Sorry. I tried this post and my computer ate it. I am wheedleing out the bytes and bits. it may be scattered, but then again, us are a wierd sort anyway.
I’m full speed ahead to nowhere with my “paying” job, it gets worse every day the market tanks. so I take in repairs and refretts..it won’t hold me, but I still hold to it.
Certified, Martin, Gibson, Kaaman, Fender. Ibanez. Smith. as a repair tech, hell, I built the guitars that made the guitars, and fixed the rest. I’m getting bach words now. and taking in more “fix it , Duane” type work.
Here’s my latest burn.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
Replies
Whoops.
This ain't right.
Pics are getting hard to sell this way.
I use GLASS as a scraper for this..see?
ok..nevermind. sumptin ain't plsying nice
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
Ok, new computer.
Heres the overview of the project a little better.
dried and ready for work
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The begining of it all
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Handy tools are an old 1/4" drill chuck as a pin vise, small awls, homemade scrapers ( MANY of them) of old sawzall blades, glass, and such, files, and small carving tools.
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Scuffed out and FLAT again, on to final sanding and spray when the temps are right and I have time, then McGuires Mirror Glaze and high speed buffing. While it's out of action, I'll dress the frets and adjust the neck truss rod, polish up the works and restring her back to action.
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Sorry about the problems, it also seems most of teh pics are too bright, I was working under really bright lights, my eyes are not so good and I really had to be careful not to screw up redrilling the string holes ( from both directions and meet in the middle of the bridge) and I was pretty tired from a few weeks from hell. I needed to do this, for my sanity. (G) Which, it seems, has still eluded me.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
Edited 11/8/2008 8:18 pm ET by Sphere
Edited 11/8/2008 8:20 pm ET by Sphere
Pix are probably too bright because you are shooting a black object. Auto exposure is probably trying to make that black object appear as 18% gray, causing the overexposure. It's the reverse of when you point at a window or a light and auto exposure stops way down because it is trying to make the really bright thing 18% gray, so everything else is too dark.You can compensate with the exposure overide control. Steve
I see..sorta..LOL
Hell, it's not my strong suit for sure, guitar I can fix, photos? Not so good.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
I'm impressed. Do you think your sanity would improve if you cleaned up the workbench a little? Ok, I didn't think so."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
It's always been that way, everywhere I've worked.
If and when I get on a tear and clean it up, some wiseacre looks and says "No work huh?" A messy bench is a busy bench.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
Sphere,
Luthier question. I've got an old Guild acoustic with very high action. Probably 3/16"- 1/4" at the 12th fret. Will adjusting the truss rod lower the action?
Thanks,John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Possibly. You need to straight edge the neck, or eyeball it for bow.
IF you determine the neck IS bowed, then you want to help the truss rod by pre-clamping it straighter, DON'T use the rod to move the neck, you may strip it, or break it. Also don't go all at once, take up the slack, clamp more, take up.
Sometimes it's something else that went kafluey..hard to tell wih out seeing it. The bridge may have rolled and the top might be bellied, or similar.
G'luck.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Eyeballin' the neck, it looks pretty straight. I can pull the neck down (which flexes the top) and lower the action. I guess I'll just live with it like I have for the last 20 years I've had it. I got the guitar for free with a cracked neck at the heel when I was in high school. I took it to a luthier who repaired it so I have maybe $60 in it.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
You don't want dead straight, you need to add some back bow.
The rod may be able to do it, or sometimes I will use a fatter fret tang in the old slots, that will spring the neck back from the added tangs pressure. Not really a first timers job, but I could walk ya thru it.
If it needs a fret job any way, I'd probably wind up doing a little of both.
You could also lower the saddle, not by deepening the saddle slots, but remove the saddle and belt sand the back edge, slowly and carefully , other wise you may start buzzing where you don't want it, down by the fret board tail that is only glued to the sound board, and not supported by neck. As it is that area is prone to lift up slightly,and being not braced well, it can a problem to get and keep in plane.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
I'll do a little research and see what she may need.
Thanks.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
A bad action is akin to playing barbed wire, besides, "fretting out" ( the pitch goes up, if the string is bend too far to fret) and sounding outta tune.
