Search found 594 matches

by Dave M
Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:59 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: My Second Build
Replies: 15
Views: 20157

Re: My Second Build

David that top bracing is incredibly clean. I know just how hard it is not spray epoxy all over the place. Also that Laurel looks rather fine. Doing cutaways seriously adds to the difficulties but I have decided that the advantage to the player means I should pretty much always do one. Having built ...
by Dave M
Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:48 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Spectrum Analyser
Replies: 5
Views: 11076

Spectrum Analyser

Over on the OLF forum Alain Lambert is offering some spectrum analysis software he has written with guitar makers in mind. I haven't quite sussed it out yet but it could be useful. Worth a go I think although we perhaps need some more detail of the technicalities underlying his program. All kudos fo...
by Dave M
Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:39 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Dehumidified environments
Replies: 2
Views: 3934

Re: Dehumidified environments

Ross that is interesting. A Little counter intuitive as one would think a drier atmosphere would be healthier. Here in the UK with a pretty consistent high humidity I aim for around 50 % RH or just below so I guess I am in the range seen as sensible. I have thought about other possible effects of a ...
by Dave M
Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:40 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: First Classical Build
Replies: 18
Views: 21046

Re: First Classical Build

Alan that is indeed looking good. If you have (finally) received the Jeff Elliot plans for FE 114 you may be as surprised as I was at how small the fan bracing is. You have the wider bracing I notice that Torres seemed to use earlier. I was quite worried that the thing would give up on me when I got...
by Dave M
Thu Sep 19, 2019 5:31 am
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: Glueing the scarf joint
Replies: 5
Views: 27428

Glueing the scarf joint

I have been using more or less the arrangement that Trevor recommends for gluing the headstock to neck scarf joint in my previous builds. I was doing a couple just now and could feel one of them slipping and had to reseat it, the second also moved and I was unhappy enough to take it apart and clean ...
by Dave M
Mon Sep 16, 2019 3:12 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bending Mulga Bindings
Replies: 5
Views: 7527

Re: Bending Mulga Bindings

Have to say that when I've had grain runout like that I never could get it to bend using the hot iron.. This rosewood I was working with and I only got it to go in a bending machine where it was fully supported.
by Dave M
Mon Sep 16, 2019 3:09 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Selmac Grand Bouche
Replies: 7
Views: 8019

Re: Selmac Grand Bouche

Thanks Ross, interesting.

Do I take it that you make these? That bracing certainly looks weird when we are all used to the x or fan bracing

And Jeff at least getting into the box would be fairly easy!
by Dave M
Sun Sep 15, 2019 2:02 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Selmac Grand Bouche
Replies: 7
Views: 8019

Selmac Grand Bouche

I was listening to this chap the other day: Joscho Stephan, who is very good - these guys must have the highest work rate than any guitarists other than Flamenco players - but I was struck by that huge soundhole. Presumably there must be a huge amount of support in the upper bout and around the hole...
by Dave M
Wed Aug 21, 2019 3:09 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: First Classical Build
Replies: 18
Views: 21046

Re: First Classical Build

Alan there is a pic of a gabled brace in section 7 of G&G first edition - probably the same in the second. Fig 7-8.

I liked their jigs for routing the curved base and the gables. Makes the process much quicker.
by Dave M
Tue Aug 20, 2019 2:19 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: First Classical Build
Replies: 18
Views: 21046

Re: First Classical Build

I have been building roughly to the GAL SE 114 plan and going to have a look I see they taper the back bars: Head end 6.6 to 5.2 next 8.2 to 5.6 next 9.9 to 5.2 All at 18 high. I couldn't persuade myself that these shapes were important so went for 10 by 20 high, rounded over at the top, and scallop...
by Dave M
Tue Aug 13, 2019 2:43 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Veneer Softener
Replies: 5
Views: 7022

Re: Veneer Softener

What was your regime Allen?
by Dave M
Mon Aug 12, 2019 2:19 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Wallnut Density for SS Falcate Bridge
Replies: 4
Views: 7772

Re: Wallnut Density for SS Falcate Bridge

Good stuff Mitch. I haven't been able to get my rosewoods below about 23 - 24 gm. I have stuck with it so far to keep the aesthetic right with the fretboard.
by Dave M
Mon Aug 12, 2019 2:13 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Carbon Fibre or not
Replies: 2
Views: 6266

Re: Carbon Fibre or not

Without commenting on the structural issues since I'm not qualified to, it did strike me when reading about repair issues on another forum that the layer of carbon fibre and resin should substantially reduce problems with string ball end damage to the bridge plate.
by Dave M
Sun Aug 11, 2019 2:03 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Luthier on Luthier - Michael Bashkin talks to Trevor Gore
Replies: 3
Views: 6741

Re: Luthier on Luthier - Michael Bashkin talks to Trevor Gore

That was very interesting. A somewhat devious route to high class guitar building!

