Official Luthiers Forum!

This is really just a thread to say a big thanks to

Joel Thompson for his bracing help
Mike Collins for giving me the courage to continue
Hesh for initial help and so prompt replys to pms when I've got stuck
Colin S for french polishing advice and other things too
Michael Dale Payne again for french polish advice but also cad too
Dave White for the fish glue that saved the day when I needed to take the bridge off
and John Mayes for the DVDs that have speeded up things with hints and tips

Guys this is a great community thanks for all your input, help and guidance,

As it stands at the moment I need to cut the nut properly, easier I hope cause of the zero fret, and cut the saddle slot as it's only got a bit of 1/8" rod at the moment to help set intonation, but with a capo on I'm in seventh heaven at the moment hearing it for the first time and amazed at the change in the 30 mins I've been playing it had a bass and treble initially but the mids seem to be coming forward as we speak

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

John my friend a big congrats to you!!!! Once you get it finished how about some pics please?

Yeah hearing those first few notes is like nothing else that I have ever experienced. I still find myself holding my face out of string break/lash range though.......

Even before you post any pics you deserve this: AND and extra for an exceptional effort - you really are dedicated to guitar building and this will serve you very, very well my friend.

Thanks Hesh your a gent, I'd be embarrassed to put photos of my ugly duckling up amongst the goods and greats who frequent hear, how long does it take to tonally settle into what it eventually sound like?

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

John no pressure on the pics unless you want to post some.

Guitars settle at different rates and open up also at different rates. I had one guitar that sounded like absolute crap when I strung it up. It was so very bad that I got out the measuring devices and started checking my saddle position and everything else that I can think of. I kept playing it and within 2 hours it started to sound good. More play and it sounded better.

Some of my Adi topped guitars are still changing several years after I built them but they rarely get played so this is not a good example.

Time will help some neck relief happen too. I have yet to have a guitar sound worse with play and time so perhaps these things are on our side.

Anyway there is no one answer to this question, lots of things on a new guitar are dynamic and I am sure that you will find things that you want to adjust too. Generally speaking after stringing up I play only the new guitar for a couple of weeks before making any adjustments and all the while that I am playing it I am taking notes on things that I want to adjust when I get around to it.

I hope this helps even though it is admittedly not a very good answer. I am sure that things are happening as well that I don't understand.