Search found 455 matches

by graham mcdonald
Wed Dec 06, 2017 3:36 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Tru Oil alternatives
Replies: 16
Views: 29502

Re: Tru Oil alternatives

Not as yet :D
by graham mcdonald
Tue Dec 05, 2017 9:03 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Tru Oil alternatives
Replies: 16
Views: 29502

Re: Tru Oil alternatives

Feast-Watson Scanindinavian Oli works just fine. Their Fine Buffing Oil is good as a last coat as well. I do tend to get a little curious, perhaps even suspicious, about all the claims around ingredients with all the various oil finishes. As far as I can tell the Feast Watson stuff only ever soak in...
by graham mcdonald
Fri Sep 22, 2017 5:52 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Name of Fox bender part
Replies: 8
Views: 12476

Re: Name of Fox bender part

"sliding cauls'. I like that one. I did send an email off to Charles Fox, but no reply.

Thank you all. Appreciated.

Cheers
by graham mcdonald
Thu Sep 21, 2017 8:22 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Name of Fox bender part
Replies: 8
Views: 12476

Name of Fox bender part

I have made a Fox style bender for ukulele sides as part of the work on another book. I am writing up instructions on how to use the machine, but can't work out what to call the things that are used to pull the sides into shape around the upper and lower bouts. They are sitting on the bench to the l...
by graham mcdonald
Mon Jun 19, 2017 1:18 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: I'm retiring
Replies: 45
Views: 65222

Re: I'm retiring

All the best with your new venture, and I am certainly up for a bottle once you get it going. Although only an occasional participant, I have appreciated your calm oversight of the forum's activities over the years. I may well put my hand up for some mandolin sized wood when you put it on the market...
by graham mcdonald
Fri Mar 03, 2017 9:52 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Build a mandolin
Replies: 40
Views: 45682

Re: Build a mandolin

Feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions. Always happy to offer advice/clarifications.

I like the mini guitar shape


Cheers
by graham mcdonald
Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:24 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: The Mandolin - a history now on Kickstarter
Replies: 13
Views: 13002

The Mandolin - a history now on Kickstarter

As some of you might know, over the past few years I have been working on a book about the history of mandolins, imaginatively called The Mandolin - a history . It is finally ready for the printer and to raise enough money to pay for the printing I have launched a Kickstarter campaign to pre-sell th...
by graham mcdonald
Sat Sep 13, 2014 8:50 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Is kickback an issue with miniature tablesaws? (100-250W)
Replies: 20
Views: 22092

Re: Is kickback an issue with miniature tablesaws? (100-250W

With a StewMac fret slot cutting blade and a simple jig you can turn it into a all purpose fretting saw. I have a similar old table saw, and even though I only use it a few times a year, with a few slotting templates it means a few minutes work to slot a board and the rest of the time it is a useful...
by graham mcdonald
Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:29 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: GAL Convention?
Replies: 3
Views: 5180

GAL Convention?

Anyone else heading for Tacoma and the Guild of American Luthiers convention in a couple of weeks?
by graham mcdonald
Sat Jul 05, 2014 11:27 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: I am going to have a second go.
Replies: 12
Views: 14810

Re: I am going to have a second go.

Keep in mind that the tension on a set of bass strings is about the same as an average set of acoustic guitar strings, around 80kg. I think it can be too easy to over-brace an acoustic bass. You are not going to get much of the 40hz fundamental out of a body you can play hanging from a strap, but if...
by graham mcdonald
Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:20 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: The MIM.
Replies: 10
Views: 12410

Re: The MIM.

Allen wrote:Looks like something Graham MacDonald might build.
I'm thinking about it... :D
by graham mcdonald
Fri Nov 08, 2013 10:02 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What is this?
Replies: 14
Views: 15018

Re: What is this?

Probably late 19th century European and likely not Spanish (because of the pin-bridge). Pic of the back of the head/neck join would be useful. I suspect the neck would have originally been painted black. from the look of the slots in the head.

