Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:02 am


All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Same rules apply to all forums at the Luthiers Forum.




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Loosening a tenor top
PostPosted: Sat Feb 22, 2020 10:46 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:21 am
Posts: 3288
First name: Brad
Last Name: Combs
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Hello,

Looking for some guidance from the experts. :)

I just closed the box on a tenor uke. Tapping the plate beforehand it sounded good, but now that the box it closed it sounds very tight.

I let the two horizontal braces into the lining, solid lining made of paulownia. The fans taper to nothing. I put a 2mm spruce bridge plate in it.

With a guitar I would be reaching in there and solving the problem. That ain’t happening with a uke soundhole. :)

Anyone have creative ideas what to do? I’ll sand the lower bout around the rim to try to loosen it. Any other thoughts? Maybe lighter bridge or heavier bridge?

Brad


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_________________
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 11:02 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:46 pm
Posts: 755
Location: Napa Valley
First name: David
Last Name: Foster
City: Napa
State: CA
Zip/Postal Code: 94558
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Whats the top thickness?

_________________
https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/



These users thanked the author dofthesea for the post: bcombs510 (Wed Feb 26, 2020 12:12 pm)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 12:14 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:21 am
Posts: 3288
First name: Brad
Last Name: Combs
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
dofthesea wrote:
Whats the top thickness?


It’s right at 2mm now. I haven’t gotten back to it yet to try to thin around the the rim.

One thing I did differently this time is I put somewhat wide 2mm spruce bridge patch on it. TBH, I don’t know why I made it so wide:

Image

Brad


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_________________
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 12:16 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:21 am
Posts: 3288
First name: Brad
Last Name: Combs
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Note: The braces we’re tapered and re-peaked after this pic, they are tapered 3-4 mm shorter at the scalloped end and peaked again.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_________________
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 7:30 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:50 pm
Posts: 2246
Location: Seattle WA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Is there a binding on it? Fretboard? Taking the top off isn't too big of a deal. especially if you're going to put binding on later.

Sent from my SM-N960U1 using Tapatalk

_________________
Pat


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 7:53 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:21 am
Posts: 3288
First name: Brad
Last Name: Combs
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Just closed the box, no binding or even binding channels cut yet.

I’m may end up taking the top off. Going to sand a bit and see if it somehow works a miracle. :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_________________
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:28 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:34 pm
Posts: 552
City: winnipeg
State: manitoba
Country: canada
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
If you have the Hana Lima book, sanding the outer inch and a half should loosen up the top. This is most effective around the lower bout. You may find something on the
Hana Lima website.

Unkabob



These users thanked the author unkabob for the post: bcombs510 (Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:18 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Mar 23, 2020 11:43 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:46 pm
Posts: 755
Location: Napa Valley
First name: David
Last Name: Foster
City: Napa
State: CA
Zip/Postal Code: 94558
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Can you give us a picture of the edge profile of top?

_________________
https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/



These users thanked the author dofthesea for the post: bcombs510 (Fri Apr 17, 2020 11:14 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Apr 17, 2020 11:14 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:21 am
Posts: 3288
First name: Brad
Last Name: Combs
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
dofthesea wrote:
Can you give us a picture of the edge profile of top?


Crud, I just saw this and I’ve already put binding on. It’s actually almost done, so we will find out soon how much I helped. ;)

Brad


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

_________________
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/cbcguitars/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cbcguitars


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 9 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com