Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

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...

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.

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...

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...

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 ...

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 ...

A real beauty!

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

Other variables to decide are the angle of the x, and how to place it relative to the sound hole and the bridge. Most larger body guitars like 000 or D have an x angle around 95 to 98 degrees, but a smaller body guitar might want the main x-braces in the lower bout brought a bit closer together - ma...

It is amazing that they go to this much authenticity for the movie - and incredible that you could deliver it Martin. I am wondering if they were that authentic about Elvis’s socks and undies and everything else - or is it just because the guitar is such a star in the show? Martin, how much informat...

Looks like a stunner!. We are seeing more mandos than guitars here lately, and it seems like even more pure luthiery. Inspiring stuff.
I love to see a zero fret, and I also love the pickguard. What the hell is that figured neck made of? Beautiful.

kiwigeo wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:53 am

I usually manage to cram around 10 clamps into the sound hole of one of my acoustics. From memory I managed to get 4-5 into the sound hole of the tenor uke I made a few years ago.

But Martin is known to sometimes tend towards overkill.............

I have a few different types, including the aluminium Fox brand one, which is OK and pretty cheap. https://www.amazon.com.au/Shop-Fox-D2804-Aluminium-C-Clamp/dp/B0000DD1TC/ref=asc_df_B0000DD1TC/ If you got two of those you would be in business. If you are in Canberra and making ukes you might want t...

Of all the variables that you have identified, I think the clamping is perhaps the most pertinent. Bridge clamps are an important tool. Most common clamps are unsuitable for this particular job and the ones specifically made for this purpose are the best solution. Vacuum clamping is also great - but...

Trent mentioned a really important cause of failed bridge glue-ups - imperfect contact of the two surfaces. This is common if there is a slight arch to the top of the instrument, but the bridge is flat. Are you confident the shapes correspond well? Many people use the technique of placing sandpaper ...

Maybe you did all the right things and this is just a crack-prone piece of wood? But it is very beautiful! I have never worked with Padua so I am not sure if it is more prone to cracking than other timbers. I think your plan sounds good. I would use Tightbond Original, maybe diluted a bit to get it ...

Hi Jurgen Most of us have experienced something like this. Humidity issues are a serious concern when you are building with solid wood, and unless you manage the humidity during certain stages of the building process you will get issues like this. It should be fixable. First lets go over what caused...

Peter, if you want the definitive discussion of bolt-on methods you will find it in the Gilet-Gore books. If you don’t have them yet you should consider upgrading your information sources. Anyway, they take you through the merits of various approaches. The bottom line is that if you are going to bol...

An alternative to the mortise and tenon design is to do a butt joint with a bolt down fingerboard. I have done a few with a kit system from Luthiers Cool Tools (link below). I would recommend one alteration to this method however. This is to avoid using threaded inserts straight into the end grain o...

Doh indeed!. Looks like a good idea. I will definitely give that a try

I want one too. Going to order it now.
Nice job curating that Graham.

It is an old Suzuki from the tip? So why not go to town with the coptic textas and give it some really outrageous artwork?

A good looking jig!
It must be fun to make your own.

I agree with Martin that the commercially available electric ones are simple to use and, as far as I can see, all pretty much the same - so if you see a bargain anywhere jump in and grab it. It is very satisfying to bend by hand, and actually not difficult to master the skill.

Hi Pat. Which “macrocarpa” species are you referring to? Macrocarpa is latin for “large fruit” so it is used as a descriptive term in the botanical name of many different trees. I Googled it and found a few. There is a Eucalyptus macrocarpa in Australia, or the so-called “Monterey Cypress” in the US...