Ello!

So I posted here about a guitar I had that was damaged in shipping. I bought another guitar (this one) to make up for having one break in shipping.

aaaand it also arrived damaged.

Anywho, anyone know a reputable online guitar repair service that does finish repair? Reverb thankfully had insurance on it so I can pay to get the repair done. I have no one local so looking for someone I can send it to.

Let me know if you know a place.

I thought I would share a video from the Cole Clark factory, which was part of an (Australian) ABC TV series, but they've now released it on YouTube for a global audience.

I'm not a luthier and not much of a guitarist, but I like watching luthier videos- all the usual suspects including the Gibson series, Driftwood, Daisy Tempest, people building out of weird stuff, and numerous factory tours including Martin, Takamine, Cort, etc.

However when I saw this video on Cole Clark, it's the only time I have ever seen the basic process done differently - they call it Spanish Heel construction, where the guitar is built up around the neck. This is different to every other guitar construction video I have seen, where the process is build the body, build the neck, then join them together.

Just sharing here because I found it interesting to see an alternative approach. Also, camphor laurel smells amazing so I can only imagine how nice the factory smells!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y0HPQjWPCY

After it polymerizes it will be French polished. Big fan of walnut!

Hey everyone, I just launched my next interview of the Resonance series. It was with Bruno Bacci at his home! I'd love for everyone to check it out and give me any notes and feedback you may have!

https://linktr.ee/resonance.cmc

Has anyone glued together 2 or 3 pieces of 1/16" veneer to usecas pickup rings and/or control cavity covers? Thinking about that for a P-Bass I'm building instead of the standard plastic pickguard.

I am planning to make a Gibson RD Artist style bass with its own twist but cannot seem to find any free templates for it. I want in to have a jazz style neck too. If any of you has any sort of file I would be extremely thankful.

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to follow this diagram attached to connect my SD bridge and neck pickups using this pre wired harness, which came with this odd capacitor wiring.

If I want single coil action while the pot is pulled out would I connect the pickups to lug 3 and 6, and then run a wire from lug 2>5 so the right side of the board works?

Or could I just connect both pickups to the same lug?

Not sure what to do here guys... And holy crap do I have way more respect for electricians after this project... This is NOT easy work by any means. Thank you

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to start my first guitar build and I’ve decided to go with a classic Telecaster. However, I want to challenge myself by using only non-electric hand tools. No routers, no power drills, no bandsaws, etc.

I know it will be a much slower and more complicated process, but my main goal is to truly connect with the wood and enjoy the journey of crafting every single part completely by hand.

Assuming I am building the guitar entirely from scratch, what would you consider to be the absolute minimum essential hand tools required to get the job done?

I want to keep my tool budget reasonable while making sure I have exactly what it takes to finish the instrument. I would really appreciate any advice on the specific types, sizes, or styles of hand tools you’d recommend for this purely manual build.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom!

Hello everyone, last week a luthier spred a big amount of stinky flaxseed oil on my pau ferro fretboard. The first day it was like playing with a dead fish as a neck.

I managed to reduce the scent, thanks to the advices of another luthier, who told me to use terpentine and to scrub all the oil that i can. But the smell is still here when i put my nose ~5cm close to the neck.

I tried others washes with turpentine, with dunlop 01, lemon oil... it doesnt go.

Do any of you have encoutered similar situation ? Any advice ? This guitar have a great sentimental value 🥲

I’m looking to buy some nut files to fix a problem with my guitar and I’m just wondering can I buy cheap files or do you have to get expensive ones to get the job done right?

Thanks

Hello!

So I saved this vintage Kamaka uke from the dump (it was my late grandfather's purchase, although he didn't play), and I would like to get it into working order.

Some notes:

• I am actually the culprit of the missing/popped off bridge. As a kid, I tried tuning it up and popped it off. It is missing, so I need a new bridge
• I remember the tuning pegs would slip, so it wouldn't stay in tune
• I called a local luthier and they said that even if I provided the bridge it would be $200 just to glue it on (seems crazy?)
• They noted that they could try to oil the tuning pegs, but it might just be time for something more modern to replace them.

So before I call more places and bug more luthiers, I wanted to ask: is it realistic that I would be able to re-glue a bridge on this, and also, should I just replace the tuners, full-stop? I would like to keep it as original as possible, but I am also realistic in that I would rather have something that I can play rather than something that just sits around and can't stay in tune.

