Search found 1085 matches
- Sat Jan 27, 2024 10:27 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: 12 string build advice
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5700
Re: 12 string build advice
Brett, Taffy and I are leading you down a rabbit hole with the neck block reinforcement, aka flying buttresses, aka “tone tubes”. This is certainly not a common thing and is not found, to my knowledge, in any factory made guitars. It was an idea propagated by some prominent luthier innovators such a...
- Fri Jan 26, 2024 3:40 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: pinless bridge question
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2892
Re: pinless bridge question
This one is a Breedlove and is pretty simple. You would want to draw it out at large scale and work out the angles. Do something like a countersink for the ball ends to slip out of sight. IMG_0071.jpeg It is actually more beefy than it needs to be. You can route out a channel across the middle to re...
- Fri Jan 26, 2024 10:54 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: 12 string build advice
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5700
Re: 12 string build advice
Great photos Taffy. I am a fan of neck block reinforcement too. IMG_0128.jpeg IMG_0138.jpeg Regarding 2 strings in one pin. You are right, it makes it necessary to cut two slots from the pinhole to direct the strings in parallel paths to the saddle. They don’t need to be very big slots, but you need...
- Fri Jan 26, 2024 9:41 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: 12 string build advice
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5700
Re: 12 string build advice
Wow - I just did some reading about string tension in a harp! A 12 string guitar hasn’t got much to worry about compared to that. But, nevertheless, the recommendations that Wayne gave sound good. I also like Martin’s comment about using a 6 pin bridge with 2 strings per pin. A traditional 12 pin br...
- Thu Jan 25, 2024 8:03 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: pinless bridge question
- Replies: 4
- Views: 2892
Re: pinless bridge question
I have done a pinless bridge on a falcate braced top (like ovation or Lowden or Breedlove, not the Doolin). It works fine, and actually avoids one fiddly bit of the falcate method which is arranging the primary braces to run between the bridge pins. A pinless bridge doesn’t need to be any more weigh...
- Thu Jan 25, 2024 6:44 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: 12 string build advice
- Replies: 12
- Views: 5700
Re: 12 string build advice
Hi Ab (do you want to share your real name - most do around here), welcome to ANZLF. A build with your grandson sounds great! I did my first with my son when he was age 15-16 (he is 32 now). One caveat is that he was all into spending time in the workshop until his first serious romance began and th...
- Tue Jan 23, 2024 10:26 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Martin Parlor design queries
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3279
Re: Martin Parlor design queries
Or you could X-brace it. But either way I would also go with an arched top in a radius dish
- Sat Jan 13, 2024 10:34 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Archtop Spanish Heel
- Replies: 2
- Views: 12089
Re: Archtop Spanish Heel
I would think that if you want to play with an unconventional neck joint for an archtop it would be good to look at something adjustable like the Doolin design or Smallman, or what Trevor Gore has been doing, or even Ken Parker. This is because archtops, with their more extreme soundboard profile, a...
- Mon Jan 08, 2024 12:59 pm
- Forum: Anything Goes
- Topic: Shop listening recommendations
- Replies: 13
- Views: 50068
Re: Shop listening recommendations
Joel's list is very eclectic! I like the range from Dame Joan to metal. For me, if I am doing concentrated work there can't be any spoken stuff like a podcast or the Goons. Even vocal music can be distracting so I tend to quieted ambient instrumental. Sometimes jazz - Miles Davis, Keith Jarret, Alic...
- Mon Jan 08, 2024 11:51 am
- Forum: Anything Goes
- Topic: Rodents clean up your workshop at night?
- Replies: 0
- Views: 16972
- Fri Jan 05, 2024 9:39 am
- Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
- Topic: Dedicated Machines...
- Replies: 2
- Views: 7497
Re: Dedicated Machines...
Thanks for that comparison information Taffy. I use mostly Makita power tools and have had a bit of a snobbish attitude to Ryobi but without any real justification for my bias. It is interesting that the fittings are interchangable, and it makes a lot of sense to go with the cheaper option for a ded...
