OK, true enough. A "natural" oil finish can only look as good as the timber underneath. If you want a solid colour on a solid body guitar you are probably going to need to spray something. Unless you go for the "swirl" effect where the only equipment you need is a bucket of water.
Mark
Search found 1074 matches
- Mon Feb 29, 2016 10:25 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Nitro in aerosol in NZ
- Replies: 9
- Views: 14356
- Mon Feb 29, 2016 9:44 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Nitro in aerosol in NZ
- Replies: 9
- Views: 14356
Re: Nitro in aerosol in NZ
When you say your Dad wants "something classy", does it need to be thick and shiny and glass-like, as in most factory built guitars? An alternative which is much easier & cheaper & healthier & fool-proof for the home luthier is a hand applied oil finish. Something like Tru-Oil, Hard Wax Oil, or even...
- Mon Feb 29, 2016 8:35 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: What's on your bench?
- Replies: 56
- Views: 56606
Re: What's on your bench?
Greg I always kick myself for not taking more photographs as I go along through a build. I can't find any of the inside of this guitar. But if you have a look at this old thread our genial host, Bob Connor, shows his butt, which I found to be inspirational. I seem to remember that I basically copied...
- Mon Feb 29, 2016 10:18 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: What's on your bench?
- Replies: 56
- Views: 56606
Re: What's on your bench?
Are you going to make us guess?
Nice bench, by the way..........
Nice bench, by the way..........
- Mon Feb 29, 2016 7:35 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: What's on your bench?
- Replies: 56
- Views: 56606
Re: What's on your bench?
My latest project is not currently on the bench, but is hanging above it waiting for the finish to firm up. My first attempt at a falcate braced nylon - I guess a type of "neo-classical" if we are to adopt the Gore/Gilet nomenclature. nylon falcate 1.jpg I tried a new method for the bolt-on, bolt-do...
- Wed Feb 24, 2016 5:26 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Top or Back First
- Replies: 10
- Views: 12180
Re: Top or Back First
I normally put the back first as then I can clean up any glue squeeze out that could be seen through the sound hole Yep, that is my thinking too. However, I often don't need to clean up much with the reverse kerfing that I currently use - so it doesn't end up making a difference. So, I am open to a...
- Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:57 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: New Build - Falcate OM
- Replies: 11
- Views: 11261
Re: New Build - Falcate OM
I have only done one so far. I used Sitka, on the quarter, in 3 plys and had no trouble getting it to bend to the required shapes. I might be lucky with the batch I have, but good grain orientation undoubtedly makes a difference.
- Thu Feb 11, 2016 8:45 pm
- Forum: Tutorials
- Topic: Tuner hole plugs
- Replies: 3
- Views: 19449
Re: Tuner hole plugs
That looks brilliant. Do you know the brand name for the ones that you used? I will check it out on my next trip to Bunny's
- Thu Feb 04, 2016 12:36 pm
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: Quilted Maple and Red Spruce Concert
- Replies: 5
- Views: 8841
Re: Quilted Maple and Red Spruce Concert
Brilliant stuff Mr McFarlen.
But seriously, couldn't you post some picture of your stuff-ups occasionally so that the rest of us duffers feel a bit better?
But seriously, couldn't you post some picture of your stuff-ups occasionally so that the rest of us duffers feel a bit better?
- Tue Feb 02, 2016 5:36 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Bending bindings/purflings
- Replies: 3
- Views: 4399
Re: New Luthier Tips du Jour video - Bending bindings/purflings
Nice one Robbie. Good , clear advice.
Cheers
Mark
Cheers
Mark
- Thu Jan 21, 2016 10:26 pm
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: 1st SS Build Florentine Cutaway
- Replies: 9
- Views: 11913
Re: 1st SS Build Florentine Cutaway
You really did add some features with a high level of difficulty for a first build - cutaway (and a florentine at that), compensated nut, falcate bracing and a fancy rosette. The backstrap on the headstock looks very swish! All very impressive, and well executed. A big part of the skill of luthery i...
- Thu Jan 14, 2016 8:51 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Archtop with a twist
- Replies: 4
- Views: 4889
- Thu Jan 14, 2016 8:42 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Truss rod bulk buy
- Replies: 22
- Views: 31618
Re: Truss rod bulk buy
Someone is posting on OLF ( http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=46987 ) and MIMF ( http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4239 ) looking for interest in a group buy of 1000 truss rods. He is talking about a unit cost of 50 cents! But he has in mind a specific type of single...
- Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:27 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Truss rod bulk buy
- Replies: 22
- Views: 31618
Re: Truss rod bulk buy
Hi Allan I am down to the last couple from the last group buy that we did from Allied a few years ago. I don't use many, so I would only by in for maybe 10. I don't know if that few is worth your while? Regarding size - I make steel string acoustics and the ones I got last time were 2 different leng...
- Sat Jan 02, 2016 9:48 am
- Forum: The Gallery
- Topic: OM Acoustic Guitar
- Replies: 4
- Views: 7664
Re: OM Acoustic Guitar
That looks like a beauty Alan. The mahogany-on-mahogany is really classy. When you have wood that looks that good you don't need to add another to contrast. Isn't it great how a guitar can sit there for 4 years and just wait for you to get back to finish it, and then turn out a stunner.
Mark
Mark
- Thu Dec 24, 2015 8:55 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Places to visit in New York
- Replies: 10
- Views: 13056
Re: Places to visit in New York
Definitely Mandolin Brothers. One of my favourite shops in the whole world. I didn't know they were possibly closing until I saw Bob's post. So Stan Jay (proprietor) died - very sad. He was a lovely, and funny guy. It looks like they are trying to sell the whole business. Martin, how cashed up is yo...
- Tue Dec 22, 2015 1:35 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Current Build - Falcate Braced Multiscale OM cutaway
- Replies: 217
- Views: 202720
Re: Current Build - Falcate Braced Multiscale OM cutaway
So - a piece of masking tape up the middle of the top so you can draw a line to get the neck aligned with. That is very simple and smart. Am I the only one who hasn't ever thought to do that?
And just how many neck blanks do you have stashed away there?
And just how many neck blanks do you have stashed away there?
- Mon Dec 21, 2015 3:19 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: The zero fret
- Replies: 27
- Views: 31452
Re: The zero fret
True. You still need something there to act as a string spacer. Most people install a standard looking nut behind the zero fret, but cut the slots deeper and maybe a bit wider. If you are really worried about how much time it takes to install that extra fret, you will get that time back and more wit...
- Mon Dec 21, 2015 1:32 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: The zero fret
- Replies: 27
- Views: 31452
Re: The zero fret
I would agree with that Martin. If you want to introduce compensation at the top of the neck you are probably going to do it with a bone nut. I haven't got around to introducing that refinement into my builds yet. For anyone who usually builds with a standard nut, I think the zero fret is a viable o...
- Mon Dec 21, 2015 11:32 am
- Forum: Tutorials
- Topic: Glueing Bindings
- Replies: 2
- Views: 18642
Re: Glueing Bindings
Yes, why didn't we think of that before?
Seems like a good idea. I have a binding job to do this week so I am definitely going to put that idea into practice. Thanks Dave.
Seems like a good idea. I have a binding job to do this week so I am definitely going to put that idea into practice. Thanks Dave.
- Mon Dec 21, 2015 6:57 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: The zero fret
- Replies: 27
- Views: 31452
Re: The zero fret
The last 3 guitars that I have built have had zero frets. The first time that I did it was kind of an accident. I wanted to try a shorter scale length fingerboard, and I had a standard length neck blank, so there was a bit of extra room at the end of the fingerboard and a zero fret was a good way to...
- Sun Dec 20, 2015 9:49 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Four Flute Router Cutter
- Replies: 17
- Views: 16559
Re: Four Flute Router Cutter
OK. I think I will get myself one of those. I recently made up something similar by adding a bottom bearing to one that only had a top bearing. But this looks better. And you can never have too many router bits!
- Sun Dec 20, 2015 9:43 am
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Something I've been working on.
- Replies: 8
- Views: 9522
Re: Something I've been working on.
Beautiful Allen. I am interested to see how you are going to carry that theme in other parts of the design. Will there be an empire-style rosette or headstock?
- Wed Dec 16, 2015 9:59 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: Four Flute Router Cutter
- Replies: 17
- Views: 16559
- Wed Dec 16, 2015 5:19 pm
- Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
- Topic: How to replace bridge plate with falcate bracing
- Replies: 9
- Views: 8910
Re: How to replace bridge plate with falcate bracing
If the box is already bound and looking great, and you don't want to pull it apart again, another option is making a different neck/fingerboard with the appropriate scale length for the box that you have made. Let's think through what that might mean...... When you say the bridge needs to move "back...