Search found 1072 matches

by Mark McLean
Fri Dec 16, 2022 8:40 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Hello from Bavaria
Replies: 14
Views: 14700

Re: Hello from Bavaria

Hi Edi. Thanks for showing us your instruments and I am very impressed by your inventive and original designs. You obviously love designing and problem solving. I am interested in the harp guitars. And (like Dave said) I really like the curves in the cutaway design. Looks like some Australian timber...
by Mark McLean
Tue Nov 29, 2022 4:12 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Digression into amp building again
Replies: 5
Views: 10045

Re: Digression into amp building again

Likewise - I couldn't wire up a lightbulb and I am very impressed by this caper. I am in the market for a small amp and I would love to acquire these building skills one day.
by Mark McLean
Sat Nov 26, 2022 1:31 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: John Miner's quick neck reset
Replies: 6
Views: 6452

Re: John Miner's quick neck reset

I am interested in trying this neck adjustment method, mainly to use on older and cheaper guitars. I have a friend who has recently been into buying older Japanese guitars on a Japanese website called Zenmarket. It is a great site for any MIJ products like cameras, watches etc. Prices on guitars are...
by Mark McLean
Wed Nov 23, 2022 10:19 pm
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Inherited Tools
Replies: 2
Views: 8219

Re: Inherited Tools

I would love to acquire that tool, or something similarly useful and with a nice history. I have sometimes been the recipient of a box full of old tools from a friend or work colleague who says: "I was cleaning out my recently departed Dad/Uncle/Neighbor's shed and found all this great old stuff. I ...
by Mark McLean
Wed Nov 23, 2022 9:54 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: John Miner's quick neck reset
Replies: 6
Views: 6452

John Miner's quick neck reset

How many of you have seen this? UTVzGM1Znv8 I have seen this video posted and discussed on a number of forums, including the OLF and UMGF. Discussion usually consists of self-declared experts loudly proclaiming that this is obviously bullshit and luthiery quackery - but of course none of them have e...
by Mark McLean
Thu Nov 10, 2022 6:23 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops
Replies: 33
Views: 24229

Re: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops

OK, now you are a luthier.
Thanks for the update.
by Mark McLean
Wed Nov 09, 2022 9:37 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Making a Neapolitan Mandolin in Naples - November 2022
Replies: 12
Views: 9195

Re: Making a Neapolitan Mandolin in Naples - November 2022

I am loving this - the pictures and the whole idea of it. Thanks for bringing us on the journey.
by Mark McLean
Wed Nov 09, 2022 9:31 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Vendors and Suppliers
Replies: 6
Views: 3549

Re: Vendors and Suppliers

A lot of us used to get great wood from Tim Spittle - aka Australian Tonewoods - when he was in Perth. I notice that he is now back in business operating from Deloraine in Tasmania. Has anyone had any dealings with him since the move?
by Mark McLean
Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:49 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: New member intro
Replies: 4
Views: 10104

Re: New member intro

Hi Filippo, welcome to the forum. The CF top certainly looks spectacular, and the pinless bridge design is cool. Tell us a bit more about the CF material. Is it made in a solid sheet? How thick, and how do you brace it? I would love to see some pictures as you are building. We like seeing some new i...
by Mark McLean
Wed Nov 02, 2022 3:55 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Royal lac
Replies: 11
Views: 7717

Re: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Royal lac

Great Wayne. I haven't used it but would be keen to hear what you think of it once you have had a go.
by Mark McLean
Tue Nov 01, 2022 9:26 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Royal lac
Replies: 11
Views: 7717

Re: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Royal lac

LMI is on-selling it from another supplier. You can get it elsewhere.
This place in San Diego says they will ship "anywhere in this world".
http://www.shellacfinishes.com
by Mark McLean
Sun Oct 30, 2022 10:41 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Mun Ebony - Ancient Sitka Tenor Uke
Replies: 10
Views: 16239

Re: Mun Ebony - Ancient Sitka Tenor Uke

Allen, it looks sensational matched with that dark ancient spruce! I have a really pretty set of that stuff that I have been hanging onto for a while, and I also wanted to ask how you found it to work with - especially bending? Glad to hear that you were happy with it. The results speak for themselv...
by Mark McLean
Thu Oct 27, 2022 5:01 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Attention all Lurkers
Replies: 85
Views: 547431

