Official Luthiers Forum!

Did an upgrade yesterday...



The little Delta in the background just didn't cut it anymore.

Also made an adjustable bridge for #1 and began carving the maple back for #2.

_________________
Keith Lally
http://krl-guitar-building.blogspot.com/

The bridge is from the pictures in the Benedetto book. I free handed it on the belt sander and used some files. It came out good for a first attempt. Here's the other picture I have but it doesn't show much more.

_________________
Keith Lally
http://krl-guitar-building.blogspot.com/

I like that bridge! Very nice smooth lines.


Tried out my mandolin sound hole router jig. Worked well, but it's designed for bound soundholes, and I'm startin' to think What have I gotten myself into? Bending cocobolo to fit these soundholes will be, ah, fun...

I finished wiring the saw and tried it for the first time. It cut through some blood wood very nicely. Have to make a safety/vacuum shroud yet.

This week I'll be making a body gluing jig. It will function to glue bookmatched pieces, body laminates, and laminated neck blanks.

_________________
I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Thanks Todd. The upper wheel felt good so no shims needed.

_________________
Keith Lally
http://krl-guitar-building.blogspot.com/

Thanks Todd. The upper wheel felt good so no shims needed.

_________________
Keith Lally
http://krl-guitar-building.blogspot.com/

I finished a bandura yesterday - This is my first "Kyiv" style instrument and is actually a prototype for my first commission. I normally build the "Kharkiv" style of instrument which is a bit different. This instrument is much bigger than what I normally make and quite a bit heavier but, the sound is quite good. Mids and bass are very powerful. Highs don't have the same sparkle I normally get but I think a bit of a weight loss program for the bridge would solve that.

The bridge on this one is Bolivian Rose and came in quite heavy. I weighed it in at about 110g compared to a scrap bridge from my last Kharkiv instrument which came in at 80g. I profiled this bridge (triangular section) enough to bring it down to 100g but stopped there as the footprint was already masked into the finish.

On the back of this one, I did the the trick where you stain the curl with a dark stain and then sand back which really popped the figure compared to the last one I made with the same tree.

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Set the neck and bridge on another white oak/larch 0 size. The 0 size seems to becoming my favorite size, for now anyway.

Chuck

_________________
_________________

Sorry wrong pic...thats of anothger with same wood combo.

_________________
_________________

Filippo, I hope Stewmac sends you a bottle of scotch every once in a while!
(...great shop assistants BTW)

_________________
Dave
Milton, ON

Tell me about it. I bought a set of EXP's for half of the wound strings of an instrument I built last year. Set me back $70!

_________________
http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Building a 1912 Ditson grand concert.
Body mould done.

Bending buck roughed out.

Sanded and the spacers installed.
[img][http://lh4.ggpht.com/_uWmeHpm6wso/TFCBlTMeWXI/AAAAAAAAG6I/Ghl3y0SyskE/IMG_1104.JPG/img]
Check fit in bender.

_________________
"Try to be the person your dog thinks you are."

http://sites.google.com/site/bertsguitarshop/

finally got the Baritone Uke finished!!! Just strung it up this morning. Sounds pretty good for a Uke! I used the Antes plans. Koa with Maple binding and Ebony.The top's not to curly, but the sides are.



Gotta start planning an SJ for a friend. And now that the uke's finished, I've got to get my Explorer done. Pretty much ready for finish.

_________________
Rob

Finished up 105 with others out for finish I started 111 and 112 , for my son. Here is a pic of 105 and finished up a class guitar with Dave Holder.

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Got the center stripe inlayed into the Prairie State beast. Also came up with a dark dye that I like.



I pretty much took the weekend off as I'm supposed to be retired instead of tired. Back to it tomorrow.

Finishing up a small classical build.

_________________
http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

OUCH I never thought of it that way

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Didn't get much time in the shop this week but when I did get down there this afternoon I found out my AC has quit working. Hope I can fix it because I don't think I can afford to replace it this year, too many other unexpected things have happened; the latest one being I hit a deer in my wife's SUV.

I did manage to get some fretboards cleaned up, thicknessed, and get the slots cut. These are for the projects I'm working on right now.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Strung up 2 classicals...lutz spruce/walnut....

....really like the sound from the lutz and glad I have a bunch more (thanks Shane). Still need to final polish, etc.....I seem to sorta run outta time (patience?) as things get close to 'done'..need some 'closure' after 3 months!!..hopefully get 'em pretty when I can find the time to put 'em down from playing (or not)....

It's a 13-fret and I should have put 000 but

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I gave in to all the good advise and built a go-bar deck. I cut out sound holes on a cedar and a spruce soundboard. Watched my tops turn to potato chips when I went in the garage to cut them.
This week will be for gluing the braces - straightening the soundboards, and setting up - I have to cut some lining and thickness the backs... but I am progressing again....

_________________
It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX

Hey everybody, new to the forum.

This week I'm moving to Asheville to start a three month apprenticeship with Brad Nickerson. Needless to say I'm beside myself with excitement.

In case anyone is interested I'm going to build a fully-hollow archtop, Selmer Maccaferri-shape, about the size of a Gibson es-339. Walnut back and sides, spruce top. Too excited.

Worked on my Pear Blossom Mandola , Pics posted in Mandolin Forum .

Solid cherry with spruce top.

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Just starting on my first steel string build. This week: finished making a mold and side spanners; built a shooting board; built a jig to join backs and tops; cut the neck stock scarf joint, thinned the headstock piece, glued the joint, and laid out the fingerboard markings; joined the top; cut the sides to rough length and evened the top edge of each on the shooting board; and built some rough shelving for the shop.

Aaron

_________________
Aaron Craig

Got a fingerboard slotted,

and worked the bridge into a workable state.

Added a spit coat of shellac.

Also made a storage tower for my binding.

I also did some shop cleaning. No pictures!

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars