Classical - strung up.

[kiwigeo]

Today's Geologists lunch ended early so I came home and spent a bit of time in the shop getting the classical setup and the strings on. 13th fret is a bit high so she's sounding a bit buzzy. In the bottom photo you can see my new pattern makers vice in action...very handy indeed.

[Allen]

Never mind the vise. Hows the box of Steinlager on the floor? I love that beer.

[kiwigeo]

Never mind the vise. Hows the box of Steinlager on the floor? I love that beer.

The beer is long gone mate but there a couple of full cartons on the spare room ready for Steinie loving visitors like yourself.

[Puff]

Geologist's lunch? Rock cakes

[stopper]

Geologist's lunch? Rock cakes

Hey Puff, getting stoned!!!!!

[Puff]

Rock solid brother

[rod]

The guitar looks bloody nice to Kiwi......sweeeeet !

[kiwigeo]

Geologist's lunch? Rock cakes

Berkshire Pork Belly.....washed down with a Shaw and Smith Sav Blanc. They didnt have any kiwi SB's but the S and S isnt a bad drop.

[kiwigeo]

So Ive got a buzz on one of the strings (5th and 4th) so I start checking for high frets...and find a few and file 'em down. Buzzing seems to get worse. I check the nut and saddle (should do this first)....both ok. Checked string height at first fret.....ok. I immediately had thoughts of the neck relief being out. Layed a straight edge along the neck and verified a slight positive relief as is normal on a classical. I left the guitar overnight and spent a few hours thinking about what might be going on.

The next day I decide to check the action at 12th fret.........shockingly low on the bass side. I'd done a sloppy job on the saddle. I whacked in a new saddle and set action at 4mm on the bass side and 2.5mm on the treble side.......no more buzzes.

A lesson learned.

[Dominic]

Hey Martin and others, I had similar problems when I strung up my Hauser. But the action was fine. It was happening on the 5th and 6th strings. I had used a two hole tie system on the block and the strings had more break angle and I found that the string behind the saddle was too close to the block and also that the area contacting the saddle was too wide. Didn't take long to sort it out but I realised that classical set up was more sensitive to these things than on any steel string I had made before. And it was very hard to see what was going on. So I relieved the block a bit more behind the saddle so there was more clearance and sharpened up the saddle a bit more. All good
Its been fine since then but the extremely dry air here in Warsaw has been difficult to control.
The guitar is sounding great now after 4 weeks or so after my initial string up and my first fears it was a dud.

As we discussed sharing notes, I would be interested to hear your (and others) comments on how its sounds at initial string up and how quickly it develops its 'true' sound. As I mentioned in the previous thread, the sound seemed to come on far faster than a steel string and from a much lower base. But as it is the only classical I have made I have no comparison.

Anyway, your guitar looks great, hope you are happy with the sound when you get it playing right.
Here is a link to a great classical song I am learning while it is still in my hands. I'll miss it when its gone.
Cheers
Dom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cW82NEivjo

[kiwigeo]

Decided I didnt like the back of the headstock (scarf joint more visible than usual) so I glued on a veneer to hide same. With the guitar in my trusty pattern makers vice I was able to glue up the veneer and then carry on French Polishing the back of the instrument.

[Nick]

That your "Beatles" Toupee on top of the paper Martin?

[Kim]

That your "Beatles" Toupee on top of the paper Martin?

Looks more like his merkin Nick.

Nice job on the FP Marty

Cheers

Kim

[kiwigeo]

The FP has been an absolute P in the A. I've changed my method a bit since yesterday and it's going alot better. Issues were as follows:

1. During bodying sessions Ive made a point of not reworking the muneca over the same spot more than twice.....this avoids dragging half dried shellac around.
2. Instead of doing a body session then stiffing off Ive started doing 2-3 body sessions in succession and then doing a stiffing off session after a few hours. I then wait another few hours and do another stiff off if there's still oil on the surface.
3. Ive been using less meths on the pad during stiffing off and have started pressing alot harder.


Results are alot better with the above changes to my technique.

[Allen]

With the guitar in my trusty pattern makers vice.

You just trying to piss me of Martin?

[seeaxe]

Instead of doing a body session then stiffing off Ive started doing 2-3 body sessions in succession and then doing a stiffing off session after a few hours. I then wait another few hours and do another stiff off

I've been using less meths on the pad during stiffing off and have started pressing alot harder.

Results are alot better with the above changes to my technique.

Martin, reading this as I am after a couple of post prandial pinot noirs, I hope you wont mind me saying that sounds like an awful lot of stiffing off. I know I've never managed that much. Have you ever had problems with meths irritating the skin? Was that all in one session or spread over several????

Lovely looking guitar, but.

[kiwigeo]

Instead of doing a body session then stiffing off Ive started doing 2-3 body sessions in succession and then doing a stiffing off session after a few hours. I then wait another few hours and do another stiff off

I've been using less meths on the pad during stiffing off and have started pressing alot harder.

Results are alot better with the above changes to my technique.

Martin, reading this as I am after a couple of post prandial pinot noirs, I hope you wont mind me saying that sounds like an awful lot of stiffing off. I know I've never managed that much. Have you ever had problems with meths irritating the skin? Was that all in one session or spread over several????

Lovely looking guitar, but.

Not really a huge amount of stiffing off. Actually Im stiffing off after 2-3 body sessions rather then after each body session so Im actually doing less stiffing off.

My munecas are made such that I dont have my fingers in contact with meths while using the muneca.