Search found 1072 matches

by Mark McLean
Sat Aug 20, 2022 11:28 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: X Bracing planning
Replies: 6
Views: 5482

Re: X Bracing planning

Other variables to decide are the angle of the x, and how to place it relative to the sound hole and the bridge. Most larger body guitars like 000 or D have an x angle around 95 to 98 degrees, but a smaller body guitar might want the main x-braces in the lower bout brought a bit closer together - ma...
by Mark McLean
Tue Jul 26, 2022 9:31 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Elvis has entered the building
Replies: 9
Views: 10134

Re: Elvis has entered the building

It is amazing that they go to this much authenticity for the movie - and incredible that you could deliver it Martin. I am wondering if they were that authentic about Elvis’s socks and undies and everything else - or is it just because the guitar is such a star in the show? Martin, how much informat...
by Mark McLean
Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:59 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: Backwood/WRCedar Mandolin from Tasmania
Replies: 6
Views: 13280

Re: Backwood/WRCedar Mandolin from Tasmania

Looks like a stunner!. We are seeing more mandos than guitars here lately, and it seems like even more pure luthiery. Inspiring stuff.
I love to see a zero fret, and I also love the pickguard. What the hell is that figured neck made of? Beautiful.
by Mark McLean
Fri Jul 22, 2022 12:27 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops
Replies: 33
Views: 24293

Re: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops

kiwigeo wrote:
Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:53 am
I usually manage to cram around 10 clamps into the sound hole of one of my acoustics. From memory I managed to get 4-5 into the sound hole of the tenor uke I made a few years ago.
But Martin is known to sometimes tend towards overkill.............
by Mark McLean
Fri Jul 22, 2022 10:47 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops
Replies: 33
Views: 24293

Re: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops

I have a few different types, including the aluminium Fox brand one, which is OK and pretty cheap. https://www.amazon.com.au/Shop-Fox-D2804-Aluminium-C-Clamp/dp/B0000DD1TC/ref=asc_df_B0000DD1TC/ If you got two of those you would be in business. If you are in Canberra and making ukes you might want t...
by Mark McLean
Thu Jul 21, 2022 12:00 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops
Replies: 33
Views: 24293

Re: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops

Of all the variables that you have identified, I think the clamping is perhaps the most pertinent. Bridge clamps are an important tool. Most common clamps are unsuitable for this particular job and the ones specifically made for this purpose are the best solution. Vacuum clamping is also great - but...
by Mark McLean
Mon Jul 18, 2022 5:54 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops
Replies: 33
Views: 24293

Re: Indian Rosewood Bridges coming off Cedar and Pine tops

Trent mentioned a really important cause of failed bridge glue-ups - imperfect contact of the two surfaces. This is common if there is a slight arch to the top of the instrument, but the bridge is flat. Are you confident the shapes correspond well? Many people use the technique of placing sandpaper ...
by Mark McLean
Sun Jul 17, 2022 8:42 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Crack repair posssible?
Replies: 15
Views: 22155

Re: Crack repair posssible?

Maybe you did all the right things and this is just a crack-prone piece of wood? But it is very beautiful! I have never worked with Padua so I am not sure if it is more prone to cracking than other timbers. I think your plan sounds good. I would use Tightbond Original, maybe diluted a bit to get it ...
by Mark McLean
Sun Jul 17, 2022 1:46 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Crack repair posssible?
Replies: 15
Views: 22155

Re: Crack repair posssible?

Hi Jurgen Most of us have experienced something like this. Humidity issues are a serious concern when you are building with solid wood, and unless you manage the humidity during certain stages of the building process you will get issues like this. It should be fixable. First lets go over what caused...
by Mark McLean
Sun Jun 26, 2022 8:15 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Acoustic Guitar neck bolt options
Replies: 6
Views: 4409

Re: Acoustic Guitar neck bolt options

Peter, if you want the definitive discussion of bolt-on methods you will find it in the Gilet-Gore books. If you don’t have them yet you should consider upgrading your information sources. Anyway, they take you through the merits of various approaches. The bottom line is that if you are going to bol...
by Mark McLean
Sat Jun 25, 2022 10:20 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Acoustic Guitar neck bolt options
Replies: 6
Views: 4409

Re: Acoustic Guitar neck bolt options

An alternative to the mortise and tenon design is to do a butt joint with a bolt down fingerboard. I have done a few with a kit system from Luthiers Cool Tools (link below). I would recommend one alteration to this method however. This is to avoid using threaded inserts straight into the end grain o...
by Mark McLean
Wed Jun 22, 2022 9:56 pm
Forum: Jigs & Fixtures
Topic: Bending Strap
Replies: 3
Views: 13146

Re: Bending Strap

Doh indeed!. Looks like a good idea. I will definitely give that a try
by Mark McLean
Sat Jun 18, 2022 11:07 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: The Caldersmith Papers
Replies: 6
Views: 20301

Re: The Caldersmith Papers

I want one too. Going to order it now.
Nice job curating that Graham.
by Mark McLean
Mon Jun 13, 2022 8:58 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Finishing disaster
Replies: 8
Views: 8773

Re: Finishing disaster

It is an old Suzuki from the tip? So why not go to town with the coptic textas and give it some really outrageous artwork?
by Mark McLean
Sun May 01, 2022 10:36 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Peg shaver
Replies: 3
Views: 2711

Re: Peg shaver

A good looking jig!
It must be fun to make your own.
by Mark McLean
Sun May 01, 2022 10:33 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Bending Irons
Replies: 11
Views: 7684

Re: Bending Irons

I agree with Martin that the commercially available electric ones are simple to use and, as far as I can see, all pretty much the same - so if you see a bargain anywhere jump in and grab it. It is very satisfying to bend by hand, and actually not difficult to master the skill.
by Mark McLean
Fri Apr 29, 2022 9:49 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Macrocarpa for neck
Replies: 3
Views: 4006

Re: Macrocarpa for neck

Hi Pat. Which “macrocarpa” species are you referring to? Macrocarpa is latin for “large fruit” so it is used as a descriptive term in the botanical name of many different trees. I Googled it and found a few. There is a Eucalyptus macrocarpa in Australia, or the so-called “Monterey Cypress” in the US...
by Mark McLean
Fri Apr 29, 2022 9:30 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Slow progress on the neoclassical
Replies: 10
Views: 6720

Re: Slow progress on the neoclassical

Well, if that bridge fails it won’t be for lack of clamps.
by Mark McLean
Fri Apr 29, 2022 9:24 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: bridge marking
Replies: 6
Views: 5971

Re: bridge marking

Nice video Nigel. I always love seeing an expert doing a task to notice the little points of difference to my ham-fisted work. Let me see if I understand your process. Please correct me where wrong: 1. You are doing this at the stage when the guitar is prepped for finish, but not yet sprayed. 2. I n...
by Mark McLean
Wed Apr 27, 2022 5:59 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Clicking when tuning.
Replies: 6
Views: 6095

Re: Clicking when tuning.

Great tip! I have a few old stethoscopes in a drawer and have sometimes used them to track down problems around the house (but, so far, not in guitars). The dowel trick sounds really clever. I presume you place it against the mastoid bone, just behind the ear?
by Mark McLean
Tue Apr 19, 2022 10:04 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Rick Turner
Replies: 3
Views: 3719

Re: Rick Turner

He was a sensational "outside the box" thinker and innovator. I remember some fantastic contributions that he made here on important ideas like adjustable neck designs and flying buttress internal bracing. The bio at Fretboard Journal makes you realize the varied roles he had in luthiery and the mus...
by Mark McLean
Sat Apr 09, 2022 8:02 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: new classical with spectrum
Replies: 8
Views: 7488

Re: new classical with spectrum

Great work Jim. Looks fantastic. Do you have any photos of the V-joint of the headstock in progress? The end result looks great.
by Mark McLean
Sat Apr 09, 2022 7:57 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: German style mandolin WIP
Replies: 4
Views: 3057

Re: German style mandolin WIP

It looks like you are at the exciting stage! Tell us more - what is the neck like and how is it attached? What is the soundboard made of? Some pictures inside the bowl please!
by Mark McLean
Fri Apr 01, 2022 9:34 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar
Replies: 14
Views: 8947

Re: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar

Yep, good point Trevor. The approach that I described is OK for a X-brace or similar design where you have some wriggle room for the bridge placement in order to get the saddle to locate where it needs to be. But I forgot that doesn’t work for a falcate design where you need to place the bridge acco...
by Mark McLean
Fri Apr 01, 2022 7:52 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar
Replies: 14
Views: 8947

Re: Applying G&G techniques to a kit guitar

“A question to the brains trust, to rout the saddle slot now, or wait till it's been glued on? I can see merit in both ways....... not sure which way I'll go.” I find it easier to rout the slot now, rather than try to work with the router on the top of the assembled guitar. But I know some folks do ...