Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Thanks Allen I have finally appreciated what you say about getting the surface right before you start, And Ross I am also keen on nitro. More so lately when I had to remove a coat on the top of another guitar. It is seriously tough, which I think one wants on an instrument that is constantly handled...

In a continual effort to try to improve my nitro spraying technique (it's really not going that well) I went through Robbie O'Briens video course recently. He suggests a fairly serious sander sealer coat before using the finishing clear coat. Indeed he seems to ladle it on with a spoon! He aims to h...

There is a slight ambiguity in section 6.2.

Without wishing to state the obvious... There are the three tests required - long, cross, and twist. But for each one you do the usual ten taps, filling the ten buffers in VA which then averages the result.

You've probably already sussed this.

Dave

In terms of tapping, it is worth checking you have done the setup correctly as per the book. Such things as the FFt size and the number of buffers in the spectrum capture tab. It takes a bit of practice to get the ten taps timed right. You can see each buffer appearing as a block of colour in the ca...

old style small.jpg Having rewatched Trevor's video on Sprectrum analysis and wanting to improve my technique I have been revisiting the use of VA. First I went and downloaded version 9 as Trevor suggests. One big advantage over the 2011 one I had been using is that you don't get the scope picture ...

Bridge rotation is described in the build vol section 4.4.2. (1st edition) Whoever suggested marking the relevant sections in the books is dead right. Mine bristle with post-it notes! If you do go for using carbon fibre I bought mine from Easy Composites in the UK. They sell a plain weave 3 K cloth,...

Dave that must be very disheartening, and I admire that you are still trying. As an amateur, as with so many others, my early attempts were badly overbuilt. With my classicals I have reverted to a Torres type fan bracing which is very light and a thinner top. This now gives me quite a good sound - n...

I make no claims Cutty. It is Trevor Gore's design for a cradle for use with the binding channel router jig. The idea to use it finally came to me after I had chased the box around the bench for a while !

Richard I go for nitro for it's wear resistance, this one in particular being a steel string. The binding is made from strips cut from the side so is a good match. The purfling is maple, cut roughly to size on the bandsaw then taken to size on the thickness sander. I keep trying different binding/pu...

I had to remove a bridge and made a bit of a mess so decided to refinish the top. (I wasn't too happy with the finish anyway) And Gosh it's hard work isn't it! The nitro had been on for a while so was fully hardened and it's tough stuff. Welcome I suppose in terms of wear. It has also demonstrated t...

Thanks ka_who it's nice that my speculation turns out correct. I will have to pursue that.


Dave

That is very nice looking.
A small point, if it is the third and fourth string paths that are a problem you could try winding them towards the outer side of the headstock rather than the inside. Dave

I have always had problems with weak nails. The problem with conventional fixes is the use of CA glue which makes the nail even weaker. I had to go to the dentist the other day and I noted the use of UV catalysed resin for fillings. I wonder if this is being used for nail reinforcement at all. Anybo...

I spray just outside my workshop door. No near neighbours to annoy. Lots of drawbacks like insects and high humidity. It goes straight into my RH controlled workshop so blooming hasn't been a problem. Then again I'm only an amateur with low production numbers.

Dave

Simon I was pleasantly surprised when I followed Trevor's suggestion of putting the mic on a stand. There had been more noise than I had realised. It is also easier to point it in the right direction.

At least with the 50 Hz one you know what it is!

Dave

That is indeed stunning. The level of skill makes me feel like I am just painting by numbers in my guitar making.

Mind I also know that if I was wafting those sharp knives around like that I would not still have all fingers and thumbs!

Dave

Sounds an exciting move. I guess the rather boring thing is as ever relative humidity control. You are presumably going to be hot and dry. Shading from the sun will be important. - double roof for the shed. Not too many windows. Trees could help if you have the room. Rather than a dehumidifier that ...

I use a bolt on neck joint and glue the fretboard to the neck, then put the frets in. ie before attaching to the box and before finishing. This avoids damage to the finish and the top but as ever with guitar building there are compromises. It means that you can't finalise the fretboard surface to ge...

This is an idle query, but I have often wondered what our labels tell about us. I seem to be a Blackwood, there are Kauris and assorted other names. Do they have any significance or are simply assigned at random...?

Is this a game that our admins play with us?

Just wondering Dave M

Well Bern let me be the first to welcome you back. I'm a bit of a stranger here being in the UK but as a user of the G squared books this is my natural home. I know well the way that life get's in the way of building. It was really only when I was able to give up the day job that I found the time to...

Thanks North. Let us know how you get on with this design. Dave

BeJesus that is a good idea!!! Dave

Well I am really pleased to hear you are doing well at selling instruments. We amateurs are also doing OK. I have produced most of a classical in probably the shortest time ever. Only problem is having to break off to cut grass, chainsaw up small trees felled by the wind etc since we are in spring a...

Martin you are so right. And I haven’t even started on that can of worms!

Dave

Appreciate that Steve.