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In the UK we have an automotive chain called Bancrofts, where "Fineline" tape is available. It comes on a roll, 1/4" width and is green in colour. Leaves a superb edge. Perhaps you could find something similar where you are.

In theory it would only be better than rounded wire for intonation if left as a sharp point. In practise, you'd level the frets, then probably tart up the tops with the same file that you'd crown normal wire with. Unless, of course you used a fine cut triangular file to shape the wire to a point. That would result, I imagine, in pretty uncomfortable fret ends, and reduced string life.

First port of call is the jack socket. After that, try each electronic component in turn - i.e. each position of any switches, turning vol or tone pots, etc. Could be that one of the legs on the Jack is shorting on coductive paint or something.

Seconded. I wasted far too much time at college dreaming up all manner of daft switching options. In truth, nobody wants them as its just impractical and ruins the look of an instrument if you have loads of knobs and switches everywhere. Donald Brosnac's book Guitar Electronics for Musicians had me engrossed for ages and was great for helping me understand things, but I came round to Mr. Hiscock's way of thinking too. By the way, Melvyn, Yours was the first publication I bought on guitar making and I'd just like to say thanks for your input in my career. The section on neck shaping and the flame top tele sunburst finishing process was very useful to me.

Dont know the chap you mention but then again the styles I trained in (JKD, Kali, Pentjak Silat, Muay Thai, etc) dont attract too much attention in the media. Eskrima still isnt a high profile sport. When we were trying to get sponsorship, nobody was in the least bit interested in this country in supporting young athletes.

Merely a dunlop/schaller locking system whereby the two ends of the strap are linked by the strap lock, so that when you attach the lock to the strap button (and move your head out the way ) you can spin the instrument round

No mate it's not. You need a bridge before you go any further. Once you glue the neck in you're committing yourself.

Ive been involved in martial arts for the last 20 years. Competed at Area, National, European, and World Championship level and was in the GB squad. Retired from competition in 1997, ranked top fighter (Middleweight) in Britain, 2nd in Europe and 3rd in the World. Fought in Los Angeles in 1996, and was presented with my trophy by Richard Bustillo, one of Bruce Lee's original students That was a full contact art called Eskrima, the national sport of the Philippines. You batter your opponent with a 28" rattan bamboo stick over three one minute rounds. Doesnt sound a lot but when you're being hit anywhere between 5-12 hits per second, it takes quite a bit out of you. Still do Thai boxing to keep in shape.

While at college, I was fortunate enough to have a few months of tuition from Matt Klein, who was at one point Head of Gibson R&D Dept. He showed me a guitar that he was making for Billy Gibbons which had a metal bar on the back on a central pivot so that when the guys were on stage and doing their "thang", they could dip down and when they came back up, the guitars had folded out into a Z. Very cool. I played it before Billy did

And dont forget the tartan paint and the bubbles for spirit levels

Here here

I polished a bass yesterday in my workshop after taking it to 1200 grit wet n dry. There' s an automotive supplier called Bancrofts where you can get fine paper in the UK. I also have the Micromesh kit but after 3200 grit you might as well be wiping your lacquer with wet newspaper

Dont forget that the dust from Polyester is very bad for your lungs. Always wear a mask when flatting it. The dust particles are large enough to sit on the inside of your lungs and cause damage.

I draw the outlines and location holes in AutoCAD, then export as a DXF file so that I can have the templates laser cut into 4mm acrylic. These are then mounted onto 38mm MDF boards with 1/4" steel pins protruding in the location positions, and the body blank fits onto these. Rock solid and very precise. Cavities are routed on a pin router for which I use a series of pins which go up and down in .005" increments from the size of the cutter.

Hate to do it but im a newb... I can't guess what would happen but sure am curious. Is water based material easier or harder to wet sand than oil based material? Steve Being water based, the implication was that as soon as you start to use water with the wet and dry paper for flatting lubrication, it will re-activate the lacquer and turn it all stodgy. In my (limited) experience of water-based finishes however, I always found that once the lacquer had cured, water didnt affect it in the least. After all you get water based paints and lacquer for external use. Ive always used solvent based lacquers for guitars, never oil based.