Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Thanks everyone for your input. Nice to have a reality check.

Hi everyone, I am just starting another guitar build and would like some advice/opinions on the neck. I have a blank that is 100mm wide so it would not need to have ears added for the headstock. I initially thought that this is a good thing but after gluing the scarf joint I am having second thought...

Hi everyone, I just finished this guitar and I would like to share some of my experiences. Firstly, thanks to everyone who helped me out along the way. The finished guitar sounds amazing beyond expectations. Very happy with it. In hindsight there are a few lessons: Closed box T(1,1)2 seemed low at 1...

Thanks Trevor. I started with the book dimensions but did take a bit of to get the weight down. I thought it was more but when I look closely it was only 1.5mm off the back and 2mm off each end. That should be within the safety margin.
Regards
David

I am open for advice on my bridge glueing area of 41.5mm2. I am considering making a bigger bridge. Currently have a top resonance of 182Hz with bridge taped on. Target is 170Hz so I could accommodate a heavier bridge.

Hi Dave, thanks for your comments. I am working up to doing a cutaway, perhaps next time. Bridge is 9mm high at the centre of the front. I have raduised the saddle area to about 20" so it is not as high at the ends of the saddle. At the back it is about 7mm high. The back face is chamfered at about ...

I finished bridge and managed to get to 17g. To get down to that, I needed to reduce the footprint a little. It is about 41.5 cm2 which is lower than the book recommendation. I am hoping that's OK given that I have at stiff bridge plate with carbon fibre. IMG_20191026_172407.jpg I improved my tappin...

Thanks Trevor, Thanks Richard, I will carry on and see where it ends up. Started making the bridge today. Padauk with CF. Will be interesting to see if 15g can be achieved.

David

Hi Trent, thanks for your reply. "Clean Work" is a very much appreciated compliment for me. I am trying to figure out whether I am going to be able to achieve a finished T(1,1)2 close enough to 170Hz given I am starting at 180hz closed box. I simply don't know how much effect binding, neck, finish, ...

Here are pictures that I tried to attach to previous post: IMG_20191016_160909.jpg IMG_20191016_160647.jpg I have now glued on the soundboard: IMG_20191021_082543.jpg I have tap tested the body. I am targeting: T(1,1)1 90Hz T(1,1)2 170Hz T(1,1)3 214Hz I currently 97Hz, 180Hz, 215Hz with the bridge p...

I have been working on my second guitar build. It is medium sized falcate braced steel string as per the book but I am not attempting a cut away. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AoLKXB4uYzAzlqVwU7N8OHs-YXOpRw?e=R9rPtG I glued the back on today. https://1drv.ms/u/s!AoLKXB4uYzAzlqVuW-W_Fua08QsXPA?e=JI7AbO It is C...

Thanks Trevor, much appreciated.

Hi, just wondering if someone can point me to a case that fits the Gore/Gillet 000
Thanks

EcoPoxy might be worth looking at as an alternative. I worked with it on a mates fibreglassing project. Nice to use & virtually no odour. Apparently it's plant based.

In 7.3.6 of Trevor's book, he gives bridge plate thickness for 'with Carbon Fibre' and 'Without Carbon Fibre'. I am planning to start building a falcate braced steel string and wonder would like some commentary on the pros and cons of omitting the carbon fibre on the bridge plate.

After Trevor's advice I added a piece of spruce into the back brace scallop. This has raised T(1,1)3 to 223Hz and T(1,1)2 is around 180Hz depending on how I tap. T(1,1)1 has moved up from 98 to 99Hz. Not quite enough however 'G' is sounding pretty good. I don't really want to start enlarging the sou...

Hi Trevor, thanks for your advice. I will add a piece to the centre scallop of the back brace and see what happens. I must say, I am pretty happy with the guitar already but quite keen to push ahead and see where it can go. Particularly a mod like this which is reversible.

Thanks for your reply; it was a great help. I had been concerned about amplitude differences but you put my mind at rest on that point. I was capturing the spectrum with guitar tuned up but dampening the strings. Mic was 25-30cm away from sound hole. The main issue I had was the G on the 6th string ...

To illustrate what I am asking about, here is a screen shot of spectrum capture:
In this capture the peaks are 98Hz, 188Hz and 212Hz

Hi I have finished my first guitar and now looking at tuning the body resonances. It's OM sized steel string, x-braced with live back. Sounds very sweet but I feel it could be improved. There are a few resonance related intonation issues. So, if anyone is interested in helping me think it through, h...