Search found 195 matches

by Craig Bumgarner
Fri Jan 20, 2017 1:12 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: F****k!!
Replies: 22
Views: 17490

Re: F****k!!

I feel your pain man! Moments like this are why I have a sense I'm just a moment away from disaster most of the time when building a guitar. If there were only a hundred ways to F up a build, it would not be so bad. Don't feel bad for too long, we've all been there and I suppose it is disasters like...
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Jan 19, 2017 7:29 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: liquid hide glue for frets.
Replies: 6
Views: 6750

Re: liquid hide glue for frets.

I'll second fish glue.
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Jan 19, 2017 6:25 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Macaferri soundhole
Replies: 15
Views: 14318

Re: Macaferri soundhole

I don't have any great insight on this, but here are a few observations. My guess about the guitars used by the Hot Club of France Quintet is it was mostly just coincidence. As Ross said, the 14 fret guitar with the small oval hole that Django is known for came later in the Selmer model development ...
by Craig Bumgarner
Tue Nov 29, 2016 12:43 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Rosewood and CITES
Replies: 71
Views: 75619

Re: Rosewood and CITES

isn't Ebony better? Agree that ebony is currently cheaper than Ebano but that ebony is better is debatable. Ebano is more uniform in grain and color, lighter and more stable through humidity changes. That it is sustainable is worth something. Coal is cheaper than solar arrays but the product price ...
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Nov 24, 2016 12:15 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Rosewood and CITES
Replies: 71
Views: 75619

Re: Rosewood and CITES

Dyed pear wood was used fingerboards by lots of the French builders in the early to mid 20th century. No doubt this was to economize. Unfortunately, after 50 years, these fingerboards are usually in pretty bad shape. It is too soft for very long life, lots of wear from fingers and strings and it cru...
by Craig Bumgarner
Wed Nov 23, 2016 1:00 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Rosewood and CITES
Replies: 71
Views: 75619

Re: Rosewood and CITES

This was in 2007, perhaps the government got their act together after this, I'd love to hear they actually did do something, but that's a rare thing in the world, let alone India. The dimensional size of EIR lumber, bits and veneer has been steadily decreasing right up to today, which suggests tree...
by Craig Bumgarner
Wed Nov 02, 2016 11:19 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Building a go bar deck and radius boards on the cheap
Replies: 21
Views: 24933

Re: Building a go bar deck and radius boards on the cheap

I too built a go-bar deck. It took up a lot of room in my small shop and deep wood cam clamps do the job better for me. My tops are not a constant camber which makes the GBD not so useful anyway. For rods, I cut 5mm x 15mm willow oak pieces in lieu of fiberglass, worked well. If you make your own de...
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:40 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: When will Gore/Gilet books be back in stock?
Replies: 17
Views: 23918

Re: When will Gore/Gilet books be back in stock?

Looks like they are back in stock, a friend just ordered a set of the 2nd edition. Thanks for making this happen!
by Craig Bumgarner
Fri Jul 01, 2016 3:18 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Cheap laptops
Replies: 16
Views: 14655

Re: Cheap laptops

Felix, What is the name of the app you are using? I've been using the FFT app and find it very accurate and easy to use as well, to the point I have not opened VA in a long time. Saving and exporting however is cumbersome and while I don't save all my curves like I used to, the ability to save to Dr...
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Jun 23, 2016 10:14 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Best Way To Remove Varnish.
Replies: 3
Views: 4640

Re: Best Way To Remove Varnish.

In the past, I've used a 15mm x 100 x 100 plywood block with a 3mm layer of cork glued on. Wrap this with 120g for the initial removal and change up to the 320 as soon as I start breaking through to the wood itself. Takes less time than you might think. The trick is to use fairly coarse paper initia...
by Craig Bumgarner
Sat Jun 04, 2016 6:53 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Measuring top and back frequencies while voicing
Replies: 21
Views: 30795

Re: Measuring top and back frequencies while voicing

Typo.... Unless the mass of the jig and hold downs is very close to that of the sides, it probably will NOT give you a good result.
by Craig Bumgarner
Sat Jun 04, 2016 5:57 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Measuring top and back frequencies while voicing
Replies: 21
Views: 30795

Re: Measuring top and back frequencies while voicing

CollinsGuitar: Hi Michael, good to see you here. I attach the top first and measure specific mobilty of the top, the deflection and the peak monopole frequency T(1,1)2. I know from experience that I can expect something like 20Hz drop of T(1,1)2 after full assembly. With just the top on, I can play ...
by Craig Bumgarner
Fri Dec 11, 2015 5:12 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Chladni and VA tests ???
Replies: 61
Views: 79702

Re: Chladni and VA tests ???

Thanks! Here's a little sketch of my pliage setup. I may have posted it before, but any thing worth saying is worth saying often :-) Pliage.jpg The only changes since this is the block at the bend has a 1/2" radius. The block forcing up the angle is now a wedge instead of a rounded block. I heat the...
by Craig Bumgarner
Fri Dec 11, 2015 12:25 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Chladni and VA tests ???
Replies: 61
Views: 79702

Re: Chladni and VA tests ???

