Please Say Hello!!

[kiwigeo]

Over the last two weeks I think I've activated at least 20 new accounts but to date not one post from any of our new members.

We don't mind if you're only signing up to get your hands on some free useful information..but how hard is it it to jot up a few lines introducing yourself? Sounds like a fair swap to me

[TallDad71]

Been a member for yonks.

Hello to the twenty new sign ups. I hope you find this resource as fantasticalss as we all do.

[kiwigeo]

Been a member for yonks.

...and input from members such as yourself is what keeps the forum going

[Taffy Evans]

Hi, just recently I revisited one of my earlier posts and found that it had been viewed over 6000 times, there must be a lot of people not saying hello. Feel free to chime in.
Taff

[ozziebluesman]

Yep I started building seriously in 2005 and this forum has been my learning library.
The information here is second to none.
Please come and ask your questions, show us your work and woodwork issues.
Cheers
Alan

[Johnny Bravo]

Was looking for a thread to post in and, voila, my prayers were answered.

Hi all

Thanks for having me along.

My 30 second luthier story goes something like this...

I am a very average guitarist and even more averager as a drummer. As long as my music is never heard by society we're all good. When I do play I hear dogs howling in the distance and they sound like they're in pain.

I dipped my toe into guitar kit making about 3 years ago and my first Telecaster was...ok. So many things that I would do differently if I could do it all again but I won't touch it again because it was my first.

I then dabbled in some guitar making under the watchful eye of a very good luthier and made so many many mistakes (or "opportunities to learn guitar repair" as I'd like to think of them).

And now I've built up a small/humbe workshop and have tried to source whatever beat up second hand guitars I can to practise on.

My guitar fascinations are many but my greatest weakness is bursts (I've done some stained and, just recently a dark honey burst which started out with the intention of being a tobacco burst but still turned out better than I thought it would). The second would be iconic hollow bodies like the 335 and L-5 (but I know that those are unthinkable with my modest skills).

My 2025 plans/misguided aspirations (which I'm sure will be tempered in time):
- Telecaster with a quilted maple veneer that I've just bought
- PRS style guitar body (I'd like to have a go at contour shaping)

I'm looking to acquire some skills by trying, asking, listening, failing, starting again etc. I will, of course, always try to search the forums before asking questions but would also love feedback on my ongoing projects (I'm not thin-skinned and would welcome experienced voices).

Anyway, happy 2025 all and I look forward to crossing paths in due course.

Regards

[56nortondomy]

Welcome to the forum Johnny, don't be scared to ask questions, remember there's no stupid questions. Wayne

[Johnny Bravo]

Welcome to the forum Johnny, don't be scared to ask questions, remember there's no stupid questions. Wayne

Cheers and thanks for the welcome.

I'm going through the tutes and threads first just to make sure I'm not asking something that's already been asked.

Kind regards

[MajorPing]

Hi!

I joined here because this year I'd like to try and make a Selmer Maccaferri oval-hole guitar using my school's wood workshop. I'm already having a lot of fun reading through all of the threads of people who've made one in the past and I can't wait to get started!

[Mark McLean]

Hi Major and welcome to ANZLF. You will get lots of help with your project here, and there are a few contributors with quite a bit of experience with Maccaferri style instruments. Have you chosen which of the Maccaferri designs you want to do, and do you have plans yet? They are not too difficult to make, but there are some particular differences from the more common American style acoustics so you need some specific guidance in some parts. Where are you located?

[MajorPing]

Hi Mark, I was thinking of going with the Michael Collins 14 fret oval hole plans, as people seem to quite like them. I haven't bought the plans yet, however, I plan to in the next week or so. I want to try and get a hold of the Michael Collins book but it is proving rather difficult. (This seems like a good place to mention that if you have or know someone who has the book could you please let me know). If you have any suggestions or recommendations please let me know!

[Mark McLean]

That is why I asked where you are located.
Someone might be nearby to you and happen to have the book or plans for you to borrow?

[MajorPing]

Oh, sorry I forgot to put that in the other message. I am in Hobart.

[Mark McLean]

That is why I asked where you are located.
Someone might be nearby to you and happen to have the book or plans for you to borrow?

Well I guess I was referring to myself. I have a copy of the Collins book, and the book by Francois Charle called The Story of Selmer Maccaferri guitars - which is the definitive history and has lots of interesting detail. I also have plans drawn up by Francois Charle copied from a 1932 Orchestre model (large D-shaped soundhole) and a 1936 small oval hole ("petite bouche") model. The notes and comments on the plans are in french, but all you really need is the drawings and measurements. I am not likely to use them any time soon so I could send them all down to you for the duration of your project, as long as I get them back from you somewhere down the line. I will send you a private message so that we can share addresses.

