darkshadow54321

Hi guys,

I have had an idea to do a build similar to a Godin Multiac. It would be strung with acoustic steel strings and essentially have a completely hollowed out guitar body except for an area under the bridge. I would leave a good mass of wood to support the bridge but everything else around it would be chambered. Guitar would be roughly Les Paul sized, maybe a little larger. A thin top would go on top of the hollowed body. I may have a soundhole in the upper bout or maybe not.

My question is: as I want to avoid doing any bracing to the top, how thin can the top be? Will the area under the bridge be enough to allow me to use a top as thin as with a real acoustic but without bracing? I'm guessing probably not - if so, is 1/4" for a top the minimum? I believe that's what thinlines usually have.

Although I realize that this guitar is not going to sound the same as a real acoustic because of the construction differences, body thickness, etc, I assume that using a thinner top will allow more resonance and volume. Please correct me if I'm wrong on this or if it would make little difference.

I also realize that using a thinner top makes the guitar more fragile in terms of dents and breakages, etc. I am OK with that.

It is still early days and I haven't researched this properly yet, but many thanks for the help!

Instead of oversizing the fret slots, how about compressing the frets themselves? Would that work?

Stewmac sells a tool which allows you to narrow the fret tang width. You could then just glue the frets into the regularly sized slots with ca glue. Might be easier than messing around with oversized slots and potentially getting the placement wrong.

Just wondering whether you have had time to write a tutorial for the jig? I'm very curious to see exactly how it works... Thanks!

Excellent points! Thanks to all.

Hi everyone,

I'm interested in the concept of a zero fret but one of the major turn offs for me is the way they look. I hate the gap that is left between the zero fret and the nut/string guide, as seen here:

I think it looks much nicer if the zero fret is right up against the nut, like this:

However, I don't know of any luthiers doing this on a guitar. Why is that? I'm guessing by having it so close there may be issues with the strings being more likely to move around/jump out of the slots (especially with trem use) but I'm sure there's probably a way to compensate for that...

Your thoughts are appreciated! Thanks!

Hi. If Verhoevenc decides not to go for it, and if you don't mind shipping to the UK, I would take the 36mm plane. Let me know. Thanks!

EDIT: Oops. Just saw it's actually the 30mm version. That's a little too small. Never mind, thanks anyway.

slice 1/16" off the entire body? that's sounds even more perilous than what I'm proposing... and I'd still need to cut out the cover shape.

I think the best approach is to pick up a coping saw or fret saw and give it a try on scrap.

The most accurate (and perhaps easiest) way to get a matching cover would be to route down the guitar back by 1/16" but leave the cover area proud of the surface. Make it oversized so that you can best match the grain. Use a flush cutting saw to cut the cavity cover off the body and then trim it to size. Route the cavity, etc as normal.

Not sure if I explained that very well but it's early in the morning...

Looking really cool!

My vote is for a silver dragon on a solid black background.

Looks amazing! Great job!

If you don't mind sending them to the UK, I'd also be interested. I'd be happy to pay for postage.

I'll get some photos up soon.

Hi everybody,

Found something else I can sell.

I have 2 guitar truss rods from Allied Lutherie in brand new unused condition. They are the 17" long ones (total length 18") - item number PTR2WE here: http://www.alliedlutherie.com/truss_rods.htm.

Very nice rods and they require a smaller route compared to Stewmac's truss rods. If you've always wanted to try the Allied rods but didn't fancy paying for customs charges, here's your chance!

I will sell them for £13 each including postage within the UK. Within EU would be a little more. Maybe an extra £1-2?

I accept Paypal. Cash on collection from London is also good.

Thanks!

Nice progress on the guitar. I think the sunburst suits it very well.

The silly putty seems like an easy and convenient solution to the water problem during finishing. The only thing that worries me is that, according to Wikipedia, Silly Putty is "the Crayola owned trademark name for a class of silicone polymers". I know that silicone can interfere with finishes but I'm not sure if 'silicone polymers' has the same effect. Hope the guitar turns out OK!

Keep up the good work.

arrived safe & sound!!!

thanks again Douglas.... I can recommend this guy - trust him!!!

Wow, it got there fast! Glad everything is OK. Hope you put them to good use.

I searched for this but couldn't find much.