Of get a capo and stay away from the upper register (G)Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
What should be the string to fret measurement on an acoustic at about the 12th fret? I know my electrics are pretty low but never really set up an acoustic.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
There isn't really a "set" number. It depends on string gauge and player's preferences, fret height. Some guys ( and gals) like it so low, it rattles like a can of rocks, others ( Slide players) want some more wiggle room.
Whatever you get used to , and what the guitar can give without major work is the ticket.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
JF30?My Guild has pretty high action as well.
Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Don't know the model. Somebody removed the label from inside. Using the dater on Guild's website, it is a 1974 but for some reason they don't specify the model numbers in the 70's. I like it, but then again it is the only acoustic I have ever known. I have just never liked the high action.John
J.R. Lazaro Builders, Inc.
Indianapolis, In.
Wow, beautiful picture of a ... um ... yeah, that's nice.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I don't know whatthe hell is wrong with that other computer, it ate my pics, it won't resize right when saved in Irfanview...and times out when I try to upload..I think its toast..I'll have to get the pics on the "Good" computer.
Sorry bout that, it's screwy.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
Knowing your work, I'm sure that if I could just figure out what was in that pic, I'd be impressed.
<G>
Lemme try this, I c/p'ed to this 'puter.
Its a bad crack in a sound board, black cat laq. that I had swamped with superglue after orange ele tape mask each side.
The problem I ran into, was a puddle of glue got into the bridge string holes DOH! And glued the ball ends onto the bridge and filled the holes the string pass through.
So I wound up heating the string with a solder iron and then had too use a small carving gouge to clean up the excess glue in the small dish out on the bridge, then use a LONG 3/32" drill bit to crefully redrill the holes.
View Image
Here I am digging out the bridge.
I Then used a scraper ( broken glass) to level the glue line, and sand up to 15 micron grit to re-shoot the lac and blend it in to the rest of the body.
I have them pics as I went along, but the desktop puter is wonky as hell..I need to see if the pics are still on the camera card. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
How do you reshoot cat laq? Isn't cat laq an industrial process?
Industrial? Nah..just a two part mix that is harder than nitrocell.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
So is the the crack the line going toward the upper right?"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
The big fat line from the bridge to the lower bout. It's a Spruce sound board, but heavily finished to be gloss black.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
What model- Adamas?Are the three holes behind the saddle from Barcus Berry Hot Dots?
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
Not Adama's, a true Ovation, 1651 I Think, heck, I've had it since '90..have to look in side for the model #. It has all the leafy onlay and 22 sound holes, just like the deep bowl Melissa Etheridge made semi popular. It was my divorce present to myself, 1,000.00$ back then
Its just got Piezo under the saddles, you are seeing the bridge attachment stud plugs. 3 band eq on the side for the Ovation signature sound.
It's getting pretty ratty looking, been played hard and put away wet, literally, we were on a house boat and overnight partying, and got drenched when a storm came up suddenly..LOLSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
I have an upright bass that got into a squall during a rainbow gathering thirty some years ago in West Virginia. I was on acid at the time and had wondered of to the other side of the mountain and when the rain came up I just melted into a stress puddle about the bass getting rained on. A cute friend of mine talked me down and we ran across the mountain together and just shoved it dripping wet into somebody's vacant tent, nothing to dry it off with. still has rust spots on the tuning machines but otherwise all fine, course I've tweaked it out right much in the intervening decades, nice pickup, graphite rod in the neck, dropped the height of the neck and re-finished the back of the neck to make it play more silky. and finally splurged on real gut strings. I still keep the action way up there on account of coming up playing in contra bands in grange halls in western Maine. Gotta have some thump to it!I miss the rest of the gang, wish they would get real about all these bans and bring the old crowd back. Got my picture in the new FHB, page 88 knocking tin dripping wet at the end of a rainy day.------------------
"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
Man, I can tell you a story about a Kaye upright bass. Not the whole story ( need coffee) but suffice it to say, it got called the "The Cement Basement Bass". My bass player buddy managed to break the bass bar ( it is glued to the back of the front, inside, and is where the sound post is wedged in).
