Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Hi all.
Looking at running another of Trevor's modal tuning courses out of my Sydney workshop (hornsby).
We haven't locked in dates yet, but looking like a Friday - Sunday in mid November.

If you are keen to attend please reach out.
Just getting a gauge on numbers at the moment.

Cheers
Steve

Well done Bern.
Been a pleasure having you in the workshop. Got a bit hectic there at the end. Well done on the awesome build.

Looking good. The finishing schedule interests me. 10 spit coats before going in the aquacoat? Might try this myself. Ive been using Aquacoat on my last few builds but results haven't been that outstanding I find that with Tas blackwood you need to really get a good seal of the wood prior to applyi...

Thanks for this Bern!! Been great having you around.
10 days down, 5 to go.

Seeyou in the shop in a few hours.

I did too. With both the multitude of emails and the multitude of texts, it was overwhelming. I just started getting a load of advertising for a violin making supply joint.....owned I assume by owners of Stewmac etc. I reckon they bought the email list from LMI. They are useing LMI wording in their...

How about as a back and side? Anyone with an experience They have red Australian Cedar as a back and side sets to which is absolutely stunning available at guitar tonewoods Ive done a few flamenco builds with Toona(Aus cedar) back and sides. Worked well. However It doesnt bend very well at all, and...

Hi Ben. I run weekly and intensive courses from my workshops in Hornsby (Sydney), and Port Stephens. Myself and my staff have instructed over 500x student guitars at these locations to date all to a very high quality. If you are specifically after an intensive course - i do these in 3week alotments ...

Highly recommended. Every serious and half serious guitar maker should attend one of Trevors courses.

I run my back braces all the way through the sides.
Top braces i notched into the kerfing butting them up to the sides.

A lovely guitar Steve. I really like the balance of colours and detail, but still remaining simple and elegant. 7mm height of the strings off the soundboard? That is surprisingly low (12-13 would be typical for a steel string). Is that a characteristic feature of the flamenco style (my ignorance), ...

Recent completion of one of my Flamenco Blanca models. I love making these, such a fun and challenging build getting the tone right, i always have a couple flamenco builds on the go at any one time. This is blanca build number 37 since my first in 2014. Apart from tone, one of the difficulties in th...

Anyone know where to get Macassar Ebony fingerboards and 1/4 x 1/2 carbon fiber rods now there is no LMI? Oh, and what about LMI yellow glue that I know and love. Mac Ebony - Maderas barber, and Madinter stock them. CF - I get all mine from carbonfiber.com.au probably dont have the exact size you a...

Steve that is quite something. In particular the rosette is very attractive and quite different to the tradition. I notice that you do a bit of intonation with a slanting saddle. Is that a carefully calculated amount or just a guestimate? Thanks. Its a guesstimate, but then a check and amendment if...

Realised I'm overdue for a gallery post. Here's a recent completion, this is one of my standard Concert Classical models. Top: Engelmann Spruce B&S: IRW Neck: Honduras Mahogany Fingerboard / binding /arm rest: West African Ebony Braced: My fan style bracing with carbon fibre. Bridge: Brazilian Rosew...

They probably trying to grab the market that bought from LMI, which youd think would happen organically anyway.

Thats an exceptional price. However my experience in the tops from stewmac has not been positive. Their grading seems to be far lower then others. Occasionally i'll have a student that gets tops from them, more often then not they end up getting sawn up for patching/braces. In saying that, i'm extre...

Always good service, always great products. Shame his retiring. The owner is located in Europe, a long way from the business. As to getting some of their serviced products, this might be a good opportunity for us all (me included) to look to more local suppliers, eg. theres a few guys around sydney ...

Hey mate.
If you are wanting to offload these as a bulk lot please feel free to give me a call - 0467 647 936.
Cheers
Steve

Hi Kit. I run courses all year round. Most students attend weekly, however i also run 3 week intensive short courses (Normally in January and July each year). I havent finalised dates for next year as i have heaps to work around at my end, but i'll work it out soon. I run these at Hornsby (Sydney), ...

Weird, i send overseas through pack and send (who then use DHL in most cases). Never had to jump through any hoops. Last instrument was valued and insured at $9750 aud. Not the cheapest, but the beauty is they package it all up - i just front up with guitar in a hiscox case they look after the rest,...

Steve, I know Ive asked you about this a while back but can you remind me about the procedure for setting up the neck/body join. You make up the body with the neck block with mortise already cut and the neck with tenon cut and bolts set up. Do you do a rough neck rake setting at this stage and then...

One of my students - Richard Manton (no not Maton :) ) from my 15 day intensive guitar building course has put up a video of his build log. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/jN-cMi7iAE4 And the guitar being played by an up and comer :lol: :lol: :lol: : https://youtu.be/j16p2xj1ayQ Its an OM, my ta...

If you're on Facebook jump on the "Australian Luthier Group" there's a few CNC guys on there.

Yes, ive done a CF nut and saddle a handful of times for numerous reasons. Few points - It kills your files/saws. - The dust from it is terrible for you. - Aesthetically it looked pretty cool (i buffed them right up). - No real world advantage i found when comparing to bone. My main reason for this...

Be interested to know the forum's thoughts are regarding the bracing with no CF for this guitar hybrid design build. Im more concerned about the lack of UTB on that top..... :shock: :shock: :shock: However, on closer look at the photo, i reckon that top is not glued to the sides yet (otherwise why ...