- Tue Dec 26, 2023 9:46 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: OM size Nylon String Crossover
- Replies: 35
- Views: 110046
Re: OM size Nylon String Crossover
That photo, and your description, explains it well. The great thing about that neck joint design is the ability to easily adjust the angle with shims. I have a Taylor Big Baby which is exactly like that (except uglier because the joint is held together by two Phillips head screws straight through th...
- Mon Dec 25, 2023 12:04 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: OM size Nylon String Crossover
- Replies: 35
- Views: 110046
Re: OM size Nylon String Crossover
It is looking great David. I like the neck joint. It looks very elegant with the bolts all internal, and the absence of the heel plus the elevated fingerboard should make for good playability up the neck. Did you taper the body width at the neck end when you decided to elevate the fb?
- Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:06 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: New Flamenco Blanca
- Replies: 9
- Views: 34973
- Thu Dec 21, 2023 6:28 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: New Flamenco Blanca
- Replies: 9
- Views: 34973
Re: New Flamenco Blanca
A lovely guitar Steve. I really like the balance of colours and detail, but still remaining simple and elegant. 7mm height of the strings off the soundboard? That is surprisingly low (12-13 would be typical for a steel string). Is that a characteristic feature of the flamenco style (my ignorance), a...
- Tue Dec 19, 2023 9:54 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Vale Frank Ford - luthier and teacher
- Replies: 5
- Views: 20070
Vale Frank Ford - luthier and teacher
I just read the news that Frank has passed away. I am sure that many of you have used his website Frets.com over the years. Frank was a visionary teacher and communicator, a phenomenally knowledgeable luthier, and just a lovely guy. When you look at the quality and quantity of stuff on frets.com, an...
- Sat Dec 02, 2023 9:44 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Small guitar
- Replies: 5
- Views: 25912
Re: Small guitar
That is lovely Peter. The King Billy has a very interesting and distinctive look to it - very different to any kind of spruce. Good to know that it sounds good as well as looking so nice.
- Fri Dec 01, 2023 10:58 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: OM size Nylon String Crossover
- Replies: 35
- Views: 110046
Re: OM size Nylon String Crossover
That should work well. Graham McDonald's bouzouki designs include one with a bolts-through-the-back set-up like that and it is very solid, and nicely adjustable for neck angle. I like the idea of the elevated fingerboard too. This is a very interesting build!
- Fri Nov 24, 2023 5:04 pm
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Solid neck through
- Replies: 4
- Views: 10681
- Mon Oct 16, 2023 8:02 pm
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: IRW and Spruce Concert Classical
- Replies: 6
- Views: 30486
Re: IRW and Spruce Concert Classical
It looks fantastic Steve. Lovely combinations for a really elegant overall result. The rosewood is especially tasty.
- Tue Oct 03, 2023 5:35 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Mandolin in Engelmann Spruce and RIver Oak (redux)
- Replies: 10
- Views: 39411
Re: Mandolin in Engelmann Spruce and RIver Oak (redux)
They both look lovely Bob. What are your thoughts about the two different bridge styles that you have used on them? One adjustable with thumb wheels. The other fixed height and looks lighter. I am quite a novice in mandolin style instruments and don't know the pros and cons of each type.
- Fri Sep 29, 2023 10:34 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Slotting boards
- Replies: 6
- Views: 14228
- Tue Sep 12, 2023 10:49 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Octave mandolin
- Replies: 12
- Views: 28541
Re: Octave mandolin
Looking good Bob. I also like to build with a zero fret, but it is not very commonly seen. Either ebony or maple bindings would be nice on that one. Difficult decision!
- Tue Sep 12, 2023 8:10 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Octave mandolin
- Replies: 12
- Views: 28541
Re: Octave mandolin
Ahh, I can see that you don’t really need any advice from the rest of us to pull off a great result. Pore filling and then shellac? Will look great, but lots of work. I thought you had become a convert to hard wax oil finishes (and I see that bottle of TruOil on your shelf)? BTW, it looks like you d...
- Sun Sep 10, 2023 1:53 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Octave mandolin
- Replies: 12
- Views: 28541
Re: Octave mandolin
That is a lovely looking instrument Bob. I did one like that from GM’s book a few years ago and really enjoyed it ( my first build that wasn’t a guitar). That stripy walnut is pretty stunning. With black bindings it would look very smart. That shape does not require as much tight bending as a guitar...