Search found 455 matches

by graham mcdonald
Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:36 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Red Spruce Group Buy
Replies: 97
Views: 71182

OK, you've got me. 3 carved mando tops. Dependent on price maybe more

cheers

graham
by graham mcdonald
Wed Jan 09, 2008 9:31 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Final Set-up Classical Guitar
Replies: 10
Views: 12189

Nut slot height is really pretty simple. If you push the string down between the second and third frets it should just clear the first fret. The gap should be the thickness of a piece of photocopy paper. If it is too low the string will rattle on the first fret, any higher and you are pushing the st...
by graham mcdonald
Sat Jan 05, 2008 5:17 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What I did this weekend.
Replies: 33
Views: 28776

I agree entirely that the lower ends of the X braces should be feathered down to a mm or so at the ends, or even to nothing by the outside of the body. I just think it is sensible to lock those ends under the linings. I was stimulated to throw in my comments as I have a friend's Maton here at the mo...
by graham mcdonald
Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:38 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: What I did this weekend.
Replies: 33
Views: 28776

There's a lot less work getting the braces inlet when you don't have to do the lower bout . Great tip that I think Hesh made. Makes a lot of sense too when you're trying to free up the lower bout. That's something that you don't get on any of the plans that I've seen yet. There are two schools of t...
by graham mcdonald
Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:54 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin Tailpieces
Replies: 3
Views: 6679

I am a fan of the Monteleone tailpieces from Randy Allen. A very elegant design I think. These heavier cast tailpieces probably do add some sustain to the instrument, but it is not a critical factor. There just look nicer than the pressed metal ones http://www.mcguitars.com.au/phpBB2/userpix/40_alle...
by graham mcdonald
Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:46 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin Tap Tone - Questions
Replies: 11
Views: 11292

The vibrational modes of a free plate are quite different to one where the edges are fixed. UNSW has a very useful web page which has lots of info at http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/music/

cheers

graham
by graham mcdonald
Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:55 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin Tap Tone - Questions
Replies: 11
Views: 11292

Don't worry about a dead spot in the middle. I suspect it isn't, just an area that is not being activated by whatever vibrational mode you are exciting. The whole field of freeplate tuning is one that is still open to lots of debate. However it is done all any of us are trying to do is make a soundb...
by graham mcdonald
Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:12 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin Tap Tone - Questions
Replies: 11
Views: 11292

Eb is not where I would want a mandolin soundboard to be at this stage, but a bit hard to tell without knowing what octave. 6.5 in the centre is pretty thick, but King Billy usually wants to be a bit thicker than spruce. One critical factor is the thickness of the recurve, and a good rule of thumb t...
by graham mcdonald
Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:39 am
Forum: Tutorials
Topic: Spraying and Spray Guns
Replies: 31
Views: 53940

Bob, The trick with spraying shellac/french polish is absolutely minimal air pressure set on the gun. If you spray at pressure that you would use for nitro the shellac will dry before it hits the surface and turn into unsightly, uneven little brown lumps. I keep one gun for shellac, used mainly as a...
by graham mcdonald
Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:26 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Mandolin Tap Tone - Questions
Replies: 11
Views: 11292

Hello Sebastiaan

How thick are you carving the Kig Billy and high high is the arching, and what note/octave is the fundamental pitch at the moment?

graham
by graham mcdonald
Fri Nov 30, 2007 10:21 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Feels a bit like Xmas-Engelman has arrived
Replies: 3
Views: 5131

Try coming through customs at Sydney airport with a 10" thick billet of Sitka taking up most of your suitcase. That caused considerable excitement once I opened it up. Their main concern is beetle and bugs and such like and once I explained what it was for they were fine and even a bit interested. G...
by graham mcdonald
Sat Nov 24, 2007 7:38 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Curved Radius Templates
Replies: 8
Views: 9624

I have put a brief tutorial on building dished workboards in the Tutorial section

cheers

graham
by graham mcdonald
Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:18 pm
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: Radiused Dishes
Replies: 23
Views: 50440

