Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

mickeyj4j wrote:The uke still seems to play ok.

Well, if it is not worth fixing up properly, just keep playing the thing - until it doesn't work any more.

I'm looking at using a Zero fret on a current build and am looking for a few pointers as far as nut position,,, how far from the zero? nut slots/ nut height/ how far from the f/b to take the slots, at first the zero fret thing sounds simple but i'm sure there are some pitfalls for the uninitiated!!...

Nice piece Bob. Thanks for sharing.
Is that a Mainwaring and Connor dread featured in the photo?

Hey Ross, your family are really making luthery the family thing at the moment - with a guitar for your brother recently and now the daughter getting into the action. It looks like she is a natural. I have made guitars with both of my sons, it is a great bond. Nice looking instrument too. I love the...

Ross
Thanks for the tip about the neck angle problem with the Charle plans. I haven't built anything from them yet, but I am glad that I didn't find that out the hard way.
cheers
Mark

Looks great Ross. All classic - but I like the few subtle individual touches like the wave shape in the headstock and the end of the fingerboard. Nicely done! I bet your brother will love it.

Hi Pete I have plans for two different Selmer Maccaferri models - the Petit Bouche (small oval hole) and the Modele Orchestre (bigger body, large D-shaped soundhole). The plans are published by RF Charle and I got them at his shop in Paris. Anyway - I am not using them at the moment so you are welco...

Nice tute Trevor. My Irwins are not great at holding an edge and I wouldn't mind putting them at risk (and disfiguring them a bit) if it improved their performance. Thanks for the idea and the good instructions.
Mark

They look sensational Peter. Really tasteful design and appointments, and quality workmanship. I hope they find a couple of appreciative owners.
Cheers
Mark

"I resaw all my own" OK, smartypants. Not only do you make the tastiest looking instruments but you cook them all the way from scratch. I am more than a little jealous - but some of us need to stay in the slow lane and just admire the results. Please keep serving them up for us to look at because t...

Looks fantastic Allen.

I agree - I built a L-00 guitar with Brazilian mahogany a while ago and it is great timber. I only have 1 guitar set left. Where have you been buying yours?
Mark

Do it in the radius dish to get the slight contour established all round. Then take a length of flat/straight timber - I use a bit of 4x2, but anything like a floorboard or a fence paling would do. Glue some sandpaper onto it. Use this to span across the rim at the upper bout and the neck block and ...

Sounds serious. I hope Brent pulls through well. Have made a contribution. Thanks for letting us know, Bob
Mark

To make my black purfling I just soak strips of veneer in a bath of vinegar and steel wool for about a week. Nice and black, all the way through. you probably know that old trick. Indeed, an old trick - but a goodie. "Ebonizing" wood with vinegar + iron works well if the wood has enough natural tan...

Yes, that Beef wood makes a nice complement to the tiger myrtle. I remember a previous discussion about what sort of bindings match well with a very figured TM and the general consensus was that there were not many successful combinations. Ebony, or more Tiger myrtle. But I think this is an addition...

Thanks for that Ross.
Nice historical piece.

That is this year's version of the infamous Veritas April Fool's video. Really well done - so that you can almost believe that they are serious!

Yep - drum sander

Great images Graham. Those are going to be nice instruments. I especially love the segmented rosette with the graduated dots and strips. Very inventive. Can you tell us about the technique of putting solid strips of lining over the top of the kerfing? It looks good. Any other advantages in your expe...

I meant to add a comment about nut width. Taylor, Martin and Guild all use 1 and 7/8 inches at the nut (=47.6mm) for a 12-string. I have a 12-string with a set-up that suits me well (I have pretty big hands) - it is 1 and 15/16 inches at the nut (49.2mm), 2 and 1/4 inches (57mm) at the 12th fret, an...

Hi Blackstar, it is great to have you contributing to the forum. Do you have a real name that we can call you by? My few thoughts on 12-strings: 1. I like the look of the 6-pin bridge for a 12-string guitar. Take a look at this old thread with plenty of good information provided by Craig Lawrence. h...

WWWTP - this one was posted on the MIMF recently, from an EBay auction

Hey Jim, that shows some really nice skills. And - importantly - some great design flair and composition. Sometimes I see excellent woodworking but simply poor taste in choice of colour and texture (IMHO). But yours are very tasteful as well as nicely put together. You gave yourself some unnecessary...

Hi Jim. Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting your work. The results are outstanding, especially for a first-time effort. I built my first one as a father & son effort and I remember what a great experience that was. The instrument was not quite as pretty as yours, but is still a very special ...

I am having trouble envisioning the problem. Can you post a photo?