Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

So how come everybody gets to have a new workshop!

Not to do with layout and you probably already know this Trent, but everything that can go on wheels should be. I have a relatively small space for the heavier machines and being able to roll them out of the way is invaluable.

Have fun Dave

Useful quick overview Trevor.

VA never ceases to amaze me- I had never seen that setting. Presumably it is picking out the highest volume peak...?

Cheers Dave

Steve that looks wonderful. Great rosette as well.

Enough to cheer me up on a fiercely cold and grey day in the UK! Good job I don't live your way or I'd be knocking on the door!

155 guitars is pretty impressive too.

Cheers Dave

That is an extremely neat build for a first go.

Interesting that few people stop at one!

If you are not aware of Trevor Gore and are interested in a more analytical take on guitar design and build you should take a look.

Cheers Dave

Thanks Wayne, Trent.

As you will know getting the line on the heel to line up properly with the purfling is tricky. With these I was pleased.

Dave

Thanks Mark, as you can see I used different styles with the Maple, Walnut and Rosewood. The rosettes are commercial except for the ‘fan’ since I am unwilling at this point to expend the time to do a traditional version. The latest, the Rosewood I think is the best I have made. I am however reluctan...

Having bought a deceased makers stash of Indian Rosewood I couldn't resist setting to straightaway with my now fairly settled classical design. The tops are Engelmann. The Rosewood is certainly pretty.

Cheers Dave

Peter you are pushing more and more towards my next project being a mandolin! Dave

Yes good one Nigel. And how nice to hear a proper Geordie accent again! Dave

Thanks for the image Peter. It does look like a lot of bracing for a small top but I know nothing about mandolins - though I am planning to try one soon so your work is going to be useful. Dave

Peter that is good stuff. Have you come across any commercial mandolins with these characteristics? It is certainly a very handsome looking instrument. Making and selling 7 mandolins plus the eighth since you last wrote means you really have been busy! When you say braced like a guitar it sounds lik...

Pleased you got it finished Martin. Looks smart.

Jeez I could envy you those bright blue skies!

Dave in a very grey and wet UK

As one can see from Alan's reply there lots of ways to do this joint. I would however point out what G&G say in the book, that any sort of dovetail is quite hard to adjust for the angle, up and down and side by side required to get the neck geometry right. A straight mortice and tenon makes these ad...

I have checked with Robbie and Michael and they are happy to field queries here. I have a couple of minor questions When talking about relief Michael you are working with a 14 fret neck body joint guitar, although you fret at the 12th fret. If we have a 12 fret join should one drop down to around th...

I have bought this video training course from Robbie OBrien and it is really good. Michael is very clear in his explanations and puts forward his methods without being dogmatic pointing out different ways of doing things. The camera work is excellent with good close ups. Although a lot of this stuff...

Since I was fitting some tuners today I thought I might continue this a little. When I was making furniture I used to make my own dowel jigs (a la Krenov) and making them in a suitable hardwood such as oak seemed good enough. Exact spacing was not important since one simply reversed the jig to drill...

My falcate classicals were much too stiff. I have rather dodged it and gone to a traditional fan braced system but clearly it can be done successfully. We will enjoy following your experience. Dave

This is a bit woolly but I remember a thread on the Delcamp forum some time back about tornovozes and my impression was that they really didn't do much that was useful to the sound. I remember Alan Caruth who is a very reliable source discussing what exactly a tornovoz does. It could be worth your w...

Thanks Trevor. D

I have a nephew who needs a SS repair in Melborne - not an expensive guitar - but is having trouble finding one within reach due to the lockdown.

Anybody know of someone near Fitzroy North?
Thanks Dave M

Nigel, Nigel what has your spokeshave done to you?!
Dave M

I remember when I bought my Jet sander (which I think is the equivalent machine) it came with two blocks of wood as spacers which I carefully stored. But of course I can't now for the life of me remember where they were used! I would just add that if the people you are employing are ordinary furnitu...

I was wondering around the forum and remembered this thread from some time ago. Joss did you find any answers to the weight issues around the bolt on/off neck joint for a flamenco?

I am still using the simple bolt on joint - really just avoiding the accuracy issues of the full monty

Cheers Dave M

Falcate bracing on a bass. Who'd have thought! Dave

As Martin says it is often that the holes are a bit tight on the rollers, but also if the spacing between rollers isn't quite right (and there will be a tolerance on the manufacture of the tuners) then that will give you grief. A careful examination of the rollers as you insert them into the holes m...