The top layer is glued on the the go-bar deck. I just use big blobs of glue on each of the radial slats. Any slight inconistancy evens itself out if you are mostly using it to sand the sides to fit domed tops and backs. I stick on strips of 60grit paper (cloth backed will last longer) with contact c...
by graham mcdonald
Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:12 pm
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: Radiused Dishes
Replies: 23
Views: 50440

Radiused Dishes

Ok, here is a short how to to make radiused dished workboards to whatever radius you want . Total cost under $20

Materials needed are two pieces of MDF or plywood 600mm/2' square, one 18mm/3/4â€
by graham mcdonald
Fri Nov 23, 2007 8:52 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Curved Radius Templates
Replies: 8
Views: 9624

There is (or used to be) a pdf on the MIMF site (in the library) of a whole range of radius outlines. If you can't find it I have it on the 'puter at home and I can send it to you. I have been building radius workboards using John Calkin's method of radial spokes cut to the necessary shape glued to ...
by graham mcdonald
Thu Nov 22, 2007 9:38 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Dumb Adhesives questions
Replies: 33
Views: 30864

Bob has summarized it pretty well. Hide glue is wonderful, but it involves dissolving it and heating it up and you don't have much time to get the gluing done before it sets. Good in a production environment where gluing is going on all the time, rather more annoying in a home workshop where you mig...
by graham mcdonald
Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:00 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Spruce arrived today
Replies: 16
Views: 15694

No, some of us are called Bruce

:D

cheers

graham
by graham mcdonald
Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:55 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Spruce arrived today
Replies: 16
Views: 15694

How may we contact this bloke?

Always interested in sources of spruce!

cheers

graham
by graham mcdonald
Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:25 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bending sides - Recommendations please
Replies: 11
Views: 14183

I think you need both, though a hot pipe would have to a first choice. These needn't be complex or expensive. I have been using this setup for 25 years with three pipes from 25mm up to 65mm, but it is used mostly for touchup after blanket bending http://www.mcguitars.com.au/phpBB2/userpix/40_pipe_2....
by graham mcdonald
Sun Nov 04, 2007 1:04 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Tiger Myrtle Guitar
Replies: 32
Views: 37638

Neck is like a Strat with two threaded inserts and two machine bolts through the neck block. It would probably look better if I had fitted a cap over the bolts, but I neck got round too it. Different idea from the 'Cumpiano' barrel nuts, which I reckon I invented anyway 8-) though I am pretty sure h...
by graham mcdonald
Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:24 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Tiger Myrtle Guitar
Replies: 32
Views: 37638

Arnt, Mytle is around the same weight as maple, but rather more brittle and chips out quite readily when carving. The flamed, non-tiger variety can be hard to bend and prone to splitting, but the Tiger bends quite happily. It just looks so damn nice! I have another 3-4 mandolins worth and a guitar s...
by graham mcdonald
Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:43 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Tiger Myrtle Guitar
Replies: 32
Views: 37638

This is the back
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by graham mcdonald
Thu Nov 01, 2007 8:48 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Tiger Myrtle Guitar
Replies: 32
Views: 37638

I have been looking at the tiger myrtle guitar for a couple of days and thought I could add my mandolin... (should be picture here) ...Ahh, the mysteries of posting a picture have confounded me, but you can have a look at http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/healdsberg.html which doesn't really exist on t...
by graham mcdonald
Mon Oct 29, 2007 1:57 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Another Noob, mando questions
Replies: 11
Views: 12596

Bunya or Kauri would be fine. It is a matter of finding a quartersawn bit big enough for a mandolin - 150mm wide x 40mm thick x as long as your body plus 50mm. Trend Timbers at Richmond might be your best bet, and even if you don't find anything it is always fun poking through the stacks. Again they...
by graham mcdonald
Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:31 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Another Noob, mando questions
Replies: 11
Views: 12596

A scaled down L-5 body should work fine. There are a number of people who have built mandolins like that. I would be wary of Huon for a soundboard. It could be a bit to heavy to work really well and you are in a bit of an unexplored area with the graduations. It would have to be thinner that a spruc...