Search found 771 matches

by blackalex1952
Fri May 29, 2020 2:28 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: FREE MONEY!!!
Replies: 17
Views: 90178

Re: FREE MONEY!!!

I have no income due to Covid or whatever it is called...and I also have an extremely limited income due to cancer but have been so grateful for this forum. This forum is a learning curve. I also am considering getting out of the game, as a casual builder due to my health issues. RATS have chewed th...
by blackalex1952
Wed May 20, 2020 8:01 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - beveling classical guitar bridge ends
Replies: 3
Views: 4345

Re: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - beveling classical guitar bridge ends

Why didn't I think of that! I got one of those douverlackies! Cheers! Ross
by blackalex1952
Sun May 10, 2020 3:57 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Quality Machine heads
Replies: 16
Views: 13270

Re: Quality Machine heads

Try these...I ordered some from the Gotoh website no worries. They are cheaper than the Waverleys and, unlike Wavereys, are bushed as well as being superbly engineered, look good along with tuning knob options.https://g-gotoh.com/product/sxb510v/?lang=en
cheers! Ross
by blackalex1952
Mon May 04, 2020 12:38 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Help reading flamenco tap tone data
Replies: 12
Views: 21677

Re: Help reading flamenco tap tone data

Computers have inherent noise, eg fans...so best to use an external microphone and soundcard. I had better, clearer results when I switched to external microphone. Chladni testing is also a useful tool. 1) can see the nodal points for each mode 2) the modes are easily recognised 3) resonant frequenc...
by blackalex1952
Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:48 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Experience with Southern Blue Gum
Replies: 3
Views: 6711

Re: Experience with Southern Blue Gum

Southern Blue Gum is a very dense Aussie hardwood and lasts well for fenceposts, so it's pretty rot resistant. It moves quite a bit when drying but seems stable once dried. I would suggest using only quarter sawn for back and sides. Being quite heavy, my feeling is to thin it more than most back and...
by blackalex1952
Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:40 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Double V Neck Acoustic
Replies: 23
Views: 32403

Re: Double V Neck Acoustic

I suggest that the client grows a matching moustache!
by blackalex1952
Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:36 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Crazy times
Replies: 7
Views: 7527

Re: Crazy times

"Dear pessimist and optimist. While you were both arguing whether the glass was half full or half empty, I drank it! Signed, The Opportunist!" Definitely challenging times, but we all have two incredible things...1) LIFE because we are ALIVE. 2) the POWER of APPRECIATION! So appreciating the simple ...
by blackalex1952
Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:22 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Very slow weissenborn wip
Replies: 22
Views: 27499

Re: Very slow weissenborn wip

I have become a slow builder due to health issues..but definitely not as slow as you are! I usually have a tune in my head that I'm keen to get out!!!....cheers! Ross
by blackalex1952
Wed Apr 22, 2020 12:44 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Newbie trying to shift frequencies
Replies: 5
Views: 5830

Re: Newbie trying to shift frequencies

Here are my immediate thoughts...the top is probably rather stiff, perhaps it wasn't thin enough? Given that frequencies repel, the soundboard and the back along with the air resonance will repel each other frequency wise...so if the soundboard frequency (the top) was lowered to around 185 or 190Hz ...
by blackalex1952
Mon Mar 09, 2020 12:47 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Ears
Replies: 4
Views: 9088

Re: Ears

Where's our "like" button????
You are a luthier....make your own "like button" and post a picture of it! Then we can either make our own take on like buttons or recycle yours...with full credits to you ! Cheers! Ross
by blackalex1952
Tue Feb 25, 2020 11:29 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Panto Router
Replies: 0
Views: 9333

Panto Router

How about adapting one of these for neck to body joinery? https://youtu.be/ygi_nTqjpjY
Cheers! Ross
by blackalex1952
Tue Feb 25, 2020 6:06 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Ears
Replies: 4
Views: 9088

Ears

I thought I'd start a thread on how we luthiers perceive tone, texture and musical performance using our ears. I have found that ears have a limited short term memory! The ears tire easily as well when listening in the usual acoustic circumstances which require "fresh ears". That's why many famous a...
by blackalex1952
Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:40 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Heel grain orientation
Replies: 2
Views: 5989

