Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Kerry's recent post of his pair of tenor guitars led me to these plans at Elderly Music. There are 39 plans for acoustic guitars and various other instruments. http://www.elderly.com/books/cat_or_pgc_page?step=20&cat_or_pgc=611&special_links=&sort_on=cat_or_pgc,artist,title&page=1&query_start=1&reve...

Hi Kerry, and welcome to the ANZLF. It is great when a "read-only" forum user jumps in and posts - especially 3 bits of their own work at once! The tenors look great. I am really interested in them because I am building one for a friend at the moment (although interrupted by temporary loss of my wor...

+1 for the Grellier L-00 plan. It works.

I have used a US based shipping agent to repackage and forward goods. The one that I used is Shipito.com but there are a number of others in the same business. They provide a delivery address in the US that the vendor sends the goods to. They then offer you a variety of options for reshipping it to ...

That doesn't look like a vintage instrument, more of a 1980s asian mojo judging by the age and thickness of the lacqer. Is it a plywood top? And a century ago people didn't advertise that guitars were handmade - it was the default. There is/was an asian company marketing under the name of Lyric. I h...

Lovely work Bob. The cocobolo really does the trick. I like the simple elegance of the bindings being the same as the back/side wood. Sometimes we tend to overcomplicate the colour scheme - this is great. It is a nice touch around the fretboard also. It must be frustrating not being able to play the...

I got a stinky new case recently. I picked it up at Guitar Factory, Gladesville, surprisingly cheap (can't remember exactly, but under $100) and looks really good. Very sturdy, well lined, good hinges and locks - but strong glue/solvent smell. I didn't worry too much about it in the shop, thinking t...

I have built guitars with both of my sons. It has been a great bond and really good quality time. My first attempt at building was a joint project with my younger son, who was then 16. We built an OM kit together and he was very keen - we both learned heaps. About 70% of the way through that project...

Very nice looking OM Rob. The wood combination is classic and really works well. What did you use for the bindings - they really set it off nicely? Is it koa, or mahogany, or something more indigenous to the Scotland? It sounds grand too!
cheers
Mark

I've done two acoustics all over with Tru-Oil and it worked well. It is certainly easy to apply. You will find lots of information on its use as a guitar finish if you search the forum here, and Google elsewhere. Robbie O'Brien's video will get you started. If you use it in high humidity it can stay...

There is an auction now up on ebay for a variety of high-end woodworking tools as well as a big stash of timber, including Honduran mahogany boards. The same seller had another tool auction going here a couple of months ago and I bought a couple of items. I did not know him at that time but it turns...

Nice pickup Jeremy. It would have been quite a thrill to spot that one and get it for a song. Looking at the back I was thinking walnut too. I have some black walnut a lot like that, with the diagonal figure showing through. Any clues from the smell? I guess it could smell of a lot of other things, ...

Thanks Mike
I also thought I would follow Graham's ideas if I ever went down this road, and it is great to know that you travelled the same route. Mr McDonald is having a bit of influence around here!
Once again - beaut looking instrument.

Mike, that is a very beautiful and elegant instrument. I think the combination of colours really works a treat, and the matt finish is very tasteful. What were the challenges in tackling a bouzouki, and what plans did you use? It really inspires me to give one a go at a later stage (not that I would...

Rod Thanks for pointing us all in the direction of that rosette style, designed by Jason Kostal. I was also grabbed by it and would like to give it a try. I found the following thread which shows one of his rosettes during construction so it answers John's question with a picture - saying just what ...

Yeah, Gobsmacked by the design flair and the execution.

Definitely want to know how you do the compensated zero fret please?
cheers (and cheering)
Mark

Wow - it does look really nice Rod. You get more Google hits with different spellings - minnerichie or minneritchie. It is a desert acacia (wattle) with amazing curly bark. http://www.flickr.com/photos/indole/2610767080/ http://www.worldwidewattle.com/imagegallery/image.php?p=&l=c&id=14088&o=2

Hi Nigel I have been admiring your work for a while. I followed one of your youtube videos in my first attempt at side-bending. I also used your technique for soundhole binding from another video, and most recently have pinched your idea of the headstock back-strap that extends down the back of the ...

Hi Trevor This video will probably give you some ideas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvXNv4XXlIc&feature=related This is an interesting and simple cigar-box foot drum idea. http://www.chicagofretworks.com/2008/06/17/a-different-kind-of-stompbox/ Not exactly a stomp box, but there are some cool idea...

Hi Rod
That is a supremely beautiful burst finish. If that was one of your early efforts it is very impressive. The shape, f-hole binding and overall detail just look great. I am not surprised that the new owner is pretty happy.
cheers
Mark

Really nice work Steve. You clearly have got your act together. Where did you get that Honduran and Amazon rosewood. It looks fantastic.
cheers
Mark

Really clever stuff. It sounds even cleverer in German. Great link - thanks Frank

Hi Ron Welcome to the mob. Regarding books, when trying my first build (with a similar lack of experience to yours) I bought the Cumpiano book and also Jonathan Kinkead's Build Your Own Acoustic Guitar. I found that the more modern and picture-heavy book by Kinkead was of much more practical use (an...

I have used the Stew-Mac herringbone which is 1.65mm deep. It scrapes and sands down well so if you cut the channel around 1.5mm or a little less you will have it a little bit proud, and then you can bring it down to be flush with the top. Adjust the measurements if the stuff you are using has diffe...

Hi Jeff. Thanks for the heads-up on the JT guitar lessons. I hadn't found them yet and I have always wanted to learn a bit of his stuff. It is not surprising that he tends to tune a little bit flat since he uses a capo so often, which I like to do also. I find it always makes the outside strings (6,...