Search found 705 matches

by peter.coombe
Wed Oct 21, 2020 9:08 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: custom cases
Replies: 9
Views: 7209

Re: custom cases

I did get a custom mandolin case made by a fellow I met at Port Fairy FF. Cost was very reasonable, but it is a flight case, bulky and heavy but very strong. He measured one of my mandolins and the fit is perfect, but so perfect it won't fit any of my other models of mandolins. The interior is foam ...
by peter.coombe
Tue Oct 20, 2020 9:53 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: custom cases
Replies: 9
Views: 7209

Re: custom cases

Welcome to my world. Presto Cases is no longer in business. They closed down just when I had several cases on order with them so I was not happy, but the reason they closed was due to serious illness of one of the partners. I used them for just about everything, except the cheapest mandolins, and fo...
by peter.coombe
Fri Aug 28, 2020 8:41 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: StewMax Membership and Free Shipping
Replies: 11
Views: 14318

Re: StewMax Membership and Free Shipping

I am also into my second year of this. Pays for itself quickly, but the free shipping is slow, very slow now.
by peter.coombe
Tue Aug 25, 2020 10:47 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Motivation
Replies: 8
Views: 7157

Re: Motivation

What keeps me motivated - sales. I get a huge kick from a good sale. That might sound mercenary, but it was never the money. A good sale means there is someone out there who appreciates what you are doing, enough to stump up the cash for your work. They give positive feedback and sometimes hints as ...
by peter.coombe
Thu Aug 13, 2020 10:13 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Shipping to America
Replies: 2
Views: 3218

Re: Shipping to America

I am not sure what you mean by "current thinking on Lacey Act compliance". The bottom line is you need to comply or risk getting the instrument confiscated. The painful part is the bit your US customer has to do, but it is not too onerous and so long as you use woods that have been legally logged yo...
by peter.coombe
Mon Aug 10, 2020 10:04 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Still not getting the sound I want...help!!
Replies: 40
Views: 174603

Re: Still not getting the sound I want...help!!

I would put more effort into trying to understand the Gore/Gilet design book. The technique to improve your consistency is all there, and you don't have to use falcate bracing. You don't need to go into the maths, just understand the main principles, but it is a different way of thinking from tappin...
by peter.coombe
Sun Jul 19, 2020 10:35 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Old mandolin unknown fret size
Replies: 5
Views: 5375

Re: Old mandolin unknown fret size

Nice find. Yep, needs a refret but as already said, is a trickier job with a bound fretboard, and specialized tools are needed. I use Dunlop 6320 fretwire on all my mandolins. The specs are on the Dunlop web site. These old bowlback mandolins are very lightly built and are designed for very light st...
by peter.coombe
Mon Jun 29, 2020 11:07 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Decals
Replies: 13
Views: 12418

Re: Decals

The laser engraving/nail polish method looks interesting. I should be able to do that with my CNC by using the same tiny bit I use to cut my logo. That opens up a lot of possibilities, just need the time to program and debug some of the possibilities. Once done though I can make as many as I like.
by peter.coombe
Fri Jun 26, 2020 10:28 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Decals
Replies: 13
Views: 12418

Re: Decals

That sounds familiar, although the reasons are slightly different. I wanted to get away from shell so I could avoid the paperwork involved when sending to the USA. I looked at decals and tried a couple but they really did not work. Maybe there is something that works but I could not find it. I went ...
by peter.coombe
Tue Jun 02, 2020 3:18 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Courier recommendation
Replies: 8
Views: 8030

Re: Courier recommendation

Woo hoo, finally the Toll truck arrived and picked it up.
by peter.coombe
Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:55 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Courier recommendation
Replies: 8
Views: 8030

Re: Courier recommendation

Probably a good idea to take it to the depot yourself to cut out that extra leg of the process Peter, hope it goes well! Nearest Pack and Send is a 3hr drive away so looking at a 6 hr drive there and back, so is not a good option, and from what Alan said might even cost more. Courier delivery has u...
by peter.coombe
Sat May 30, 2020 10:15 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Courier recommendation
Replies: 8
Views: 8030

Re: Courier recommendation

I went with Pack and Send. Unfortunately once again I am finding the disadvantage of living out in the sticks. Nothing happens fast here! Booked with Pack and Send on Tuesday, now Saturday and am still waiting for the pickup truck to arrive. Checked with DHL, has been booked and Toll are supposed to...
by peter.coombe
Thu May 28, 2020 9:54 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: The order of things ...
Replies: 14
Views: 15801

Re: The order of things ...

