Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Comments and critique are always welcome on my instruments. I'm sure that I'm like most of you, in that I'm very critical of my work. I know where I see shortcomings, and hopefully the next time around I'll improve. I even point some of my mistakes...I mean features. If any of you see something that...

The linings are made from 3 layers of Kauri pine just because I have a large plank of it. I also made them out of Qld Maple, but tha'ts way too hard to work with for linings. You could use different colors of wood to give it a stripe for an original look. I still need to bend them before laminating ...

Here's a couple more pictures. The top is glued on today as well, but I'll wait for a picture of that until I get the binding on. http://www.mcguitars.com.au/phpBB2/userpix/31_PJ_Back_and_Sides_1.jpg There's a lot less work getting the braces inlet when you don't have to do the lower bout :D . Great...

It's looks like it doesn't it. Not that I consciously planned it out this way.

I just got my scale length marked out and then laid out the x-brace so they intersected the sides of the bridge. The other braces just got laid out so they looked kinda balanced. Not much science behind it

Heres a bit of an update to my build over the Christmas holidays. The sides for both of these guitars have been bent using my new MEI heat blanket. One side set has been put away for the time being, and I've got the back glued on for the one that is going to get the Australian Cedar top. These are g...

If your looking for some wooden clamps like these, Timbercon has them on special until January 6. http://www.mcguitars.com.au/phpBB2/userpix/31_lwc11200_1.jpg http://www.timbecon.com.au/productsearch/default.aspx?txtSearchBox=wc-11 I'm getting 8 of the 400 mm ones. About the best price I've ever see...

I've got a Qld. Black Walnut back cut pretty well to finished dimensions for my petite jumbo. Overall dimensions similar to a OOO/OM. Braced with Engelman and thicknessed to .093. Ready to install. Weights in at 272 grams.

Yah, The blanket with thermocouple and shipping was just a few bucks over the $100. Took 3 weeks to ship as they say on their web site. And the mail had it here in a week.

I was thinking about staining mine, but I tried some pore filling on a scrap with the WEST Systems epoxy and it reddened and darkened a fair bit, so I left it plain. It works well with the Qld. Walnut bindings and redwood top.

Thanks Kim, the wife and I are pissin' our selves laughing. That was a great start to the day.

Now that we've solved Alan's heating iron problem....wait a minute, what's happening Alan?

.............. If your local and offer me a fair deal, I will give you a go first, I always seek to support Aussie businesses. If you stuff up and then make a genuine attempt to put it right, thats OK, we all make mistakes so I will stick with you and tell others of the good vibe. Tim Spittle of Au...

I bought my iron from Australian Luthier Supplies. Looks identical to the one that LMI sells. So far have had no problems with it.

Well, I've given my new MEI blanket a bit of a workout in the last few days. I just bought a basic home light switch box to wire the blanket into with a heavy duty power cord going to the mains. The switch box sits next to my bending form so its easy to reach if I need to turn the heat off. The blan...

That's a lovely flourish on the fingerboard. I like that a lot.

I've got a set of Gotoh 510's that are going on my current Petite Jumbo. They look fabulous, with a really modern feel to them. These have the metal buttons. I just threw them on the scale and the set comes in at 250 grams. I never weighted the Gotoh open backs that I used on previous guitars, but I...

Looking like its going to be happening over the holidays Alan. How did you thickness the sides? Don't tell me by hand. That's just gonna take too many beers to contemplate in this heat. :lol: I thicknessed some Qld. Walnut for back and sides with a drum sander, and I still spent a couple of hours on...

Man I love the look of that Bob. And the snakewood gives it just that right amount of bling.

How thick is the peg head back lamination? I used one that was paper thin on my cutaway, but I wasn't really thrilled with it. Your's looks to be thicker.

That's were I'm storing it. That way I get to sleep with the zoot.

Thanks for all the work on that Hesh. Wish I'd seen it on build one. Would have saved me heaps of grief. I picked up a few tips that I'm going to try on my next build.

Yah Billy, havin a barbie and a beer was on our citizenship test. They take that very seriously down here.:) And Hesh, when I lived in Central BC for a winter, we had to keep the beer in the fridge instead of out on the porch to stop it from freezing. I feel for you M8, that's part of the reason thi...

That's lookin' mighty refreshing Tom. I just can't get my head around Christmas without at least some cold wet weather. And there ain't no way the wife is cookin up a a roast dinner when its well over 30. Might just have to have several beers and watch some cricket. There's nothing like watching cri...

Hey Bob, I just saw this on ebay, and thought of you...well actually I thought of myself first, but then had to think of where the hell I would put it. :lol: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300183062048&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123 Might make cranking out those necks a whole lot e...

Thanks Dave, that was more of an explanation about what carbon fiber can do to a neck than I've been able to learn so far.

What size do you use in your necks?

That looks great Alan. It doesn't need anything more elaborate than that. It's always best to simple really well, than elaborate and stuff it up.

I've use the LMI 2 way rod and while lighter, I don't like it much. I also used their single action rod (ordered it by mistake) and it left me unimpressed. Both rods required filing big globs of weld off before they could be installed. I've been using the Gotoh rod on the cutaway and now on the curr...