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Private member DiscussionShare Your Repair Content

Introducing the NutBuster

Hello All I have been using Ted Bergstrand's online nut calculator on Benchmuse.com which is excellent. It allows you to have a consistent gap between each strings vs the progressive gap that the Stewmac rule gives you. Or you can do consistent centers to the strings. I have definitely found measuring the nut with calipers to work a lot better than the stewmac rule and don't use the rule anymore. I wanted some additional functionality…

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PS All Hail Ted Bergstrand who introduced me to many very useful things. Kind of nuts how many things I use now that Ted turned me on to.
Private member DiscussionSuggestion Box / Bug Reporting

Recorded Zoom programs

Is there a way to see recent zoom meeting recordings or an index of links to the unlisted YT? Thanks.

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Ian Davlin
If on desktop hit the adv search button on the right hand side. Then hit shows to select the show type you want to see. The search is stackable, so if you hit "Dan and Doug" for the show and then sear…

Experienced Builder and Red Wing Grad

Howdy folks, I'm a 2026 graduate of the two year guitar program at Red Wing (Minnesota State College Southeast). Between my two years at Red Wing I worked at Collings Guitars in Austin, TX for two years in the acoustic neck department, shaping and finish sanding ~2000 necks, radiusing and gluing ~750 fingerboards, and pressing ~100 sets of frets. I also spent a couple months in the finishing department level sanding and pore filling ~300…

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Lucas does great work.
Private member DiscussionDesign and Testing

Mandolin acoustics academy - Hub Of Acoustics

Hi everyone, I'm Martino from Hub of Acoustics, a collaborative project created by luthiers for luthiers. Our goal is to explore and teach acoustic principles that are directly relevant to instrument making. In 2026, we’ll be running four courses in different parts of the world, all focused on giving luthiers practical tools to better understand and control the acoustics of their instruments. We’re excited to introduce our very…

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Private member DiscussionSuggestion Box / Bug Reporting

Looking for Looth Feedback

Hey Everyone! I have been messing around with a program that Ian introduced me to called "FarPlay". It is similar to zoom but designed for playing music together. In prototyping it I have made some discoveries, particularly that you need a really solid internet connection. Wifi seems doable but causes the most problems. If enough people were interested I am imagining two different ways it could be fun for us. The first would be…

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Private member DiscussionGeneral

Workshops

Almost a year ago I complete a certificate program and became a journeyman luthier/ guitar tech. Looking to continue my education and I was wondering if there were any weekend workshops or anything similar in the north east/ tri state area that anyone would recommend? Thanks in advance! -Vinny

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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 Discussion3D Printing

3D scanner

Anyone use a 3D scanner to make models for printing, or CNC? I've noticed a number of inexpensive scanners on the market that appear to be an able to scan with fine detail and accuracy. I've wondered if they could be used to scan a guitar neck, or arch top mandolin plate to then cut on a CNC after tweaking in a CAD program.

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That's kind of what I thought. The scan comes out dirty and needs more manipulation in software which can be more work than drawing it in the first place. I was curious as there are now numerous ads…
Private member DiscussionGeneral Business

Retired & Loothing?

I turned 60 in January and started wondering about retirement. I can't decide if I should retire at 62 or 67. Waiting for maximum S.S. money sounds better, but its not all about the money for me and who knows if that program won't go the way of the Dodo by then? I'll probably keep working in this biz after I retire, but at a very leisurely pace and not enough to jack up any possible retirement benefits. Are any of you out there officiall…

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For me, guitars are my retirement plan! After a 20 year career that afforded me very little in savings, I jumped into loothing to make the big bucks. LOL. I'm 54. I seriously pray my hands keep workin…
Private member DiscussionSuggestion Box / Bug Reporting

Followup from today’s program with Giuliano

Ian - that was some really interesting stuff he presented today. I plunked down the $ for his book and will be picking up the recommended USB microphone- oh, some oregano too. So here’s the suggestion: maybe every broadcast/recorded program should have a thread for q and a and discussion. I assume you would want to start a new section an populate it with all of the programs in advance - yeah, we love making busy work for you. And I am rea…

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Yup - like a forum thread. But they would all reside in a separate section.