Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi this is my first post, but i have been lurking on here for some time trying to get information. I do have just a couple of questions that I haven't been able to find clear answers to. First off how big of a shaper are you guys using, I checked grizzly's website and there is quite the range of size and power levels.

Second, I haven't scratch built a guitar yet, but have been doing some repair work the first one that started this bug is a kd-28 Kay acoustic, I bought it off ebay because the neck was split at the heel. I used tightbond to fix it, and ended up re applying the bridge also as it was lifting. I put my own electronics in it, using some salvaged contact pickups off of ebay,like item number 250364987996 and a 500k volume pot, looks a little j-160e ish. the bridge has two little screws that help hold it down. do i need to add a ground to the cause i got feedback, and strange hums out the wazoo.

Third I have been looking at preamps and such and have run across a company called artec they got decent reviews on some of their products on harmony-central, the prices are great, and washburn rebadges them and uses them on some of their stuff. What are your opinions on this stuff?

Thanks for any and all help,
B.A.

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Brad Anderson

I have (well Moll and I) have the 1.5 hp. That said, little use. I was doing braces and some other things with it, but can do so with router table, Tracy's (luthier supply) and really not needed for that. Can use a router table for most of what use this for. Dangerous tool if not used them and again not a needed tool in a small shop unless just want one. Mayes uses or did use one for necks, but that said had a helocopter looking bit special made for that and again not needed unless just want to go that route. That said if doing a lot and bunch of different functions can be a great tool, but dangerous, all tools can be if suffer from lack to paying attention to details.

What would you use the shaper for?

I've seen some folks use them for radiusing (is that a word?) fingerboards but it would not be my tool of choice. I've seen some folks use one for pattern cutting brace profiles on wide boards before ripping into individual braces. And as Stan mentioned, for profiling and shaping necks. You don't need a lot of power for any of that but you want a solid machine.

In general, I have found the top of the line Grizzly tools to be a bargain. The cheaper stuff, in my experience, you get what you pay for.

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

I have the Grizzly 1 1/2 HP shaper. They also have a chuck and collet that you can purchase for using 1/2" router bits.

Curiosity mostly I guess on the shaper. I have done welding and metal fabrication for a while now, but when I first got into it I tried to research every piece of equipment that I heard mention of. I actually went to school for sheet metal fab, and I use and english wheel, planishing hammer, power hammer, etc. Just old school machines that aren't widely used anymore. Just trying to gather info

Thanks
B.A.

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Brad Anderson