Search found 73 matches

by Francis
Wed Aug 05, 2020 3:19 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Attention all Lurkers
Replies: 85
Views: 523488

Re: Attention all Lurkers

Hi All - Really hope you're OK. Not been doing much since March and first visit back here since May.

Keep safe
Francis
by Francis
Wed Oct 09, 2019 7:13 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Attention all Lurkers
Replies: 85
Views: 523488

Re: Attention all Lurkers

Sadly I feel a bit of a lurker these days and must admit that I spend more time with the Acoustic Soundboard forum. However I regard the threads on this forum with the greatest respect and thank current and former contributors for their valuable and often unique approaches to both problem solving an...
by Francis
Sat Sep 15, 2018 5:23 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Lutz/Blackheart Sass Hybrid Nylon, venetian cutawy & arm bevel
Replies: 16
Views: 21973

Re: Lutz/Blackheart Sass Hybrid Nylon, venetian cutawy & arm bevel

Superb build and lovely detailing :cl
by Francis
Mon Sep 03, 2018 2:04 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: My take on a J-45
Replies: 3
Views: 6491

My take on a J-45

This is my version of a classic J-45. Lutz spruce soundboard with mahogany back and sides. Macassar Ebony has been used for the fretboard, bridge and headstock face veneer. Construction wise it has an X-braced soundboard with ladder brace back plate, laminated lime linings and lime side stiffeners. ...
by Francis
Wed Aug 15, 2018 2:35 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: J45 headstock design
Replies: 12
Views: 13547

Re: J45 headstock design

Thanks all.

The guitar in it's raw state:
Image

Now being masked off ready for finishing

Cheers
Francis
by Francis
Wed Aug 15, 2018 3:35 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: J45 headstock design
Replies: 12
Views: 13547

Re: J45 headstock design

Thanks Wayne Richard, I used a CNC to cut the pocket for the logo and the MOP logo itself Martin, The facing veneer is 2mm thick and as the whole headstock design was built up to be cut out using the CNC it mean't I didn't have to worry about registration at a later date. Once the face and backing v...
by Francis
Tue Aug 14, 2018 4:12 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: J45 headstock design
Replies: 12
Views: 13547

Re: J45 headstock design

Thanks Guys - here it nearer to a finished item:
Image

Not sure about the black 510's, I think the Cosmo version may suit better?
by Francis
Sun Aug 12, 2018 6:23 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: J45 headstock design
Replies: 12
Views: 13547

J45 headstock design

Had fun yesterday creating the headstock veneer for a J45 build. Had many different ideas over the last week or so but finally ended up with this one: http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/francisfmilsom/headstock%20veneer_zpsh59p7arj.jpg The headstock veneer is macassar ebony and the inlays are ...
by Francis
Sat Jul 28, 2018 9:25 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Routing bindings/purflings
Replies: 24
Views: 22100

Re: Routing bindings/purflings

Probably too late now but I built mine with a couple of draw runners to allow the router to raise/lower during the cut: http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/francisfmilsom/binding%20jig1_zpsbfrngkbr.jpg I have a Makita router (0700 C?) and I use the speed control to avoide big kicks on start-up ...
by Francis
Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:44 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Falcate braced Parlour
Replies: 11
Views: 14740

Re: Falcate braced Parlour

Thanks Mark. I use an A4 flatbed scanner to copy typical spruce / cedar soundboards which I can drop into the mock-up as a base layer. Then overlay things like bridge, rosette, fretboard etc. I tend also to work images at full scale 300 dpi. It means file sizes get quite large but I can go into the ...
by Francis
Sun Jul 15, 2018 10:19 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Tiger Myrtle and Ancient Spruce Concert
Replies: 3
Views: 7533

Re: Tiger Myrtle and Ancient Spruce Concert

Superb build. Great choice of materials :)
by Francis
Thu Jul 12, 2018 10:25 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Converting the 14 fret J45 drawings for 12 fret?
Replies: 2
Views: 4187

Re: Converting the 14 fret J45 drawings for 12 fret?

Thanks Trevor.