Heel grain orientation

I have made a few necks from walnut wood lately. The wood tends to split along the grain easily, and so I'm reviewing my understanding of heel grain orientation. Comments please. Cheers! Ross
by blackalex1952
Thu Feb 20, 2020 12:23 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Truss rod bulk buy
Replies: 22
Views: 31338

Re: Truss rod bulk buy

When you talk about different threads on a truss rod, are we talking pitch, ie the pitch of each nut's thread on the two ends of the rod?
by blackalex1952
Fri Jan 31, 2020 10:06 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Finish thickness
Replies: 0
Views: 8997

Finish thickness

I read this idea on another forum. The luthier had used a balloon and a piece of plastic inside the soundhole when spraying, in his case a piece cut from the bottom of a milk container (not sure if the same kind exists in Aus, be creative). After spraying, he peeled the lacquer off the polyethelene ...
by blackalex1952
Thu Jan 30, 2020 1:22 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Crystalac
Replies: 2
Views: 5431

Re: Crystalac

Thanks Steve..I have a finish repair to do...Cheers! Ross
by blackalex1952
Tue Jan 28, 2020 6:16 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Qualities of Spruce
Replies: 18
Views: 28401

Re: Qualities of Spruce

Wouldn't end grain structural assessment using a low magnification pocket microscope be a good way to identify the different species? Or do all the spuces exhibit a similar end grain structure?

Of course working out the Young's modulus would be the next step for builders.
Cheers! Ross
by blackalex1952
Tue Jan 28, 2020 11:34 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Crystalac
Replies: 2
Views: 5431

Crystalac

I'm wondering if anybody has used Crystalac Brite Tone for their acoustic instruments? How does it perform? Does it damp the sound? Can it be applied in small ares over old Crystalac for finish repairs?
Cheers! Ross
by blackalex1952
Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:12 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: 'Milling' with a drill press
Replies: 7
Views: 9720

Re: 'Milling' with a drill press

I have seen a small combination lathe/milling machine/drill press on a Facebook ad, made in China for under $400. If I was flash.... ($400 is luthier wood or food to me). There may be an Aussie importer of similar machines, possibly worth checking out for build quality...? I have a safety planer, an...
by blackalex1952
Fri Jan 24, 2020 7:38 pm
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: High frequencies
Replies: 4
Views: 9801

High frequencies

I have made a guitar using an Italian Alpine spruce soundboard. Previously, I have used my stack of Sitka for my steel string guitars. I may be guilty of changing too many variables simultaneously! The guitar is an L-OO design with forward shifted bracing and two finger braces, instead of one as per...
by blackalex1952
Fri Jan 24, 2020 12:48 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Violins
Replies: 8
Views: 10023

Re: Violins

Graham McDonald: I have long been a fan of the late Henry Strobel's book on violin making. Simple and step by step. For what it is worth he suggests the top resonance should be around F#, which I have found works well. The other important factor is the weight of the plates. H S Wake's violin buildin...
by blackalex1952
Mon Jan 20, 2020 1:38 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Violins
Replies: 8
Views: 10023

Re: Violins

Yes I've been getting right into Carleen's work.
by blackalex1952
Sun Jan 19, 2020 5:15 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Violins
Replies: 8
Views: 10023

Violins

I have been mucking around with an old Chinese or Japanese made violin having removed the "plates", which are by all information I can glean from the internet, too heavy. The resonances are also pretty high. The information on Dr Google is contradictory-there seem to be many theories! Has anyone use...
by blackalex1952
Mon Dec 30, 2019 12:54 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Classical Build (s) - Hopefully falcate!
Replies: 96
Views: 106090

Re: Classical Build (s) - Hopefully falcate!

That's my favorite way to bind a fingerboard, just a fine line of maple or whatever. Simple and clean! Hope the rest of the build is proceeding well! Cheers, Ross
by blackalex1952
Tue Dec 24, 2019 11:09 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Christmas Greetings
Replies: 6
Views: 8969

Re: Christmas Greetings

Hoping that you are safe from the fires also, Martin!
Cheers! Ross