Could be entirely wrong about the origin :)

cheers
by graham mcdonald
Fri Oct 11, 2013 5:24 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: LUthier Courses in Canberra Region
Replies: 4
Views: 6362

Re: LUthier Courses in Canberra Region

Joe has contacted me privately about a course or lessons and while I haven't the space at home, if there was room at one of the colleges and enough interest, it could be an interesting way to spend an evening each week, not so much teaching as guiding and suggesting ways to do things. I did run into...
by graham mcdonald
Tue Mar 26, 2013 9:09 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Acoustic bass guitar build
Replies: 66
Views: 49900

Re: Acoustic bass guitar build

Thanks for that Graham I am looking to get down to that 65HZ or so but with a small body, tornavoz, lower tension strings etc Very much an experimental build, But trying a cardbord tube tornavoz in one of my classical bodies did get me about 23HZ drop. I have never tried one of those tube port torn...
by graham mcdonald
Tue Mar 26, 2013 8:07 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Acoustic bass guitar build
Replies: 66
Views: 49900

Re: Acoustic bass guitar build

Nice article Graham, great when you have three differing designs, to compare. Thanks for adding more info to this great post. Interesting also to see that Gerard was using epoxy/CF laminate techniques even back then. All three of us were playing around with lattice bracing and/or CF in one way or a...
by graham mcdonald
Mon Mar 25, 2013 9:46 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Acoustic bass guitar build
Replies: 66
Views: 49900

Re: Acoustic bass guitar build

Back 25 years ago Gerard Gilet, Jim Williams and myself all built an acoustic bass guitar at about the same time. We did some testing and I made some notes which disappeared into a pile of paper. They re-emerged a few months ago along with a couple of photos we took at the time. I have finally writt...
by graham mcdonald
Sat Mar 23, 2013 8:21 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Strange colouration in WRC
Replies: 12
Views: 11771

Re: Strange colouration in WRC

That pinkish coloration is not uncommon with WRC. Not much you can do about it, but it is not gong to affect the tonal qualities of the wood. It depends on what you want to get out of your second guitar. Is it just the appearance/colour of the soundboard or can you concentrate on getting the little ...
by graham mcdonald
Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:14 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Gidgee/Mulga or similar needed
Replies: 12
Views: 13750

Re: Gidgee/Mulga or similar needed

Greg has me sorted with some myall, so I can get the fingerboards done

Nick, I would still be interested in the mulga if you don't need it

and of course my email has a .com on the end (is there a smilie for being dim...)

cheers

graham
by graham mcdonald
Fri Mar 22, 2013 1:24 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Gidgee/Mulga or similar needed
Replies: 12
Views: 13750

Re: Gidgee/Mulga or similar needed

Hello Greg

The Myall sounds like it would be fine. PM or email or phone and we can do a deal!
graham@mcdonaldstrings
0402026962

thanks

graham
by graham mcdonald
Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:42 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Gidgee/Mulga or similar needed
Replies: 12
Views: 13750

Gidgee/Mulga or similar needed

Gentles, I have a couple of fiddles just about ready except for fingerboard and tailpieces which I have been making from ring gidgee for the past several years. I have been trying to get some more from a well known supplier of gidgee and mulga for six months, but there is always another excuse why i...
by graham mcdonald
Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:46 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin Banjo (sorry for the evil!)
Replies: 7
Views: 9837

Re: Mandolin Banjo (sorry for the evil!)

If the tailpiece was an original, you do have an Australian made banjo-mandolin. Pacific instruments were made from the mid 40s through to the early 50s in Melbourne though the maker Hec McLennan had been building since the late 20s under his own name. They weren't high end instruments, but for the ...
by graham mcdonald
Wed Dec 19, 2012 10:32 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 5 String Tenor Guitar
Replies: 30
Views: 31657

Re: 5 String Tenor Guitar

With your 23 1/4 scale a Cgda tuned tenor means a interesting mix of strings. Your top a string is going to need a pretty thick plain string, .018 or even a very light wound string. Think about it in terms of being between a guitar g and b strings with the lesser tension that the shorter scale will ...
by graham mcdonald
Tue Dec 18, 2012 7:08 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 5 String Tenor Guitar
Replies: 30
Views: 31657

Re: 5 String Tenor Guitar

There really are no rules for tenor guitars. There have been so few built in recent years that it all really becomes the choice of the builder. Essentially you are making an octave mandolin or cittern, with half the strings :D so you can really work off a graduation pattern halfway between a carved ...
by graham mcdonald
Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:07 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Suitable Tasmanian soundboards
Replies: 78
Views: 64452

Re: Suitable Tasmanian soundboards

If you were building an instruments using blackwood for the back & sides what would be your first choice as a suitable Tasmanian species for the soundboard I have been lurking on this forum for a long time reading past posts but I would still like to hear forum members comments. Jo Sitka spruce. Ye...
by graham mcdonald
Mon Dec 03, 2012 9:43 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Carving King Billy
Replies: 1
Views: 3016

Re: Carving King Billy

My experience is for fiddles, and more recently, a mandolin. On advice from Graham Caldersmith I added 2mm to the arching height (17 rather than 15mm) and about 20% to the thicknesses for the fiddle soundboards. Did the same to an A model mandolin recently (with Huon back and sides) and it worked ra...