Some of Michael Bashkins other podcasts are also worth seeking out.
by Dave M
Wed Jul 31, 2019 2:47 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Back joint prep
Replies: 15
Views: 18538

Re: Back joint prep

I would just add that you are not alone! Edge jointing of boards is a skill that many people struggle with. Most of us have gone through that litany of sanding, routing etc at the start. However the reasonably long plane (I use a number 5) and a shooting board is by far the best setup to use. Trevor...
by Dave M
Tue Jul 30, 2019 2:02 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Size of Steel String guitars
Replies: 2
Views: 4182

Re: Size of Steel String guitars

Thanks for the comprehensive reply Trevor. Jim's 320 really is narrow but as you say sounds fine. I've been building my classicals like this which has the overall dimensions of Torres SE114 but using your high waist which I like. With the lower bout at around 350 the outline doesn't differ very much...
by Dave M
Sun Jul 28, 2019 6:26 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Size of Steel String guitars
Replies: 2
Views: 4182

Size of Steel String guitars

My last two builds have been Torres size classicals, using his very light bracing pattern which have worked very well. But this week I went back to my last Gore design medium steel string to finesse the setup and am very struck by the very much bigger body size. I seem to remember talk of a larger b...
by Dave M
Sun Jul 14, 2019 2:09 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mitred Purflings
Replies: 3
Views: 4728

Re: Mitred Purflings

Thanks Mark and Allen. I feel really stupid but thought throwing the pics up might help other starters like myself to get it right. Your suggestions are all correct and I thought I had absorbed those lessons, but that quick rush to the head betrayed me. I think this is a general lesson for we amateu...
by Dave M
Sat Jul 13, 2019 12:57 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mitred Purflings
Replies: 3
Views: 4728

Mitred Purflings

I was reasonably pleased with my latest classical. First time not using Maple for back and sides so I had to think about the purfling scheme. However I was reminded by what Robbie Obrien said in in a recent video - and Trevor has said - that if you are going to do mitered joints then they have to be...
by Dave M
Sat Jun 29, 2019 11:52 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Stew Mac shipping - warning
Replies: 26
Views: 27862

Re: Stew Mac shipping - warning

Just to add to this story from the UK. I had an order - as it happens - with Stew Mac which was delivered in good time to our local postal service which asked me for the import duty. I paid this then waited. And waited. Turns out they had lost the package. As in completely lost it! They managed a re...
by Dave M
Tue Jun 11, 2019 7:39 pm
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Gore method/Tap tune/Siminoff...help!
Replies: 16
Views: 22367

Re: Gore method/Tap tune/Siminoff...help!

There are much better qualified people who could answer - but here goes. I have no experience with that tuner so don't know, but see Martin's comment above. I was talking about testing the finished, strung up guitar so how you put it together doesn't matter. (Trevor does justify his method in the re...
by Dave M
Tue Jun 11, 2019 2:03 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Gore method/Tap tune/Siminoff...help!
Replies: 16
Views: 22367

Re: Gore method/Tap tune/Siminoff...help!

For checking after the build is complete you need to be able to examine the spectrum so as to identify the first three resomances as Jeff says. Trevor describes how in detail. Many of us here use VA software for this. It is free and runs on Windows. It is not trivial to learn how to drive but there ...
by Dave M
Sun Jun 02, 2019 3:58 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Flamenco guitar
Replies: 14
Views: 30068

Re: Flamenco guitar

You guy are seriously luck to have that blackwood available. I keep seeing pics of it from Trevor to a half dozen other makers and I love it.

And that is one seriously nice looking giutar.
by Dave M
Sun Jun 02, 2019 3:48 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: dB levels question?
Replies: 8
Views: 12127

Re: dB levels question?

Great sounding guitar - and great playing. As you say hearing one of your instruments played properly by someone is a great feeling.
by Dave M
Wed May 22, 2019 1:46 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Fly in Nitro Finish
Replies: 4
Views: 4899

Re: Fly in Nitro Finish

Jim thanks but it is that removal that is a bit tricky. It is a small insect and has been pretty embedded in the finish. I ended up sanding it out but that leaves a fairly big area with finish removed. And OK that's alright I can respray. I felt that trying to use a sharp implememt would likely leav...