Search found 461 matches

by Steve.Toscano
Sat Sep 03, 2022 9:10 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Student build - Ebony and Spruce OM
Replies: 5
Views: 19276

Student build - Ebony and Spruce OM

Sharing a recent student build. Owen just finished his Ebony and Spruce OM. Falcate braced. Nitro finish. She's a stunner. This is Owen's 4th guitar built at my school. Ebony-Spruce-guitar-Sydney-Guitar-course5.jpg Ebony-Spruce-guitar-Sydney-Guitar-course4.jpg Ebony-Spruce-guitar-Sydney-Guitar-cours...
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Sep 03, 2022 9:07 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Back brace position
Replies: 6
Views: 6106

Re: Back brace position

There's no straight up rule regarding location of back braces. I've tinkered a lot with position of them and find that as long as the overall stiffness of the braced finished plate is correct (whether doing live or non-live back), it doesnt matter. Nearly all my classical and flamenco guitars have 3...
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:03 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Ziricote splitting
Replies: 7
Views: 7840

Re: Ziricote splitting

I build a lot of ziricote guitars (solid NOT laminated). A few things: I leave everything a little thicker ~2.5mm sides, ~3mm backs. Always flood with thin CA on the outside prior to finishing, and i seal off the insides with around 10 coats of brushed on shellac. You'll find if its going to split, ...
by Steve.Toscano
Wed Aug 24, 2022 6:47 pm
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Wood species for Falcate braces
Replies: 37
Views: 56124

Re: Wood species for Falcate braces

If you don't need to bend your braces, some of the best species appear to be: Obeche Western Red Cedar Sugar Pine Coast Redwood Eastern White Pine Okoumé These are all better than Sitka Spruce, Engelmann Spruce, or Norway Spruce for braces. Top panels are a different matter, of course. Says who? Wh...
by Steve.Toscano
Tue Aug 23, 2022 8:12 pm
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Wood species for Falcate braces
Replies: 37
Views: 56124

Re: Wood species for Falcate braces

I recently bent some Engelmann spruce into falcate braces - by far the easiest spruce I've ever bent. That was the first time I've tried bending Engelmann, so I don't know if that is representative of the species. What's the general experience of bending Engelmann by you falcaters out there?? Thank...
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Apr 10, 2022 7:09 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

And on that note, student Jason has finished off his french polish at home and dropped in back in a few weeks back.
Check it out.
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by Steve.Toscano
Thu Mar 24, 2022 5:56 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Ziricote and Spruce Exotic Classical
Replies: 5
Views: 8860

Ziricote and Spruce Exotic Classical

Thought I'd share this recent completion. Back and Sides: Ziricote Top: Spruce (braced in my fan style with CF) Neck: Honduras Mahogany Fretboard: Ziricote with maple/ebony binding Arm rest: Ziricote Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood Bindings: Ebony Finish: Durabond Nitro Started in lockdown late last year...
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Mar 06, 2022 9:43 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bending Black Limba
Replies: 8
Views: 5090

Re: Bending Black Limba

I've bent quite a bit of black limba as i went through a phase useing it several years back. Dont remember having any real difficulties with it breaking out or splitting. Although I do remember that it doesnt like to hold its shape very well post bending. I typically leave my sides thicker too - aro...
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Feb 27, 2022 6:57 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: The scourge of ebony dust
Replies: 5
Views: 4184

Re: The scourge of ebony dust

A combination of sanding outwards and then cleaning up with shelite works well.
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Feb 20, 2022 11:08 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Sharpening very narrow chisel
Replies: 6
Views: 4860

Re: Sharpening very narrow chisel

Just free hand it.
by Steve.Toscano
Sun Feb 20, 2022 11:08 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: French polish - mini series
Replies: 1
Views: 2505

Re: French polish - mini series

Hey Guys, I'm doing a paid partnership mini-series on instagram about french polish with Restorer's Choice. I approached them about this series after some pretty good feedback here on a thread. My approach is pretty much a mix between Trevor's azetropic processes from the Book and Robbie O'Brien's ...
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jan 22, 2022 5:51 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

The BIG Day 15

Setup and string up day.
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2 guitars french polished and rubbed back to a matte, another will be french polished at home, and the other 2 are off to be sprayed.
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by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jan 22, 2022 5:42 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

Day 14
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2nd last day. French polishing, bridge glueing, and an afternoon of fret leveling.

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by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jan 22, 2022 5:13 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

Day 12

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The guys who are further ahead started french polishing. The others are shapeing necks still and sanding.

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by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jan 22, 2022 5:04 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

Day 11

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More bindings, freting, neck shapeing, glueing fretboard over body.

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by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jan 22, 2022 4:53 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

Day 10


Im a week behind with posting the photos. Will try to catch up today.
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Sanding, more fretboards, glueing bindings..
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by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jan 22, 2022 4:50 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

paulvdb1 wrote:
Fri Jan 21, 2022 5:11 pm
All done today !!!

Thanks Paul, was a pleasure having you along for the ride. Your guitar is amazing, well done!
by Steve.Toscano
Sat Jan 22, 2022 4:50 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

Steve, you appear to be using pre mortised and drilled head blocks on some of those guitars. There necks also appear to be rough shaped and fitted prior to the back going on. Would you kindly be able to provide details of the process? Good observation Martin. Yes, i go about assembly of a steel str...
by Steve.Toscano
Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:50 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

Day 8

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Side braces, back kerfing. The first of the backs are glued.

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by Steve.Toscano
Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:28 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy
Replies: 30
Views: 31066

Re: Sydney Guitar Making Course - Intensive, Jan 2022 photo journal - very photo heavy

seeaxe wrote:
Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:22 pm
Impressive. Im loving that ebony back and sides. That will look spectacular under finish

It does!!! He put the first session of french polish on it today (im 5 days behind in posting photos :oops: ). Problem is the photos dont do it justice, so much nicer in the flesh.