Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

I did see some very reasonably priced rosewood B&S sets somewhere recently too!

BGMS External 2.jpeg A lot of students have asked how they can pitch in with the new space—so we’ve set up a GoFundMe to help cover paint and materials. Once we hit target, we’ll host a couple of Sunday painting days where students/volunteers can help bring the place to life. This space was designe...

One of my students sent me this: a series of internal photographs of a Lockey Hill cello from around 1780. The work shows the interior structure in sharp detail—tool marks, cleats, grain runout, even repairs. The cello was made by Lockey Hill, fifth son of Joseph Hill and part of the English Hill fa...

I have talked to Trent at BGMS about it but thought it would be a good discusion here. Well, that’s one way to guarantee a reply. Name-drop me in a post and hope the guilt kicks in. It worked. Here I am. Now, on the question of NGR for an archtop top: is it traditional? Not even close. Will it work...

If anyone has any questions about this — why and what for — please ask away. One I’ll pre-empt: why the forum, and not just have a Facebook group? Fair question. But here’s the thing. Facebook is a revolving door. Posts disappear down the feed. The signal-to-noise ratio is terrible. And it’s not a r...

We’re pleased to announce that the Australasian & New Zealand Luthiers Forum (ANZLF) is now supported by a formal incorporated structure. To ensure continuity, transparency, and shared stewardship into the future, a new Queensland-based association has been formed: the Oceania Luthiers’ Collective I...

We’ve now sold the quorum of seats for the August masterclass—thank you to those who’ve already secured their spot.

A $250 deposit is all that’s needed to lock in your place. If you’re keen to join us, get in touch soon as remaining seats are limited.

Hey All, BGMS are running a new series of lutherie masterclasses. They’re open to both students and anyone from the broader community who’s keen. All are hands-on, detailed, and led by people who know their stuff. The first one available for booking: Trevor Gore – Modal Tuning 22–24 August (Fri–Sun)...

Hi everyone, Just a quick post to let you know that Brisbane Guitar Making School (BGMS) will be exhibiting at the Brisbane Vintage Guitar Show on 24–25 May 2025, at the Polish Club in Milton in Brisbane. The show is being put on by Sean Powers (one of Steve Toscano's former student's I believe). Th...

Thanks Wow - very stylish and well executed. I really like how you carried the art deco theme through everything - especially the matching shapes of the pickguard and tailpiece. Do you plan and draw all of that at the outset or does it evolve as the build goes on? I usually have a theme or one idea ...

Hi all, Brisbane Guitar Making School has just opened a new workshop in Rocklea. It’s a purpose-built teaching space designed for small group learning, with plenty of bench space, natural light, and room to work at your own pace. This move also marks a shift in how we teach. We’re moving away from t...

Thanks guys. Here is a quick sound sample with some very overexpose camera work


youtu.be/H0bNX3VxgrE

Heya All, I was talking to Martin the other day and realised how remiss I had been in not posting anything for such a long time. I can't quite believe how much running your own workshop dominates you're time. Despite having less time to build than I did before, I have managed to build a little, incl...

I know you've asked us not to ask you what you were thinking...but it's what we're all thinking so I'll ask the question!! :mrgreen: What were you thinking? :shock: Short answer: I thought I was smarter than I was and acted more stupid than I should be. Long answer: I prepared a captured nut in blo...

A tricky one. You could try heating the jack with a large soldering iron..heat should travel up the threaded barrel without causing too much damage to surrounding wood. Thanks Martin, its the surrounding french polish I would worrry about... need to get locktight up to 200 degrees, so I think that ...

Rushing, I did a stupid thing and used locktight on a flush mounted output jack. Now the jack cannot be accessed from the inside and I of course have a lot of deep regret :oops: . If anyone has any ideas about how I can break locktight from the outside, I would be eternally grateful. This is the typ...

Mark McLean wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 10, 2024 9:44 pm

I just saw some flat interlocking sheets of that type of stuff at Bunnings, sold as flooring for your caravan annex or Ute tray. Cheap.

Awesome. Added to my bunnings list!

You know how you can buy feedback busters for acoustic guitars with traditional round holes which are just a rubber plug that blocks the soundhole. Well, there was a guy who had a business in the USA called Doug’s Plugs and he made f-hole shaped plugs for archtops. His website had a hundred or so a...

Hi Trent, As a long time f hole electric player I feel the pain. Benedetto states ".. .there is no way of being certain if a particular guitar will feedback. Some guitars (archtop) feed back, some do not" I have found in higher volume scenarios a notch filter or similar works to reduce the offendin...

Has anyone heard of f-hole feedback busting other than stuffing with foam or taping them up (which seems to be the only google answers I get)? I've only carved the top, not braced or holes cut. Actually they won't exactly be f shaped either. But is just enough to slow the airflow? I have a halfcocke...

Here's another guitar I finished recently that I also haven't posted here. This one I built as a bit of professional development and a fear that I would be needed to cover for the instructor of the solid-body classes at some stage. I've made a couple of electrics but I thought a carve top and a set ...

Hi Colin, I've seen the jig you are describing or something very similar. I though it was in a thread on the ANZLF but I haven't been able to find it. I think it was an instructor at RobertoVenn and did a quick search on google and IG but couldn't find it. The difference in the jig was the SB was no...

I thought I had posted this already but I must have dreamed it. This is a recent-ish commission of a tenor ukulele (or perhaps its really just a really small four stringed nylon guitar). It has a silver quandong SB, blackheart sassafrass B+S, QLD maple silkwood neck, mulga FB, has a K&K Aloha pickup...

Any takers for the position Trent? Sorry its taken me so long to put up an update. Yes, actually. Louis moved from Melbourne and joined the team and is now enjoying the headscatching the rest of us do when trying to answer the question "If I didn't know where 'x' belonged where would I put it?". Sc...

Thanks for putting up all those spreadsheets Greg. I think its an amazing thing to do. But then again, I have to google how to use vlookup every couple of years or so when I have to use it. I've saved them all for closer inspection later but I will definitely be delving into the compensation sheet. ...