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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Back Braces Shape

So the first real "full build" I'm doing is a Stewmac 000 kit. I was wondering about the back brace shape. I'll was planning to taper the ends at the side joint to about 1.5mm. Should I do some scalloping of the braces? Suggestions and comments are welcomed and appreciated. Regards, Gerry Images

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Private member
There's nothing "wrong" with what you have pictured but it lacks some finesse. There are soooo many variables in play to worry about for a first build. If you want to practice some skills in this st…
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

Sanding methods/mechanism routine

Good evening folks, lately I'm experiencing some sanding methods/mechanism frustration. Can't explain better than look like I'm regressing at doing it. The only thing changed in my building routine is that I'm currently using a CNC (I haven't used one for some years) for both bodies and necks. I have no problems with necks, but sanding bodies has become incredibly frustrating, specially around the edges. While I keep improving my c…

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Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

Tiny Bubbles

Here You'll seehere pin tip sized bubbles. Nitro finish. It got hot in a case. They'll need a light amagolmater mixture applied to melt'm back into the surface. Im looking for advice on the recipe for said amagolmater....Straight retarder? Im not sure if Id need lacquer in the mix that I apply....Thank you! Colin O'Brien LittleCreek Instrument Repair, Nashville. Images

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are those blisters from the heat? Have any of them popped?
Private member DiscussionElectric Builds

alternative to mixol?

Hey guys, does anybody know of a good alternative to mixol? I use it in lacquer for mixing opaque colors and it's great but I've been on the lookout for something more affordable and haven't had much luck. Wondering if anybody here knows of anything. Thanks!

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Ian Davlin
It used to be the colortone pigments from stewmac that were quite good and didn't require a ton of material to go to opaque. It seems like we are left with just Mixol for guitar grade pigments that wo…
Private member DiscussionDesign and Testing

AI hallucinations-Claude fessing up

I am working on an article to post here on the Looth Group regarding the history, and problems, with scale temperament. In the process, I asked Claude about a particular point, and Claude gave me a quote that perfectly encapsulated the concept I was exploring. I asked Claude to provide the specific citation for the quote. Claude fessed up to outright misrepresentation. Probably nothing new here, but I thought it was worth sharing.…

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There's a really cool book, not specifically about intonation but dives deeply into it, called Harmonic Experience by W.A Mathieu. Highly recommended. Cheapish used.
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

Wipe on poly over Z-Poxy?

Hello — I would like to finish a mahogany electric neck and body with wipe on poly (probably Minwax satin) and would like to pore fill with Z-Poxy. I can’t find a definitive word on their compatibility. - Can I just wipe on the poly coats after block sanding the 2-3 Z-Poxy coats? - Should the Z-Poxy be sanded all the way back to wood or just smoothed/flattened? - Is a coat of unwaxed shellac between the Z-Poxy and the wipe in…

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I personally like to do a washout of shellac just in case.
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Replicating Kurt Cobains 59 Martin - bad idea?!

Greetings fellow Looths! I recently received a request from a customer to replicate Kurt Cobains 59 Martin, starting with a Sigma DM3. I have pasted the customers email to me below. While I have been a looth hobbyist for many years, I just recently opened my official business, Finger Lakes Guitar Works, and am just getting off the ground and a good flow of repair work is already coming in. While I feel 100% confident in my abilities to…

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Seems kinda annoying to me. The guy wants to spend a ton of money building a replica of a guitar but he's going to not use a guitar by the actual brand to do it? I'm going to go with this is going t…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

LuthierTool Neck Angle Jig

Is anyone using the LuthierTool Neck Angle Jig. I have a quick question about setting up to cut the tenon and getting the correct angle dialed in for cutting the heel block. TIA for any help

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No, it was made by LuthierTool in Kettle Falls WA. Chris the owner recently retired. Thanks Ian
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Wood Pergatory and Storing it for Future Use

Greetings and thanks in advance for your help. I live in one of the most inhospitable places in the world for wood storage (Mojave Desert CA) and later this year will be moving to another more inhospitable place (Sonoran Desert, Buckeye AZ). The realative humidity is currently 16% and that will drop when summer comes. I'm attempting to collect and store wood for future builds and today I spent some time wrapping all of it in seran…

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Ian Davlin
Where is the wood at in cure right now ? Is it ready to build ? One thing we did at Breedlove (Oregon desert and quite dry) was wax the end grain before stickering. I'm not an expert on wood storage, b…
Private member DiscussionElectric Builds

First attempt at multi-ply binding

The Artisan Guitar Show this weekend gave me a kick in the behind to get back to more promoting of the builds I'm doing. Here's my first try doing multiply binding, and it turned out pretty well

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Thanks! I don't know if Ally from StewMac has an account here, but her talk at the AGS this past weekend gave me the motivation to get back to more content-as-marketing.