Search found 463 matches

by Steve.Toscano
Mon Nov 26, 2018 10:52 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Flamenco Negra
Replies: 5
Views: 8400

Flamenco Negra

Think i'm overdue for a build thread.... Finished this Flamenco Negra last week for Spanish guitarist Paco Lara. 6 week build from start to completion, strings on for the first time last Sunday, picked up by the customer on Wednesday, on stage on tour on Thursday. :D Soundboard: Spruce Back and Side...
by Steve.Toscano
Fri Nov 23, 2018 10:41 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Starting out on J45
Replies: 46
Views: 280018

Re: Starting out on J45

Worse case - drill a 3/8 round hole and hand chisel in corners to make it square.
Not ideal, and takes some extra time, but will get the job done. I did this for years before getting a morticer.
by Steve.Toscano
Wed Nov 21, 2018 11:52 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Selling my Luthiery wood and tools - retired
Replies: 17
Views: 41454

Re: Selling my Luthiery wood and tools - retired

Interested Zendo.
Feel free to give me a call, number is here: https://toscanoguitars.com.au/contact/
by Steve.Toscano
Wed Nov 21, 2018 2:46 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Ukulele neck joint
Replies: 2
Views: 4122

Re: Ukulele neck joint

I do Spanish heel joints on all the very few ukes I make.
As a first build I recommend to keep it simple, and it doesn't get much simpler then a Spanish heel. However if wanting to test your skills a dovetail or even a bolt on / off is ok.
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Nov 11, 2018 10:44 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Trev’s Falcate Bracing to Taylor’s New V brace
Replies: 3
Views: 6218

Re: Trev’s Falcate Bracing to Taylor’s New V brace

While I give credit to taylor for doing something different, at least different to the other big name factories. I've had 2 people drop in to my workshop with new v-class guitars, a 600 and an 800 series. One of these guys placed an order with me for a commission falcate SS after playing a demo one ...
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Oct 13, 2018 12:35 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Starting a start up
Replies: 15
Views: 26820

Re: Starting a start up

I found this very inspiring Steve. I want your life! :D I was articular struck by the statistic of 30% of people not being guitarists. I am also very pleased for you that it only took 18 months to get your order books full, that is amazingly good work. As others have suggested I will spend some tim...
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Oct 13, 2018 12:30 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New GST rules
Replies: 25
Views: 33786

Re: New GST rules

Ive recently been able to secure pretty good pricing from stewmac/LMI.
However am yet to get charged GST from either, buying monthly from both.
by Steve.Toscano
Tue Oct 09, 2018 12:01 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: ??? Glues and high pressure laminate
Replies: 14
Views: 25554

Re: ??? Glues and high pressure laminate

So you are wanting to glue a bridge plate ontop of the fabric? What's your reasons for not wantng to use epoxy? My first guess would be one of the thicker epoxy's that also gap fill eg techniglue. As opposed to west systems which when applying enough to take into account the fabric soaking it up wou...
by Steve.Toscano
Fri Oct 05, 2018 10:10 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Home/workshop recording studio setup help
Replies: 16
Views: 18997

Re: Home/workshop recording studio setup help

Hey Trent. I have- Mic: https://www.musoscorner.com.au/akg-p170-project-studio-instrument-condenser-microphone Interface: https://www.storedj.com.au/native-instruments-komplete-audio-6-plus-komplete-elements Connected to my laptop. This setup is used to record all my audio, eg: https://www.youtube.c...
by Steve.Toscano
Fri Oct 05, 2018 9:41 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Starting a start up
Replies: 15
Views: 26820

Re: Starting a start up

Hi Alan, I went full time into the guitar making and teaching realm 18months ago (from a 16yr corporate IT career). I own the Sydney workshop of the Australian Guitar Making School, i find teaching to be fun, enjoyable, most rewarding, and certainly helps pay the bills and put food on the table. The...
by Steve.Toscano
Fri Jul 27, 2018 6:59 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Routing bindings/purflings
Replies: 24
Views: 23544

Re: Routing bindings/purflings

I used to cut mine by hand..... :toi True story. Now i use the Stew Mac jig with a makite laminate trimmer. Works ok, go full depth in one pass and honestly have never had a tear out issue. Make sure to keep the cutter sharp. I dont bother sharpening mine, instead replace it every ~15 guitars or so....
by Steve.Toscano
Wed Jul 18, 2018 11:29 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Classical neck reinforcement. Yes or no?
Replies: 7
Views: 10754

Re: Classical neck reinforcement. Yes or no?

