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| Word to the wise on guitar builders!!!
WOOD..--- Has a great memory.. Wood always wants to go back to its original form,,.. Thats why when bending wood you always over bend so it goes back to where you want it.. When building a guitar you want the least amount of stress as possible for vibration... For example- when you bond a top to the back and sides you dont clamp the shit out of it.... You just use tape or rubber bands or the lightest presure possible... You want no stress at alll!!!!! This helps with cracks and with the guitar vibrating freely. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Good stuff, K. Gracias. |
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Posts: 255
| OHHHHH !!!!!! And when building a guitar its much better to build a guitar when its dry and not humid... Humid is all about pushing .. Dry is all about pulling... When you bend wood its all about steam heat and expansion... You leave your guitar in a trunk on a 0 degree day at 0 humidity and oops crack.??? If you build a guitar dry and leave it in your trunk on a 0 degree day at 0 humidity , the guitar just went back to the condition you built it... Wood moves easier when there is moisture involved... |
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| Thanks J W just trying to help.. And by the way the only place on earth with 0 humidity is the north and south pole.. So 30 to 40 percent is good... |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | Thanks for the tip about "lightly" clamping the backs and tops 'cause I'm the type of guy that would clamp the sh*t out of them!(and probaby try to add some drywall screws also :eek: )
I clamped my sides in the form while they were still alittle damp and then let them stay clamped for about 3 days (in Aug.in the south) and now it retains it's shape although I still keep it lying in the form until I get the top and back glued on.....
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I'm taking notes on all the tips and adding them to my file. |
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| "Hope you guys don't mind if I ask (probably a whole bunch of) stupid questions along the way"
"I bet you can't ask as many as I can..."
Great - now they're fighting over who's the dumbest on the board. Should we have a poll? |
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Location: closely held secret | Oh, yes, lets! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I may not be the sharpest tool in the drawer, but at least I'm not the sharpest tool in the drawer. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Yeah. Uh, what he said. |
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| It's a tie. And no overtime. |
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Location: Cicero, NY | Too bad - Lady Weaser was volunteering to be a character reference...(pretty eagerly too). |
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Posts: 255
| Updates!!! updates!!!! |
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Posts: 4413
| He's gone to visit his folks for your Big Chicken Day. I'm sure his mom could knit him a better guitar than he's gonna make, but you know how stubborn he is....
I've ordered two - it's my help the mentally challenged gesture for the year. |
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Posts: 42
Location: New York State | I have a martin D28 kit. Bought it when i was visiting the martin factory about 12 years ago. I tell myself i'm not procrastinating... i'm just aging it :)
Actually, i did start it... got the back pieces together and the tail and neck blocks joined to the sides. It was looking great... perfect fit and "square"... Then I decided to have a baby, so it got packed away till just recently. The "baby" is 9 years old now, and i'm ready to start back on the guitar project. I'll take some pictures to share...
Susan <-- daughter of a seriously good woodworker, who loved to teach his little girl how to use power and hand tools :) |
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| Awesomely Fantastic Dudette!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 42
Location: New York State | Originally posted by luthier444:
Awesomely Fantastic Dudette!!!!!!!! Ha ha ha haaaaaa......... thanks :) I figure if i finish it within the next year or two, i'll be happy. My son is just starting to play, and i think it would be SO cool for him to someday, when i'm jammin in heaven, have a beautiful sounding guitar made by his mom.
we shall see...
susan |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | "It's not what you take when you leave this world behind you.
It's what you leave behind you when you go"....
I think that's the reason I'm building an instrument so that I can leave something behind maybe someone will enjoy/treasure/use etc.
Accordingly how this 1st one turns out :eek: ....I'll proababy build more (gotta find a use for all those templates/jigs/molds) and although neither of my sons play an instrument, It can be passed down to future generations..... |
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Location: Cicero, NY | My son is just starting to play, and i think it would be SO cool for him to someday, when i'm jammin in heaven, have a beautiful sounding guitar made by his mom.
we shall see...
susan [/QB] FWIW, That is just insanely cool. :cool: |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | I've ordered the remaining wood. Gonna make a 5 piece neck with mahogany and rosewood. Ebony fingerboard, bridge, headstock veneer, binding and heel cap. Maple bridge plate.
I've purchased and am reading two manuals: "Guitar Building- Tradition and Technology" and The Luthier's Handbook". Both are very good.
I have settled on the body shape and have 2 designs drafted, one center hole and one with sound holes in the upper bout. |
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Posts: 255
| Just wanted to share photos of a guitar I am building.. Its for Hart + Huntington Tattoo company.. The Show on A+E called INKED... Dont mind the mess--- I build my guitars on a poker table .. hahahahaha     |
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| OH by the way I am still waiting for the INLAYS so i cant finish it. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | That's going to be one bright flam'in geetar!
Sweet! |
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| Nice cutaway! :D |
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Location: the BIG Metropolis of TR | LOOKIN' GOOOOD!!!! :eek: :cool:
Couple of questions.......How are you mounting the neck and what's the cutout in the back fer? |
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Building a guitar