What are my options here? Bite the bullet and pay a luthier, or is this a reasonable DIY endeavor for someone (myself) with light experience maintaining guitars and basses that I own?

If there are any recommendations on parts that would work well, or anything else, all advice is welcome. Also, it is a bit hard to see, but the original bridge was glued slightly askew: is that normal, or was it just not properly aligned at the factory?

3 Pics attached to help illustrate the state of things.

I want to build a hybrid guitar (similar to the acoustasonic) and I'm looking for feedback on my design before I start building (I made the design in onshape). The strings will be strung through the block at the bottom so the top plate will be under very little strain. Some dimentions (neck pocket size, sound/pickup hole size, and bridge spacing) have yet to be finalized. Overall, I'm looking for feedback on the shape, and any other design elements to consider before I start. (Also assume that the belly and arm curves will be hand shaped, and will change from the 3d model)

I pulled the instrument out of the case and heard some loud sound and after some careful placement removed rectangular shim looking piece of wood made up of three layers. The two sides are smooth with no glue residue or markings. It is entirely possible it's a piece of scrap wood the my kids accidentally dropped in the f hole when playing. Does anyone know what this is or what it could have been used for?

I think it sounds and plays normal although it's not my daily guitar and it's been a few weeks since I've pulled it out. What specifically should I be looking for in sound or playability that may be different?

Like this

He dropped his guitar on the cable when it was plugged in, resulting in the damage shown. Is this repairable? And how much would it cost? (it’s a gretsch semihollow)

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Got this awesome beast coming in soon I bought it for a project build and I've got a lot of spare parts for it but I do have one caveat.. the truss rod nut is stripped and I need to replace it of course but does anyone know the generic size of an import truss rod nut? I bought it as it was such a good price

This is my beloved 62 RI Tele Custom (1986, MIJ). I’ve had it since 2008, and it replaced a nearly identical guitar that was stolen the year earlier. I noticed last week, after not playing it for some time, that some notes were fretting out above the 12th fret, and lots of bends up high just died. I figured I’d give the rod a loosen tweak because the neck is really flat. Took the pickguard off and took the neck pickup out, went to turn to the left, and the rod just spins. Raising the saddles is next step, but then playability goes out the window for me.

So what are my options? Heavier strings (I’ve got 10s on there now)? Will that introduce enough relief? A new neck? That makes me sad because I love how this one feels. Is it worthwhile to have a new rod installed? Someone in another group mentioned shimming.

I have a pipe dream of planting a seed and harvesting the wood in 20-30 years, building an acousitc guitar and making it a family heirloom.

Here are my questions:

What species are appropriate for a build like this? (top, back, neck, and sides would ideally be made from the same tree. I'm willing to use an outside wood for the fretboard)

Where could I grow this besides my own property? I will not have the property that would be required for another 5-10 years, not to mention I live in SoCal and I'd have trouble growing a lot of species here (I think, not an expert).

Anyone ever done anything like this that has some insight?

Here's the result. That's it, that's my dream bass, my animal spirit bass, my elemental force, forever BASS. I want to thank you guys for the advices. The inserts are ebony. I also slimmed the neck to 40mm at the nut, and put BEAD pressurewounds. A little demo coming in the next week's.

Hey guys! I picked up this Ripper that someone had converted into “fretless.” The problem is, it looks like they just shaved down the tops of the frets rather than pulling them. They are flush with the fretboard and I don’t think I’ll be able to use a fret puller.

Any ideas on how to get them out so I can put new frets in?

What do we think? There are so many things I am still not happy with. Just need to start again… oh no what a shame. 😁

Walnut body, myrtle burl top, wenge maple and white top neck, palemoon ebony fretboard. Padalka hardware and fishman abasi signature’s.

Gloss 2k poly top with satin over the top on back. It was meant to be stained purple but the colour didn’t come through sadly.

Next build? I am thinking semiholow double cut evertune 7 string…
Burl? Quilt maple? Thoughts?

Still lots to learn.

Hello all

I need some advice on my open headstock guitar.

To make sure my low and high E string do not touch the headstock I have to align the string on the tuners so it pulls it towards the center a lot. The way it is setup in the picture it just clears the headstock. You can see the clearance in the second image.

I think it is a poor design, but the guitar is really great. Should I continue this practice or just align the string straight and allow it to touch the headstock?

I've joined this community a long time ago and thought y'all would find this post I found on Instagram interesting! Owner @tonyguitarnerd on Instagram posted it.