I have always fretted the board before gluing it to the neck.
by peter.coombe
Mon May 25, 2020 9:05 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: My pore filling
Replies: 12
Views: 13579

Re: My pore filling

No Australian supplier, I still use shipito.com.
by peter.coombe
Mon May 25, 2020 3:30 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: King Billy Pine/Blackwood Tenor guitar
Replies: 3
Views: 5986

Re: King Billy Pine/Blackwood Tenor guitar

Is that your own body shape or did you model it off an old design? The body shape comes from the Antes tenor guitar plan sold by LMI. Mine are loosely based on this plan and I have made modifications and tune it to GDAE rather than how a tenor guitar is usually tuned to CGDA. GDAE just sounds bette...
by peter.coombe
Mon May 25, 2020 3:14 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: My pore filling
Replies: 12
Views: 13579

Re: My pore filling

I have tried a similar method myself with shellac and have managed to get the best finish I have ever had or seen bar none. However, it always crazes after a few days or weeks and that sort of makes it impractical. I have re-done the micromesh, and it still crazed but took longer. Gave up in the end...
by peter.coombe
Sun May 24, 2020 10:33 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: It's not all bad news....
Replies: 12
Views: 11116

Re: It's not all bad news....

President tweety, I like that Lillian. I have called him other names, and I am sure you have too!
by peter.coombe
Sat May 23, 2020 12:24 pm
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: King Billy Pine/Blackwood Tenor guitar
Replies: 3
Views: 5986

King Billy Pine/Blackwood Tenor guitar

This is my latest tenor guitar. King Billy Pine top, Blackwood back and sides, Queensland Maple neck, Indian Rosewood bindings, Black Heart Sassafras rosette, Macassar Ebony fingerboard. Scale length is 23", and is tuned GDAE. These very small guitars are a bit of crap shoot as far as what frequenci...
by peter.coombe
Thu May 21, 2020 9:16 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: It's not all bad news....
Replies: 12
Views: 11116

Re: It's not all bad news....

Lillian, we have the same problem here, and I am not complaining about the delivery times. It is a fact of life at the moment in these unusual times. Australia Post is overwhelmed with packages and delivery times for express mail are no longer guaranteed. Domestic delivery times are now 2-3 times sl...
by peter.coombe
Wed May 20, 2020 7:20 pm
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: It's not all bad news....
Replies: 12
Views: 11116

Re: It's not all bad news....

Last package I sent to the USA via Aussie Post express took just under 3 weeks. Normally it takes around a week, or if I get lucky a bit less than a week. I used to use DHL but gave up on them because of escalating cost. Guitars are a bigger problem because they are too big for Aussie Post and none ...
by peter.coombe
Wed May 20, 2020 10:20 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Courier recommendation
Replies: 8
Views: 8030

Courier recommendation

What do you guitar makers use to ship your guitars internationally? In this case to Canada. I always use Australia Post for my mandolins, but the guitar is too big to fit into the maximum package size that Australia Post will accept.
by peter.coombe
Wed May 20, 2020 9:31 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: It's not all bad news....
Replies: 12
Views: 11116

Re: It's not all bad news....

Yep, people are buying musical instruments. If you are not selling now then you need to improve your marketing. Make the most of it while it lasts. I have sold about a years worth of work since start of the year, plus got a custom guitar order. Two of the mandolin sales went to the USA and had an en...
by peter.coombe
Sat May 09, 2020 9:31 am
Forum: Instrument Builders Forum
Topic: Quality Machine heads
Replies: 16
Views: 13277

Re: Quality Machine heads

Schertler. Made in Switzerland with the usual Swiss precision.
by peter.coombe
Sun May 03, 2020 8:53 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: King Billy Pine/ Queensland walnut classical
Replies: 12
Views: 29327

Re: King Billy Pine/ Queensland walnut classical

Silica in Queensland Walnut is normal, happens in every piece. It is a pain to cut because it wrecks bandsaw blades in no time. I usually use a blade that is already on the way out because it will be well blunt by the time I finish. The smell is also quite strong when you cut it, and some people (e....
by peter.coombe
Fri May 01, 2020 10:00 am
Forum: The Gallery
Topic: King Billy Pine/ Queensland walnut classical
Replies: 12
Views: 29327

Re: King Billy Pine/ Queensland walnut classical

That does not surprise me. I have used it a bit in mandolins and some Qld Walnut is almost impossible to bend without breaking. Can be extremely frustrating. Other pieces bend easily, so it is highly variable in terms of how it bends. I ended up picking a piece that bent easily and cut the entire pi...