You need to decide whether you are going to make an authentic copy of a Maccaferri, or something "inspired by" but not following every detail. They were pretty quirky in some design aspects, like an internal "resonator soundbox" in the early models which was a partial box built inside the guitar body. Most people seem to have concluded that this was actually a bad design and they got removed from a lot of the original Maccaferri guitars, and modern copies mostly omit this feature. He also used multiple aluminium bars to reinforce the neck (very modern in the 1930s), but IMO you would be better off using a modern two-way adjustable truss rod. Maccaferris also have laminated backs and sides, but I would suggest you use solid timber instead. But it is your adventure, so do whatever you like! You can buy tailpieces and tuners that are good copies of the originals.

[TomBicknell]

Hi everyone! I'm another newbie builder. I started earlier this year with a telecaster kit, and the bug well and truly bit. For the last month or two I've been doing a guided build class one day a week with James Cargill of Cargill Guitars in Melbourne. I'm building a left handed 12 fret J45 with a Martin scale length, because what's the point of building custom guitars if it's not a bit different, right? It's Oregon myrtle back and sides with an Italian spruce top, ebony fretboard & bridge, and either mahogany or Queensland maple neck.

While I'm doing the class with Jim, I'm slowly getting myself set up to build at home. I still need to build a shed and get all the hefty tools that go in it, but that hasn't stopped me building a modest timber stash, with some nice New Guinea rosewood, Queensland maple, blackwood, silver ash, Indian rosewood, celery top pine, ringed gidgee, curly mango, white cedar and a couple of Sitka spruce tops (with designs on a few bunya ones as well).

The photos below are my current build at Jim's and said stash.

Back joined to the sides.

Working on the sides.

My little wood stash.

[kiwigeo]

Welcome to the forum Tom and thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself.

A nice looking stash of wood there.........it will only get larger regardless of how many guitars you make

[TomBicknell]

Welcome to the forum Tom and thanks for taking the time to introduce yourself.

A nice looking stash of wood there.........it will only get larger regardless of how many guitars you make

Thanks Martin! I’ve made peace with the fact that my motivation for getting into guitar building is an even split between a desire to create the instruments, and using it as an excuse to buy beautiful wood. Some photos of which I'll share because this audience might be more appreciative than my wife, who very politely lets me tell her all about it at length with glazed eyes.

White cedar (cape lilac) electric guitar top

Curly mango acoustic B&S

Queensland maple

New Guinea rosewood

Ringed gidgee fretboards & bridges

[papatar16]

Hi. I've been a member for a few years but I haven't yet posted. I'm in the Chicago area. I was lucky enough to attend a Trevor Gore class last fall in Colorado and got interested in modal tuning. I've been using falcate bracing but only as far as putting the braces where they are shown and using CF where shown. I'd like to get more into it and go from the start of a new build. That's where I am now. I'm no engineer by any means and really could use a "Dummies Guide to Modal Tuning". I have a lot of info provided by Mr. Gore but I'm now even sure where to start. I'm going to do some digging into your forum and see what I can learn. Nice to be here

[kiwigeo]

To the individual who joined the ANZLF today and used his first post to advertise the sale of his tonewood stash...your post has been deleted along with your membership of the forum. To date your contribution to this forum has been zero so I don't see why we should act as a free platform for you to sell stuff. The ANZLF has running costs borne mainly by it's admins and is only here because of the support from long term members.

[TomBicknell]

I'm no engineer by any means and really could use a "Dummies Guide to Modal Tuning". I have a lot of info provided by Mr. Gore but I'm now even sure where to start.

Hi Papatar16, have you come across “The Book”, Trevor Gore and Gerard Gilet’s two-part textbook? I’ve just bought a copy and I’m starting to read through it. I’m not sure how much of a “dummies guide” it is, but you might find it useful if you haven’t seen it.

[Mark McLean]

Hi Papatar
I definitely second Tom's recommendation of the Gore/Gilet books if you haven't already got them - and I think Martin (Kiwigeo) is selling a second hand copy in the classifieds section at the moment, probably with the added bonus of glue stains and erudite notes added to all of the important pages. And there is also a whole subforum on ANZLF devoted to Q&A and discussion on the Books (see Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore via the home page). All of your needs are met right here........

[Mr Glyn]

Hi Folks,
I'm new here but not new to guitars.
I did 25 years as a full time repairer and the last 5 have been just making electric guitar pickups.
Glyn