MY question is: what do other classical makers do. 1. No neck reinforcement or 2. A hardwood insert or 3. Carbon fibre. OR 4. Truss rod? I put a truss rod in most my nylon string instruments nowadays with spanish heel body joins. The exception to this is flamenco blancas where im trying to keep wei...
by Steve.Toscano
Mon Jul 16, 2018 3:19 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New GST rules
Replies: 25
Views: 33786

Re: New GST rules

I did a $200 order with LMI on July 5th, arrived last week, I wasnt charged GST.

Have done some ebay orders and noticed ebay is charging the GST at the checkout like Simso mentioned.
by Steve.Toscano
Mon Jul 16, 2018 12:47 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: First commission
Replies: 36
Views: 547526

Re: First commission

Sorry for continuing off topic Trent.... I also find it hard to justify a cost of greater than 3500 when I know what a person can buy in this price range. Dont take this the wrong way Steve (and i understnd your situation is very different to most builders as your focus is on repairs), but I think t...
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:42 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: First commission
Replies: 36
Views: 547526

Re: First commission

simso wrote:
Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:21 pm

For other note, typically I build a custom acoustic for 3500, the same time spent doing repairs will net in around 6000 so I only build acoustics on the rare occasion.

Steve
Why charge 3500 for a build then? Doesn't seem like a wise business decision.
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jul 14, 2018 3:51 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: First commission
Replies: 36
Views: 547526

Re: First commission

Well done Trent, and i hope you get many more!! Some advice (or moreso - things i wish someone told me when doing my first lot of commissions). - Don't cut yourself short when quoting, you are offering a premium product so charge a suitable price. - Provide realistic time frames so to not end up rus...
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jul 14, 2018 3:31 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Back burner jobs
Replies: 11
Views: 15327

Re: Back burner jobs

Wowsers... Following to see the finished repair.
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jul 14, 2018 3:28 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Advanced Hard Shellac Finish from Gore/Gilet
Replies: 4
Views: 9359

Re: Advanced Hard Shellac Finish from Gore/Gilet

This one below was my first full body hard shellac finish.
Trick i found was to let the finish harden for a good ~6 weeks before hitting it with the micro mesh. I final buffed with the micro mesh liquid polish.
Classical-Guitar-Australia-Back.jpg
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Jul 08, 2018 4:06 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Trevor Gore Modal Tuning Course - Sydney
Replies: 3
Views: 4971

Re: Trevor Gore Modal Tuning Course - Sydney

Thanks Martin.
2 spots available for anyone interested.
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jun 30, 2018 9:39 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Using Abalone
Replies: 15
Views: 15451

Re: Using Abalone

It should, yes, ensure you sand the shell to a high grit. Typically 800 is enough.
You can do this in your finish prep stage.
by Steve.Toscano
Mon Jun 18, 2018 11:53 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Trevor Gore Modal Tuning Course - Sydney
Replies: 3
Views: 4971

Trevor Gore Modal Tuning Course - Sydney

Hi all. For anyone interested, here's a great opportunity to extend your guitar design knowledge with the guy who literally wrote the book on the subject. Trevor Gore will be running one of his 3 day Modal Tuning courses in my workshop later this year. Some dot points about the course: • Guitars rad...
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Jun 17, 2018 1:16 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Sydney get together
Replies: 4
Views: 13416

Re: Sydney get together

Not much interest. Im not that bad to hang out with..... am i? :shock:

I'll probably end up arranging something with my students as heaps of them are keen and host in my workshop on a Friday evening.
Mark, and Martin (and anyone else) are welcome to join us.
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:44 pm
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Cutting notches in braces
Replies: 4
Views: 26894

Re: Cutting notches in braces

I realised that we already use a depth stop on our fret saw to cut specific depths and this could be used to do a series of cuts in a brace to be followed by a chisel. It worked well for me. Great idea!! I have a small fine Japanese saw which turns out the teeth are cut exactly 2mm into the blade. ...
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Jun 17, 2018 12:39 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Using Abalone
Replies: 15
Views: 15451

Re: Using Abalone

So do we have to get the shell inlay to exactly match the final surface of the top? Or is there a way of thinning it down, maybe with fine abrasives? I dont use it much myself, but a lot of my students do. I get them to cut the channel so the shell is just proud of the top. Talking less then a quar...
by Steve.Toscano
Tue Jun 12, 2018 12:13 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Broken drill bit in tie block
Replies: 6
Views: 8159

Re: Broken drill bit in tie block

Does the hole go through to the otherside? If so as Martin mentioned push it through with some wire or a nail from the saddle side. Otherwise maybe you could drill a temporary hole from the saddle side at an angle over the top of the saddle slot to meet up with the end of your drill bit then push it...