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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Neck block for adjustable neck -thoughts on design

I've built a number of classical guitars with an adjustable neck and they seem to gather quite a bit of interest, so i'm currently in the process of looking to refine the design and build. It's quite a simple construction where the neck is held together by string tension and hangs on a pivot. I developed a 3d printed "socket" which acts as the interface between the body and the guitar and allows for some fine tuning of the alignment of t…

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Private member
Not really answering your question but I've done a version of the Smallman/Gore joint (I think it's really just Smallman but whatever) on all my guitars (nylon/steel/gypsy). I'm not particularly conc…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Cutting Fret Slots

I cut the fret slots for a baritone guitar build today, so I thought I'd share my method for cutting fret slots, as I think it is a bit unusual. I radius and profile my fretboard before I cut the slots. I print out a paper layout of the fretboard, double-stick tape it to the radiused and profiled fretboard, line up the saw by eye to using red hatch marks on the printout, and saw the fret slots with a 3" circular saw that rides on…

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Private member
Awesome! Can you share how you print out the fingerboard layout?
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

GoBar deck adjustment

Hi folks, I thought you might be interested in this approach to having easy height adjustment for a GoBar deck. I learned this tip from my buddy, Don Parker. He lurks around here too from time to time. :) The basic idea is rather than having a booster platform on the base for use when gluing braces to plates you bring the roof down lower. There is a 3D printed spacer in black in the pics. I linked to a downloadable STL and 3MF of…

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Just FYI, as far as I know, go bars have the same clamping strength no matter how much they are bent. If you want a different level of force, you need a heavier go bar. Or vice versa.
Private member DiscussionElectric Builds

Strat pickgaurd 2 p90s, one volume and 3 way switch

Anyone know where to purchase something like this? Also, I think the “maker” place in town has a 3d printer, has anyone had luck printing pickguards?

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Private member
Thank you that's a great idea.
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Fast set up glue jig for hide glue

I've been trying to figure out an easy to use jig that will allow me to clamp a top and back fast, so that I can use hot hide glue. No way with my spool clamp method I could ever get everything clamped in time. I thought about trying to use pneumatic cylinders with 3D printed perimeter feet, but that seemed very complicated and a lot of work to get something to attach the pneumatic cylinders to. But it kept coming back to me that usi…

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Ian Davlin
Dude. That looks pretty cool? Have you thought about making an arch with an ACME screw to just throw center pressure on it? Like a book binding press etc?
Private member DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

3D printing and CNC

3D printing and CNC are two areas that I am interested in as a way to facilitate acoustic building. Two questions: 1) For those of you that have both capabilities in your shops, which do you find more useful or more often used on a regular basis? 2) How did you choose a cnc machine? Given the high cost and huge number of products in the marketplace the decision is a bit daunting. Given that the learning curve is steep, I am inclined to b…

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> 1) For those of you that have both capabilities in your shops, which do you find more useful or more often used on a regular basis? Without a doubt, the CNC is much more useful for building ELECTRIC…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Source for custom labels inside guitar.

Anyone have a source for a company that can make custom paper faced labels to go inside a guitar. I've been printing them with a laser printer for years, cutting them out, and gluing in. I'd like something that looks better and is adhesive backed to sign, date, and stick inside guitar. Thanks

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Hi Scott - we have seen some Luthiers do something novel and artistic - replacing the paper label with a thin wood cutout - that is a design see through the soundhole - the information can be engraved…
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.