is also a friend of my daughter's. He designed the H-13 for Santa Cruz guitars in the 70's and it is still offered - it is his version of the Nick Lucas Special - a thicker 30's Gibson L body. He had 15 made for friends and here are the pictures - amazing - Pink Ivory??

http://www.lutherie.net/model_h.pix.html

Lots and lots of good stuff on his site. I may not have the story right, but he got this guitar for a friend, and the next thing he knows, here it is - Nick Lucas Special that someone had stripped to natural:

Ed
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Freeman Keller
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Re: Helpful websites

Post by Freeman Keller »

Ed, I don't know if you've spent much time at the MIMF links page - there are some incredible resources there
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Steve Sawyer
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Re: Helpful websites

Post by Steve Sawyer »

This site has been my go-to for information on various woods. Has to be the most comprehensive that I've ever seen. The "fact sheets" that he has for some woods is incredibly valuable, including info on how the wood works, effect on tool edges, steam-bending behavior, gluing, nail- and screw-holding etc. Also helpful in determining when some species is referred to by various names (e.g. "jatoba" and "Brazilian cherry").

http://hobbithouseinc.com/personal/woodpics/

I am also frequently needing to compare the density or the hardness of various woods. Good for answering questions re whether a particular species will make a guitar lighter or heavier, and whether a particular species might be suitable for a fretboard.

https://www.bellforestproducts.com/info/janka-hardness/

https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/wood ... -d_40.html

By the way, if anyone finds better sources for density/hardness info, please let me know. I have yet to find a single resource that is really, REALLY complete. The two links above are probably as complete as any I've found. Many years ago, I sifted through a dozen sites to make tables that were as complete as possible, arranged both by name and measure, and put this on the site/forum of our local woodworking club. We experienced a failure that lost much of that info, and I haven't taken the time to repeat the process. I sure wish I'd put that into a spreadsheet or something :(
==Steve==
Ed Minch
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Re: Helpful websites

Post by Ed Minch »

I wrote about Paul Hostetter above on the 15th and just learned that he passed away on the 13th. May he rest in peace and may his great website be a part of his legacy.

Ed
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