Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

So this issue is solved.. Here is what the problem was. The saddle was rounded with a slope to the bridge pins but the heavier guage string on the D could not conform to this curve so there was a space between the string and the front of the saddle as the player moved the slide toward the saddle the...

Yep new strings....

Lighter sets for open C or G work fine.. Open D the low D sucks...

Kerry

A year or so ago I build a Weissenborn for a friend. He has been happy with it and learning to play it (he is an accomplished fingerstyle player) recently he chnaged tunings on it. He had been playing in various C & G tunings but has now changed to Open D (major) tuning. The problem is the low D str...

Hi Thanks Yeah I know the theory of making rope bindings but have never done it so just looking for the practical tips like that, I've heard veneer on one side or both.. I've found a good number of the web posts on building but the ones on this site are the ones that talk about changing the bracing ...

Hi Folks I've been asked to build a Weissenborn and in searching around I see some threads in the archive here where people have built them and I also see people were not happy with the standard bracing on most plans so did there own thing. These threads seem a few years old. So any comments on your...

Since mountain Dulcimers are a folk instrument there are few if any "rules" around them.. i've made a few but never done that style of fretboard.

Kerry

I've used Royal Lac on 3 instruments now and it seems to work well I certainly like it (You can't get uBeaut up here in Canada, or at least I can't find it).. I heard there were problems with ubeaut early on but suppose to be fixed, Royal Lac says it works better, I assume uBeaut would say the same...

I've used Royal Lac on 3 instruments now and it seems to work well I certainly like it (You can't get uBeaut up here in Canada, or at least I can't find it).. I heard there were problems with ubeaut early on but suppose to be fixed, Royal Lac says it works better, I assume uBeaut would say the same....

Here's a sound clip of the Zircote & ancient Sitka tenor guitar..

Kerry

Nick Thanks, yes the tuners are a question i have the black buttons as well so could go either way but I do kinda like the two tone look.. Warwick who :o W is my initial so it is what I am thinking of using althoughtt I have used various images for various guitars.. All good fun Kerry That's one pre...

I saw one of Allen's Ukes on here with an Ancient Sitka top from Alaska Speciality Woods and was intrigued buy it. I managed to buy what I think was one of the last pieces they had, frankly not as nice as the pieces Allen had but still Ok in my books.. Anyway I'm partial to Tenor Guitars, so I built...

And a sound sample for anyone who is interested

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/117 ... r%20Guitar

Kerry

The plans were from LMI it is a Scott Antes plan called parlour/small concert.. As far as wenge goes, I'm quite happy with the look & tone I got (it's the new Brazilian ya know :wink: ) I'd say it is bright but combined with the cedar top I think it works. but what do I know this is my 6th guitar......

Finished the Parlour Guitar I've been working on the other day it was one of those ones that fought me all the way, lots of issues & redos.. But it did turn out & Sounds quite nice..

Wenge Back & Sides
Sinker Western Red Cedar from Roy Tonewood on Haida Gwaii
Narr Neck
Zipflex Paua shell trim

Kerry

Ha Yeah it was a good challenge! tow more done since then (just guitars not Mandocellos) debating trying another...

Kerry

I've mad a mandocello based on a Gibson LO body shape but with fan frets to solve the C string issues and 14 frets to the body.. I used a x brace pattern modified to fit the fanned frets and get bridge angle.. turned out quite good IMHO.. Some pics attached best I have of the bracing.. Scale was 24....

Very Nice...

Kerry

Thanks for the comments here is a quick sound sample for the tenor..

Kerry

Made at the request of s friend, GDAE tuning 21.375" scale

Walnut B&S Bearclaw sitka top, Nara Neck.. French Polish finish

He's picking it up tonight,

Sounds good to my biased ears, lots of sustain..

Kerry

I've got no experience with arch tops and no experience with Carbon fibre so take my comments with that in mind. On a flat top I always brace WRC with sitka. WRC is not only light but not as stiff as Sitka.. YES it certainly needs to be thicker on a flatop I tend to 15 -20 % thicker but that of cour...

I've done & do both, on my latest builds I used the drum sander almost exclusively.. but either will work.. Yo can also make a pretty functional drum sander for not a bunch of money, lots of plans out there for them.. I made mine and it cost about 200.00 (Canadian) using some salvaged parts. As peop...

Done... Sounds good but I'm a bit biased.. I play (poorly) a tenor guitar and find this one a bit more of a challenge to play.. Sitka top, Oregon Myrtle Back & sides, Espave Neck, IRW fingerboard & trim... A light French Polish finish with zpoxy pore fill... Multi-scale, 24.75" -26.25" It was a fun ...

Tenors are darn fun, I've built two so far and I'm sure there are more to come. Yours looks great!

Kerry

I'm just in the process of finishing my first fan fret instrument (a Mandocello not a guitar) so I am far from an expert but I will say planning, planning, planning!! use the on line fret board calculator that lets you print out a copy of the fret board, make sure you have the bracing and the bridge...

LOL Well it was not too bad I printed a template from http://www.ekips.org/tools/guitar/fretfind2d/ and used that as a guide.. of course I just spent time setting up to cut regular frets on a table saw and then could not use my nw jig etc for this build .. ha typical,,, Kerry Looking good. Must have...