Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Thanks Matin - much appreciated.

I’m currently restoring an old Maton F10 nylon string folk guitar that had the soundboard stoved in as though someone had put their foot through it. I know it’s not a valuable instrument but I have a sentimental interest in Maton classicals having owned a C30 since new in1964. I’m about to replace t...

Hello again David I purchased the F10 like it is with the stoved in soundboard with a view to attempting to refurbish it and modify it if necessary but retain its original overall appearance. I paid too much for it at $50 but it was for sale in Melbourne and I live in Canberra. I arranged for a good...

Thanks your very helpful reply David. The 85mm measurement for the soundhole diameter is greatly appreciated as the soundboard on the F10 I’m working on was so smashed, getting an accurate measurement was difficult and I thought it was 80mm. 85mm gives me a tad more confidence that doing a bolt on l...

Hello David I have just found this post and read it with significant interest. I’m currently refurbishing/modifying an old F10 Maton that had the soundboard stoved in requiring it to be replaced. The plan is to use solid spruce top and fan bracing rather than a plywood top and an X brace originally ...

Gday Wayne Your 12 string looks fantastic - great restoration. As I said I mainly play nylon string guitar. I used to have a Maton 325 which the custom built for me in 1992 with a wider than standard neck. I’ve given that to my son as I now have a 6 string OM size steel string that I made working un...

Wow, Looks like heat and humidity took its toll on this 12 string. The screws/bolts on the bridge look to be added - if that’s correct then it might have been someone’s answer to a lifting bridge. I wouldn’t mind having an old 12 string to work on. The last time I owned a 12 string was in 1967. If m...

G’day Taff, Many thanks for your reply, I need to take it into the workshop and check it thoroughly taking notes and measurements. I think it’s a bowed neck and I’m more inclined to remove the fretboard and add carbon fibre reinforcement as you suggested or even a double acting truss rod - I think i...

Thanks Martin, The Savarez reds are a high tension string made, if I’m correct from traditional nylon. The Savarez Corums are a newer type of string using Flouro-carbon for the trebles - I like their brighter sound but the load is greater than “normal” normal tension D’Daddario EJ45’s - I think that...

Hi there, it’s a long time since I’ve posted. I had a grand plan to build acoustic guitars upon retirement. As a former Industrial Arts teacher, I thought my love of both guitar and woodwork would combine with a new and exciting hobby. Well, it took me 5 years to build my first guitar under the expe...

Wow Pat,
That looks like you may have just avoided a major disaster.
It’s why I’d like to be able to monitor the temperature.
Cheers
Alan

Hi Martin, Thank you for your helpful reply. I have ceramic lamp holders. Thank you for suggesting using a timer - that’s a great idea. I’ve also thought of including a dimmer to attempt to regulate the temperature. I’ll certainly investigate a temperature probe as suggested as thus is the main thin...

G’day Bruce MCC
Long time no see.
Thanks for your reply.
We must catch up - I’ll send an email.

I’m just commencing my second guitar build. The first, done under the guidance of a local guitar maker has taken four years!! I thought, having been interested in guitar making for many years and collected and read many books on the subject that, when I retired, I’d make a couple a year - well that’...

Many Thanks.
I’d forgotten that the Gore/Gilet books had addressed these matters.
I’ll get the, down from the shelf and check what they say about testing strings.
Alan

Greetings learned instrument makers. Can anyone tell me how I can built a test rig to determine the string tension on nylon single filament and wound strings. I want to be able to determine the string tension of different gauge strings for different scale lengths. D’addario have tension figures in t...

I also wanted a Bandsaw for guitar making and to do anything from general sawing to cutting 5mm slices up to 200mm wide for backs, sides and soundboards. At the Canberra Working with Wood Show late 2015, I purchased a Laguna 14BX - a new model. As yet I have not given it a run as I need to buy a col...

Many thanks for the suggestions - I think I will start with the Peterson Phone app and see how that goes

On Monday after a great weekend attending the Melbourne Guitar Makers Festival, I had an appointment with the Repair Department at Maton to discuss intonation issues on my 50+ year old Maton C30 nylon string guitar. The meeting and advice received was very helpful and I am confident that I can have ...

Absolutely beautiful - love the figured Jarrah.
Alan

G'day Soulman, I really like the look of your Black Bean Concert Uke - great work! Some time ago I posted a question about the suitability of Black Bean for instrument making but got little response. I had impulse purchased a couple of fully quartered Black Bean boards from "Stan ? - the chainsaw ma...

Many thanks Mark and "old picker"

Didn't think to look on Gerard's website - or Stewmac or LMI - that would be too sensible - feeling a little silly for asking the obvious

This looks fantastic Trevor.If you want someone to test play it for 20 years or so, I am more than willing to offer my services. :D :D :D I tried to acquire some Gidgee last year when travelling south from Longreach through to Bourke and was given a piece which was supposed to be Gidgee rescued from...

Many years ago I had a clear film "scratchplate" added to a classical guitar at Gerard Gilet's shop in Botany. Can anyone tell me what material this is and where I can purchase a small amount. I use a strap with a plastic hook that attaches to the sound hole of my Baritone and then goes under the wa...

Hi Bruce, Got back to Canberra Monday - still too cold. Now in Ulladulla. You will need to let know your supplier and the grade you settled on. I think I have 80 grit on my 16-32. The woodcraft guild have a finer grade on their oscillating Jet drum sander which burnt some Blackwood when I attempted ...