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Private member DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

connect REW with Umik 1 mic

I'm having trouble getting my mic to work with REW. I'm at the beginning of a new build and would like to measure the tonewood properties. I am trying to follow Giuliano's instructions in his book. everything seems to be working but they don't talk to each other. I think its a calibration or pc setting but I'm not very computer savvy and what seems to go without saying needs to be said to me in step by step, very simple language. I…

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I suggest moving the slider on the Windows settings input level to 100%, not exactly sure about the UMIK but most USB mics use unity gain. Then go into the REW software under the "Preferences" drop d…
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

A rant on touch-up pens.....

This is just a rant against the Stew-mac touchup pens. Ive just never had them functionally work, without creating more of an issue than there was in the first place. Through an "act of god" I chipped a small bit of freshly buffed and polished laquer off the headstock of a Taylor that I refinished. The guitar had that nasty bubbling around the tuners and CA glue didn't fix the issue, so I stripped the front of the headstock and airbrush…

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Ian Davlin
I have used the micron pens to pretty good effect here and there, but those shellac pens I could never get to work.
Private member DiscussionTouring Tech

What touring tech topics would interest you looths?

Hello all, new member here. I've been working as a touring tech for 20 years and just noticed this section of the forum was empty, so I figured I'd give it a kick. Are there any topics\questions\ideas\etc that people would be interested in hearing about or discussing from a touring perspective? If so, drop a comment here and I'll see if I can address it or post any relevant photos\content. I'm leaving Wednesday for a month in Europe fol…

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Hi Peter, I got into touring by meeting musicians through repair work. I started out in a cool little used and vintage shop in Portland called Old Town Music. I started doing a lot of repairs for Mode…
Private member DiscussionElectric Builds

Bridge Type and Tone

Hello All. I'm new to the group and a beginner in terms of building (only built a couple so far). I was hoping I might gain some insight on the effect bridge type has on tone on a solid body guitar. I have been building guitars with hardtails but I'm curious about wraparounds. Of course, with hardtails the whole device is screwed to the top where the connection on a wraparound style bridge is not as direct being held up by studs. Any th…

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Sounds like you’ve really been down the road with this. What about compound parts. Brass saddles on a steel or aluminum base, that kind of thing. Thanks for your info!
Private member DiscussionBUY! BUY! BUY!

ISO Late 40s/Early 50s J-45 neck

I have a 46' J-45 in need of a new neck. I figured I would scour the interwebs for a possible replacement before I go commando and build one to spec. Let me know if anyone has anything in this vein!

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Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Cutting Clear Plastic Pickguard – Looking for Cleaner Results

I rarely use pickguards on my builds, as most of my guitars are intended for fingerstyle players. That said, I occasionally need to install one, and I've yet to find a cutting method that consistently meets my quality standards. I’ve experimented with several techniques for cutting clear pickguard material, but the results are always somewhat disappointing. Using a brand new X-Acto blade gives a reasonably clean cut, but there's almost a…

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I use raw pickguard sheet material, apply 3M 468MP Double Sided Adhesive Transfer adhesive sheet and trim to rough size with scissors or blades, depending on the pickguard material. I then attach to…
Private member DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

New and for sale D18-a

Heres a link to a youtube video I just quickly put up unedited of my latest build!

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Ian Davlin
Great job ! Are you fixing to do more youtubing ?
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Fingerboard extension gap - new build

I'm nearing the end of my first build. I have about 1 mm gap above the top at the end of the fingerboard extension. I've read and seen some guidance to clamp that down while gluing the extension. Others seem to build in a wedge-shaped shim - although it seems that is mostly done with neck resets and not new builds. A straight edge on the frets is just slightly above the top of the bridge so I think my neck angle is good. What are your t…

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Brad, congrats on nearing the end. It's a good practice to put a straight edge on the part of the top under the FB extension to verify that the top is flat in the fingerboard plane. I learned from R…
Private member DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

New dreadnought

Here's my latest build. Carpathian spruce and mahogany dreadnought 😁😁

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Ian Davlin
What is the bridge made out of ? It's really poppin'.
Ian Davlin DiscussionJob Postings

Northampton Community College Luthier Instructor

https://northampton.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/NCC/details/Luthier-Instructor_JR3840 The staff and faculty of Northampton Community College share a single goal: to help students transform their lives through education. It's a goal that reaps rewards thousands of times over the course of a career. Employees at Northampton receive competitive compensation and an array of benefits while working on campuses located in a region with a very h…

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Private member DiscussionDesign and Testing

Raising resonant frequencies of a new build

Initial frequency analysis of this D28 copy (done with a temporary 35g bolt-on bridge and the back plate taped on) is VERY LOW. Main air resonance 83.5hz and top monopole 156.6. It's standard Martin scalloped X-bracing with a torrefied Adirondack top. Since I can still easily access the bracing, I'm thinking of going in and laminating wood on top of the X brace to stiffen it. Other options would be a very light bridge, though I'm not…

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Update: Turns out it's not impossible to raise the frequencies. Removing the 35g temporary bridge raised the air resonance 2.1 hz and top monopole 2.6 hz, so a lighter bridge could help a bit. Fill…
Ian Davlin DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

Share Your New Builds Content Here.

There are two new sub forums in New Builds and Repair and Restoration called “share your content”. Got a new youtube video ? Share it there. Got a new Instagram Reel ? Share it there. Did you just cut a killer new miter and just want to share it ? Share it there. Anything you want to share that doesn’t involve a question, share it there. Speaking of which, I should probably share this there.

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Ian Davlin DiscussionShare Your Repair Content

Share Your Repair and Restoration Content Here !

There are two new sub forums in New Builds and Repair and Restoration called "share your content". Got a new youtube video ? Share it there. Got a new Instagram Reel ? Share it there. Did you just cut a killer new miter and just want to share it ? Share it there. Anything you want to share that doesn't involve a question, share it there. Speaking of which, I should probably share this there.

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Ian Davlin
Oh, you are posting this as a comment to this post rather than a new post in the forum. It would be better if you posted it as a new post so we can tag it etc. Do you need help with that ?
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

New Member Intro (Indianapolis)

Hello, Just heard of this group and decided to join. My name is John Read and I live in Indianapolis, IN, USA. I have been building Martin style acoustic guitars for 5 years and am on scratch build #28. I am also the website administrator for both kitguitarsforum.com and asiartisans.org/guitarmaker.org. Loothgroup looks to be a fantastic, next-generation communication tool and I look forward to joining into the conversations. Here's my c…

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Ian Davlin
Welcome John ! That mold looks like you've built more than a few.
Private member DiscussionElectric Builds

Resaw a book-matched flame maple top - guidance please

Hello Friends – I am about to start a new bass guitar build using a flame maple top over an alder body. This is my first time attempting such a book-matched top. If anyone has some general tips on how to re-saw the flame maple blank for a well-matched pair I would be most grateful. Many thanks!

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Ok. If you're talking about joining the faces of what you cut on the joiner, I would proceed with caution. A joiner and flamed maple is going to likely cause insane tear out. Depends a bit on the j…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Question/topic for everyone: How to be consistent, in guitar building.

Dear ladies and gentlemen, I was assembling the latest build early this evening, and I could not stop thinking about how could I do better. Which is a good thing you may think, but in the today era of social media where you can basically follow every of your inspiration as a guitar builder you, well at least certainly me, cannot stop thinking about 'how X can be so damn consistent on every build?' So I started to wondering if its actually…

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Hey Alex! I myself have not built any guitars but do spend time with folks who have and notice a few things that may be helpful. I have a close friend who has been guitar building for 50 years with an a…