That looks an easy enough solution - I'll do some drawing to see how the X-brace sits under the bridge. Probably need too look at the bridge plate too.
by Francis
Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:12 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Falcate braced Parlour
Replies: 11
Views: 14740

Re: Falcate braced Parlour

Thanks Wayne - the customer wanted something 'different' with an art-deco flavour. Other than that the parlour size body and thirteen frets (doesn't do the dusty end) the rest was up to me. We exchanged emails where I proposed different ideas on design and materials. I normally do predesigns in phot...
by Francis
Thu Jul 12, 2018 5:33 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Falcate braced Parlour
Replies: 11
Views: 14740

Re: Falcate braced Parlour

Thanks Guys.

First time working with Bocote. Bends easily but this sample suffered from a few worm holes. Given the nature of the grain patterns they were easily disguised with coarse sanding dust and CA glue.
by Francis
Thu Jul 12, 2018 6:49 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Falcate braced Parlour
Replies: 11
Views: 14740

Re: Falcate braced Parlour

Thanks for the comments Dave :)
by Francis
Thu Jul 12, 2018 3:15 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Falcate braced Parlour
Replies: 11
Views: 14740

Re: Falcate braced Parlour

Hi Dave,
No I quite often change the back reinforcement. I try to make it smpathetic to the guitars design/theme.
by Francis
Wed Jul 11, 2018 2:42 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Maple side crack, any suggestion ?
Replies: 15
Views: 17953

Re: Maple side crack, any suggestion ?

Really great solution to that problem.

I've had a couple of sides crack and I've put it down to not allowing the side to heat through enough and applying pressure too far from the point of bending - probably a combination of both!
by Francis
Tue Jul 10, 2018 11:17 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Falcate braced Parlour
Replies: 11
Views: 14740

Falcate braced Parlour

Parlour guitar, twelve frets to the body built in Bocote (B&Sides), Sitka spruce soundboard, Bog Oak fret board and bridge, mahogany neck. A few images of the finished guitar: http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a587/francisfmilsom/JB%20parlour_02_zpsu81aitkv.jpg http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/...
by Francis
Tue Jul 10, 2018 8:27 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Converting the 14 fret J45 drawings for 12 fret?
Replies: 2
Views: 4187

Converting the 14 fret J45 drawings for 12 fret?

I'm looking at building the J45 from the drawings in 'The Books'. However I would like to build it as a twelve fret to body version rather than the 14 fret drawings. I think I will need to lengthen the body by circa 15 - 20 mm and maintain the bout widths as drawn? I've built a few falcate braced gu...
by Francis
Sun Jan 22, 2017 10:27 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: The responsive guitar
Replies: 6
Views: 7754

Re: The responsive guitar

Gore/Gilet for me too - Trevor will send to the UK from Aus without any trouble. Had mine a couple of months now, my other books will soon be for the car boot sales...
by Francis
Tue Jan 17, 2017 5:00 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: ES 175 plans
Replies: 4
Views: 6053

Re: ES 175 plans

Got mine from: Australian Luthiers Supplies www dot luthiersupplies dot com dot au
Mine is fine for dims and shape... :)
by Francis
Sun Jan 01, 2017 3:52 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New Year
Replies: 14
Views: 16167

Re: New Year

Happy New Year ALL - still about 7 hours to go here :gui
by Francis
Sun Dec 18, 2016 11:19 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Back arch and body depth
Replies: 0
Views: 4272

Back arch and body depth

Looking for some general (or specific) info on the vertex position of the back arch with respect to the central axis, Plus some comments on the effects of making a deeper body. The guitar in question approximates an OM/OOO with a Falcate braced top and live brace pattern for the back.

Many thanks
by Francis
Wed Dec 14, 2016 7:56 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 17 inch carved archtop build about to begin
Replies: 48
Views: 47472

Re: 17 inch carved archtop build about to begin

Thought about that Rod, but it's not just a single coat and the drying/hardening times involved plus the quantities of catalysed lacquer that would sit around until the next build was ready....

The price difference will not be that great.
by Francis
Tue Dec 13, 2016 7:53 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 17 inch carved archtop build about to begin
Replies: 48
Views: 47472

Re: 17 inch carved archtop build about to begin

Is that Carbon Fibre in the neck? If so, is the CF shaped to follow the neck angle? The line you see at the back of the neck is paduak, the image earlier showing the neck minus fretboard reveals a CF bar each side of the truss rod 8.5 x 4 mm cross section. These bars continue straight into the head...