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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Stainless Steel Fret Wire

Hi, does anyone have experience with Stainless steel fret wire on acoustic guitars or more specific on classical guitars? Up to now I only used the traditional Nickel/Silver fret wire but recognised that after a few months they start to get mat or tarnish despite polishing them. I wonder if that is because of the origin (Producing Company) of the fret wire or due to the alloy? During my search for fret wire that is not Sintoms and also av…

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Private member
I just re-fretted an original Taylor for a customer in Stainless and the customer was over the moon with the results and can’t get over how well it plays now. Really depends on the player I think. I j…
Private member DiscussionDesign and Testing

Wolf Note?

I have built a steel string guitar that has an annoying high pitched pulsing overtone. The guitar is an x-braced OM style with a thicker depth (more in line with a dreadnaught depth). I have built several of these that do not have the annoying overtone, so I don't think its the specific shape that is causing it. The overtone occurs when the note B2 is played on the G string, 4th fret. Interestingly, it does not occur when the open B stri…

Wolf Noteovertone
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Private member
A bit hard to tell from your description, but is what you are describing as an oscillation a beat frequency? If so, it is possible you have multiples of two resonant frequencies that are nearly colli…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Bridge Too Low?

Finishing up a new cutaway acoustic. I thought I had it right before finishing, but now that the finish is done and the neck is bolted on, a straight edge on the frets is 3/32" over the top of the bridge. Can I work with that, or do I need to either add a shim under the bridge, or just cut a new bridge? Any advice would be greatly appreciated... Paul in Chicago

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Private member
You can work with that. Under string tension the neck will come up a bit anyways. I used to build with the straightedge just grazing the top of the bridge like a lot of folks show you to do, but talle…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Compensated nut

I'm interested in incorporating a compensated nut into my next build. Any thoughts on the intonation procedure? Nut first, saddle first, which fret to intonate to, etc?

Compensated nut
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Private member
I would look into Trevor Gore's work: His books, hundreds of posts on builders forums, etc. It is a rabbithole though, I have to warn you. I know Taylor (maybe Martin as well?) cuts their fretboards sl…
Private member DiscussionElectric Builds

2D Printing Saves The Day

We hear a lot in LoothLand these days about 3D printing. I think it's an awesome use of that technology for what we all do. With my long history with AutoCad and 3D rendering in my previous life, I should pull the trigger on a 3D printer, but I'm just not ready yet AND I have no available space for one in my little shop or in my office right now. Yes, 3D printing is great, but sometimes, good ole regular printing can be a surprise frien…

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Ian Davlin
Awesome! Great idea.
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Multiple Fret Colors, preferably not gold

I'm currently using regular StewMac narrow/medium fretwire on this oddball stick dulcimer I'm making. https://www.instagram.com/p/CthLFjSOeSc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== It's diatonically fretted and I'm curious about offering one that's chromatically fretted BUT with the non-diatonic frets clearly indicated. I've considered something on the fretboard, some kind of inlay (I'm thinking to emphasize the diatonic f…

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