Re: Attention all Lurkers

Hi Manuel Welcome to our forum. You have a lot of experience, but now it sounds like you are finding your passion. That is fantastic. Your workshop and jigs look great. I am looking forward to seeing what you will produce there. Please share your work and your ideas with us. We are far away but have...
by Mark McLean
Fri Oct 21, 2022 4:14 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Knob Inserts
Replies: 6
Views: 5876

Re: Knob Inserts

These look like they may do the job for you.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/202482591760
by Mark McLean
Wed Oct 19, 2022 10:34 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Student build and finish
Replies: 3
Views: 10018

Re: Student build and finish

That is a very impressive finishing job by hand with rattle cans! Love the color too.
by Mark McLean
Tue Oct 18, 2022 12:36 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: How to finish a white lute?
Replies: 13
Views: 7313

Re: How to finish a white lute?

Looking very good
by Mark McLean
Sat Oct 08, 2022 6:27 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: How to finish a white lute?
Replies: 13
Views: 7313

Re: How to finish a white lute?

Whittles is one brand of hard wax oil, and there are others like Osmo. I get a bit confused which is which as some of them are on-selling other brands. Seems to originate in Germany. You won’t find it in Bunnings. It can be found in some woodworking and timber shops (Carbatec have it), or in some pl...
by Mark McLean
Fri Oct 07, 2022 1:17 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: How to finish a white lute?
Replies: 13
Views: 7313

Re: How to finish a white lute?

I will add my congratulations for a fantastic looking instrument, which definitely deserves to be played so you need to get about learning to do that! As far as finish is concerned there are many options. I agree that a traditional instrument like this probably doesn’t want a modern spray lacquer fi...
by Mark McLean
Mon Oct 03, 2022 9:01 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: so ya think you dont have enough tools
Replies: 1
Views: 2414

Re: so ya think you dont have enough tools

He certainly has reduced it to the basic requirements, and introduced a few new techniques I had not thought of. Hammer and nails in luthiery - why not. I especially like the “leg over” method for holding the neck still while drilling the tuner holes. It is pretty impressive proficiency and economy.
by Mark McLean
Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:21 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Blackwood over rosewood?
Replies: 4
Views: 3154

Re: Blackwood over rosewood?

The more I think about it the more I like your idea of lovely golden blackwood on the front of deep chocolate rosewood. It could look sensational. No-one is going to make this guitar unless you do. Go ahead and do it. The world is full of spruce topped guitars. We don’t need more of them. Also, Goog...
by Mark McLean
Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:58 am
Forum: Anything Goes
Topic: Bad skin, hair trigger umbrage and the possibility of fame
Replies: 2
Views: 8905

Re: Bad skin, hair trigger umbrage and the possibility of fame

That’s it. I’m in. Although I hesitate to give up my day job and try to make a living being a luthier, now that I know I could be a luthier star in Spanish pharmaceutical television ads at 700 euro a pop I can see my new career beconing. I am a little concerned that the ads apparently demonstrate th...
by Mark McLean
Thu Sep 15, 2022 3:02 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Blackwood over rosewood?
Replies: 4
Views: 3154

Re: Blackwood over rosewood?

Guitars that have hardwood soundboards in addition to the back and sides can be great. I have an all mahogany parlour guitar, my son has an all mahogany 000 Martin, and I have a mate with an all koa guitar. I really like them all. They have a different sound to a spruce or cedar topped guitar. Hard ...
by Mark McLean
Tue Sep 06, 2022 10:48 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Soundboard joining
Replies: 7
Views: 5328

Re: Soundboard joining

I think what Peter is worried about is how to get clamping pressure pushing in from the edges - to get the centre join together. If the outside edges are straight you can use some sort of straight edge to push against, but maybe he is wondering how to do that if the outer edges are already cut with ...
by Mark McLean
Sun Sep 04, 2022 9:14 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: The box Ive been dying for
Replies: 2
Views: 2912

Re: The box Ive been dying for

A real beauty!
by Mark McLean
Sat Sep 03, 2022 10:54 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Student build - Ebony and Spruce OM
Replies: 5
Views: 19302

Re: Student build - Ebony and Spruce OM

Wow, that is a real head-turner!. The colours and the finish are stunning. Is it heavy? How is ebony to bend?