After conferring with a few other luthiers ( I was pretty new at the time, but was active in manufacturing) we were told it can't be done. At least without removing the back, which is what holds the whole thning together and in neck alinement.
Don't tell ME "It can't be done" cuz by god, I'll show ya, or die tryng ( well, something will die)..I had it wrapped in garbage bags, built a plywood coffin, used plaster of paris, portland cemt, and sawdust/planer shavings and cast a full body mold. Then with pallette knives taking turns on a burner, melted the glue line and got the back off. Bought Aircraft Spruce at Martin, I lived not far away..and copied the bass bar.
A "Go-Stick" and maybe a car jack to the joists above, and clamped in the whittled bass bar...
Then the real fun began..
I'll chapter two this story, when I get more awake, I got 4 dogs on my lap, in from the freeze..need coffee and nicotine.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
My Lovely Assistant has an old Kay. Probably in worse shape than yours was. Some former owner, apparently acting on a flash of genius or some strong drugs, re-affixed the neck by fashioning a U-Bolt out of allthread and running it around the (cracked) neck block. And the bridge has to be kept in the wrong place so a busted spot in the top can be sandwiched between it and the soundpost. Still, it works, sounds OK, and the price was right. Threw a K&K bridge pickup on it and, hey -- we be jammin'! Actually plays nicer than some new mid-range instruments.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
That's cool!
Making musical instruments is one type of woodworking I've never tried. I did put together a dulcimer kit for DW years ago, but that's about it.
With my interest in woodturning, I've thought about turning a wooden flute or recorder a number of times.
Maybe someday.
Very cool!
I thought of you yesterday after a newscast about a local middle school.
They have a woodshop program focused on building guitars. It's very popular with the kids and I understand the teacher loves what he does.
"That first year Calkins had 37 students and 68 guitars were built as some students wanted to build two. The following year Buljan had two classes of guitar building and 98 guitars were built. Last year with three classes, 127 guitars were built. The program continues to grow each year and Calkins has taught other teachers his program to mirror at their own schools. In the 14 years of teaching guitar building, Calkins has seen more than 1,200 guitars come out of his program."
I only knew the guy, because he used to come into the tool store. He brought us some great pictures of his classes with their guitars.
I could see you starting a program like this. Please, pass on the knowledge.
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
Thanks D,
I may have too sooner than I expected, I may be scrounging for work real soon, and getting back into FT Lutherie may be on my plate, but cash strapped musicians are worse off than stockmarket losers.
Local music store does inhouse repairs, I might could steal some work from her, if it gets dicey, and in the mean time, my DW mightbe getting out of retirement and back into a grant supplied endeavor..time will tell.
I had always planned on moving into a teaching type role, just not YET.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
I think you would make a great teacher. Any chance you could start a program at a local middle or high school?
I was amazed how many girls were involved in the program. Their interest and delight about building a guitar won out over their fear of power tools!
Go, lil' gals, go!
"Everyday we learn something new. Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. It doesn't have to be an "A" the next day, but let's hope it improves." 08/27/08
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
Actually, I know less about my local schools and stuff than I do the surrounding environs. I've been here 5 yrs., and never had much to do with local, all other counties away.
Berea is not far at all and is a mecca for woodworking, Roy Underhill was here a month ago at a semi-famous WW'ers shop. There are many other talented guys around there.
I'll see how work shakes out in the ensueing month and take it from there, I am exhausted at the moment, customer wants me to "Hurry up, and stop" and I am doing just that.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.
Weren't you considering moving to a guitar-building job, not too long ago?
"Everyday we learn something new. Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. It doesn't have to be an "A" the next day, but let's hope it improves." 08/27/08
Matt Garcia 1986-2008 22 yo Fairfield City Council Member, shot 09/01/08 RIP
Yeah, I was considering Gibson in Montana ( again) but I let it slip away as I decided against it. I can't go back to "factory" type work ( yet).
Production engineering is a PITA unless the crew is more CNC than human. BTDT, hated it.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
BRING BACK SPLINTY.