I'm discovering that some gloves would really come in handy for guitar work. It's getting annoying having metal or wood dust on my fingers and it's also a problem when trying to clean and polish finishes as my sweat can leave marks.

Any recommendations on some general shop gloves? I'd like them to be fitted and flexible so that I have freedom of movement to do what I need to. I don't think thick heavy duty gloves are necessary as I'd use them simply as a barrier.

I was thinking of getting some latex gloves. I might also consider something like this: http://www.axminster.co.uk/uvex-profas-pol...ves-prod807536/

Any thoughts on the best for general work?

Could I use the same type for finishing work and handling chemicals (e.g: acetone) or would you recommend a different type of glove for that kind of work?

Thanks for the help!

funds sent via paypal.....

cheers

Thanks a lot! Will send them tomorrow.

SS fretwire and the bevel file are now SOLD.

Replied and sent you an email too.

Home made fret bender

Some marks/scratches. There are four holes that the bearings can fit into. I've shown two different positions. Could potentially be modified for greater adjustability.

Home made fret bevel

As you can see, it's a little roughly finished but it would get the job done.

Thanks for the interest. Any questions let me know!

Thanks for the answers guys. Send me a PM if you're interested and we can work something out.

Here are the photos + description:

Allied SS Fretwire:

Grover locking tuners:

They are absolutely mint except for the one mark on that tuner. I couldn't find anything else.

3 in 1 fret file:

As you can see, the handle has some marks/dirt from use. I managed to get a decent shot of the rust in the narrow burr. The medium and jumbo burrs are fine.

i'm going to be doing 3 necks, so it's either 2 woods or 3 woods, and I'll do all three necks that style.

Ah right. Dunno then.

I suppose if you like both designs equally go for the one that is most complicated as it's good practice. 3 woods!

To my taste:

For three woods, #3 is the nicest, followed by #1. Not a fan of #2.

For two woods, #3 is a classic and very nice combo, the other two also look good but #2 has the edge (difficult to say without seeing the actual woods).

Personally, I'd either do 3 woods #3 or two woods #3.

Really nice project! I love ziricote and the top on this one is incredible!

Your photos are looking great too. Do you have a new set up? Looks very professional.

I particularly like this one. I don't know much about photography but it looks like there was some kind of effect done here. A special type of lens?

Hello everyone,

I have a few items that I don't need so I thought I'd put them up for sale. I don't have photos at the moment but will take some and put them up soon.

All prices include postage within the UK. Rest of world please enquire for shipping price. Paypal or cash on collection preferred (I have excellent eBay references if needed).

- 25' of stainless steel fretwire from Allied Lutherie, part number FWSS: http://www.alliedlutherie.com/fretwire.htm.

Got in error, never been used - £20.

- 3X3 black Grover rotomatic locking tuners (not the mini ones), like these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grover-Rotomatic-Loc...4b36483ffd3ef55

Work very nicely, excellent condition, almost as new - £45

- 3 in 1 fret crowning file, similar to Stewmac's: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Special_...3&xsr=92680

There seems to be a bit of rust in the 'narrow' burr. This may come off easily but I haven't tried. Other two look fine. - £15.

- Home made fret bender. Wheels are currently fixed in set positions so only 3 possible radii can be achieved. This could potentially be modified - £20.

- Home made fret bevel file. Could do with some finishing touches - £10.

Will try to put up photos soon. Any questions please ask. Thanks!

if you get one of those rings that goes around the switch that says "trebel/lead" or whatever on it, that'll cover up most of the damage. If you use a drill press to make the initial hole, and a good sharp bit, that'll help too... however, I don't understand how you're going to get the switch to fit in the hole without a control cavity in the back of the guitar...

No, I do plan to make a control cavity at the back using one of the methods outlined in my original post. The hole for the switch on the front will be drilled in the normal manner.

Hi. Thanks for the replies.

Yes, I want it in the traditional LP spot and the back is solid black. Having said that, I'd rather avoid a situation where I need to do any touch up work to the finish, so if I can't do it without being reasonably sure that it will look professional then I won't bother.

My plan was to drill through the neck pickup cavity and then bring the switch wire through to the normal cavity. I would be very careful to ensure I wouldn't drill too far.

To avoid damage to the back finish, I was thinking I could very carefully scribe around the cavity template with a sharp blade. That should help avoid most chips in the finish...

Still a bad idea?