Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

A recent thread on this very subject at Ukulele Underground:

http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/sho ... -neck-bolt

Well, thanks a lot everyone for the advice! It is greatly appreciated. I think I'm converging on a plan based on all of this. It involves the boat, some MDF + heavy plastic wrap, and a full inventory. The shipping company takes care of the customs declaration based on the inventory of all our stuff,...

Thanks, gents!

I think that air-tight packaging with a little extra seal sounds like a safe route. At least if I pack it myself I have no one but myself to blame on the other end!

Other thoughts or suggestions are still welcome.

Cheers,
Aaron

In the process of preparing for an overseas move in May, I hope you all can offer some collective wisdom. :? The rep from the moving company told me "no worries" about packing & shipping my modest stash of tonewood. But I worry. The stash is not huge and nothing CITES listed AFAIK. I've about a doze...

Allan, I have watched the video a couple times now and I have to say that the fretboard is memorable. I like it a lot.

Your artistry shows in that. I'm sure the owner is well pleased.

Cheers
Aaron

Hey Paul, that is really sweet!

Mini: is that the Martin size 5? I am thinking about having a go at one them myself.

Cheers,
Aaron

Very nice work, Graham! The visual effect of the fretboard and headstock veneer, with the lighter grain through the middle, is excellent. Cheers!

What's wrong with this picture?

Thanks, Wayne. You might recognize the nut and saddle!

Hi all, My latest project is a "guilele": a 6-string tenor uke (17" scale) tuned ADGCEA. Or, if you prefer, a little tiny classical guitar. Fun, either way. IMG_1663.JPG The body shape is my own design. I'm pleased with the way it turned out though I can't help but think it is on the quiet side. On ...

Allen wrote:3 more tenors being readied for bindings. And tops and backs being joined for the next 5 commissions.

Allen,

What's the back wood in the middle of those three? Very interesting colour and grain pattern!

Thanks,
Aaron

I'm working on a "tiny jumbo" guilele right. Bunya top; silver wattle back and sides; blackwood neck. Binding TBD. Sorry for the poorly lit photo!
Aaron

Hi folks, This is my first mandolin: started back in June and strung it up for the first time yesterday. It's the flat-top model from Graham McDonald's The Mandolin Project . Thanks for the book, Graham! It was an absolute pleasure to work my way through it. Specs: Top - King Billy Pine Neck, Fretbo...

Folks, this is nothing more (or less) than a mad scientist's experiment in adding bridge mass a la Trevor Gore.

Is there a vaible aussie alternative to Mahogany? I was just looking into this yesterday. If you consider QLD maple viable in terms of availability, it comes close in terms of structural properties to Honduran Mahogany. FWIW you can compare the numbers at the wood-database: http://www.wood-database...

That is a stunning guitar, well done. :cl Tulip trees (L. Tulipifera) are common in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. I lived in Maryland for two years and saw a fair few in the woods. Probably the biggest tree I've ever seen was one . I think this the first guitar I've seen out of this tree, thou...

Thanks for the photo, Miguel. It's interesting (for me) to see how a bass uke is braced.

It's nice to see what you started with and all the more impressive that you got to that fine end result.

Cheers,
Aaron

Miguel, that looks like a great project. Thanks for sharing. The story is entertaining and the woods you've used go well together (cool top!). I played one of these in a shop once and those strings feel nice, if quiet when unplugged. Do you have a photo of the x brace?

Aaron

Hi Martin and Markus, Thanks to you both for the suggestions. I didn't give enough details the first time but Martin is right: it's a Spanish heel construction. I'm going more or less with Martin's #3 as the frets are already in place, otherwise Markus's idea would be simplest. I put the heat blanke...

Hi folks, I was desperately close to finishing my first solo build, a tenor uke. I'm really happy with it so far, except . . . I glued on the bridge yesterday. Tonight I put on a couple strings (low G and high A) just to hear it before I go away for a week on a work trip, and :toi. Now I'm just desp...

Ok yeah right but Im still intrigued....there appears to be glue squeeze out between the back and sides (see end of one of the back braces). Just a guess: Christian does that nifty mitred-edge thing, so perhaps the back and sides are glued together and THEN the linings are glued in after. Or maybe ...

Hi Kim

Beautiful! A Drooling Homer for me, too.

I'm just about start on the same project; picked up the book from Graham last weekend. If I do half as well as you have, I'll be delighted.

Thanks so much for the inspiration.

Cheers,
Aaron

I've been going through the same process in the last few months, focused on string instruments, and primarily hand tools. The big machinery will come along eventually, if I'm lucky. I spent the first 2-3 months reading everything I could find, online and in print. ANZLF is awesome! Probably the best...

Thanks Martin. The box is already closed and I'd rather not try to open it up. Otherwise I'd go for the chisel option.

Cheers,
Aaron

Thanks very much, Allen! I took your advice and spent some time on the StewMac fret calculator this morning. With an adjustment of less than 2mm, I can put the bridge over the bridge plate and place the 13th fret at the body/neck join for a 450mm scale length. That's a very nice solution. :cl And, a...