Sorry to detract from the OP thread, but in response to Wayne, for a while, I tried bending the pliage after joining the two halves of the top and like blackalex says, got an opening of the joint in the vicinity of the heat, shrinkage actually, about 2" along the seam. Probably not a major structura...
by Craig Bumgarner
Tue Dec 08, 2015 2:31 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Fretted to Fretless Conversion
Replies: 30
Views: 25759

Re: Fretted to Fretless Conversion

All of the above will work. If you do a lot of fret work, I can attest Summit fret tools are worth every penny.

https://www.jescar.com/shop/summit-ergo ... et-puller/
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Nov 12, 2015 1:12 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Current Build - Falcate Braced Multiscale OM cutaway
Replies: 217
Views: 201340

Re: Current Build - Falcate Braced Multiscale OM cutaway

As an aside, this makes me wonder why do most builders put the back on before the top? I started putting the top on first to get the geometry of three dimensional arched tops and the match to the sides right, but the added benefit is being able measure top deflection and resonances once attached to ...
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Nov 12, 2015 12:44 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Current Build - Falcate Braced Multiscale OM cutaway
Replies: 217
Views: 201340

Re: Current Build - Falcate Braced Multiscale OM cutaway

If you go the way of taking the top off, you could just trim the tops off the braces you want to change, plane the edge and glue thicker pieces back on. Reshape them and add the carbon back. That would save the trouble of trying to get the entire brace off the back of the top, with the carbon stuck ...
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Nov 12, 2015 12:29 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Current Build - Falcate Braced Multiscale OM cutaway
Replies: 217
Views: 201340

Re: Current Build - Falcate Braced Multiscale OM cutaway

I hate when this happens. I really don't know the solution when the top goes below the target, seems much easier to take it down than punch it up. Minimize the mass in the bridge of course, maybe go radical on that somehow. Add more carbon to some of the bigger braces with the intention of stiffenin...
by Craig Bumgarner
Tue Nov 10, 2015 3:59 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Top Deflection rig
Replies: 41
Views: 76162

Re: Top Deflection rig

That's a nice looking jig, but it has a major flaw. The way it is set up with the base on the table, it will measure not only the top deflection, but also the guitar side deflection, the deflection (compression) of whatever the guitar is sitting on, plus any play in between. These will be considerab...
by Craig Bumgarner
Sat Nov 07, 2015 9:05 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Violin making equivalent to Gore/Gillet Book
Replies: 5
Views: 7567

Re: Violin making equivalent to Gore/Gillet Book

Thanks for your suggestions! I'm familiar with the Catgut Society and their work. I've exchanged emails with Alan in the past, always very informative and willing to share his knowledge.
by Craig Bumgarner
Sat Nov 07, 2015 9:03 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Top Deflection rig
Replies: 41
Views: 76162

Re: Top Deflection rig

Yes, the dial indicator I use goes all the way through the dial part on the housing. The load is applied to the spindle protruding from the top of the gauge and applies pressure to the top by way of the spindle coming out the bottom of the gauge. The top deflects and the gauge measures. Many dial in...
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Nov 05, 2015 2:38 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Violin making equivalent to Gore/Gillet Book
Replies: 5
Views: 7567

Violin making equivalent to Gore/Gillet Book

Anyone know of a violin making equivalent to Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build? That is, one discusses design and building bases on the physics of violins as opposed to copying plans or building by touch and feel. The Book by Gore & Gilet has helped me a great deal in understanding what ...
by Craig Bumgarner
Fri Aug 21, 2015 11:39 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Another wood ID?
Replies: 23
Views: 21133

Re: Another wood ID?

Your second Youtube link is the same as the first. That's my buddy Michael Joseph Harris playing at Jacques Mazzoleni's house (gypsyguitars.com). Michael leads the Hot Club of Baltimore and Ultrafaux, both gypsy jazz groups and plays my model Zazou. Yeah, Busato's are cool. And as you say, quite a l...
by Craig Bumgarner
Fri Aug 21, 2015 1:54 am
Forum: Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore
Topic: Lutz Top Tap test Results
Replies: 11
Views: 13178

Re: Lutz Top Tap test Results

Martin, sorry, but when I save the image and view, they are too fuzzy to read. The pictures (attachments), unlike others on the forum, have no links that I can find associated with them. Normally, when I hover the mouse over an attachment, the cursor changes to a finger pointing hand that indicates ...
by Craig Bumgarner
Thu Aug 20, 2015 12:25 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Another wood ID?
Replies: 23
Views: 21133

Re: Another wood ID?

Bracing is standard Busato, similar to late Selmer, five ladder braces. The back is molded into a violin back shape, no braces. Top deflection is 0.10 - 0.11mm under 1Kg load on the bridge area, fairly stiff as these guitars generally go. It has a nice voice, balanced, cuts well in spite of it not b...