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Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Les Paul (Knock Off) Wiring - Volume Pot Issue

Hi Everyone, I've got this knock off Les Paul in the shop right now and the wiring is a rats nest as you can see in the picture. Does anyone know which of the pictures from the guitar wiring bible what would apply to this guitar? The volume pot is an issue that I may just try to clean but if I do decide to tackle all of the wiring I’m curious to know which diagram I should be working with. Thanks in advance! Images

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Private member
It looks like modern wiring. Personally, I tend to prefer doing modern wiring, no real reason why. Regardless, it will be easier and better to start from scratch then to try and make this mess work.
Private member DiscussionFolk, Bluegrass, Irish, Old Time Instruments

1920's National 4 string tenor resonator guitar/banjo

A friend of mine inherited his great-grandfather's National tenor resonator guitar/banjo (I'm not sure which it is). He would like to have it in playing condition. He asked me for a recommendation as to where he could get that done. Fellow Looths, please give me recommendations. It appears to be in pretty good shape. He will ship it where ever it needs to go. There are photos below. Chris Jenkins Images

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Private member
Hey Chris, I might suggest you run this one by Paul Beard. If you need his contact info, just text me and I'll pass that along to you.
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Solder Fume Extractor Suggestions

Hi There, What is everyone using for solder fume extractors such as the ones in the links below. I’m interested in one that has a hose that I can connect to my Solder Monster from Stewmac. Thanks in advance! https://www.amazon.ca/Extractor-KUAIQU-Filtration-Adjustment-Soldering/dp/B0GMDV64N4/ref=sr_1_7?crid=8AI4JPLS2W0R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Vcf_eo3BIJ1dUWCRgpIXHdUnBZiCbmerplijZ6mMWa1x5iMsWwU3SV_IwWI2yTpowxyH0YdiCWbGP4mgsaohXIe2XaDw…

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Here’s the one I bought a few years ago after one of my buddies developed cancer in his nasal cavity due to a lifetime of soldering unprotected. Still works great pulling and filtering fumes. You can…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Wood-Body Resonator Guitar Construction – Materials & Suppliers?

Hi Everyone, I believe this may be my first post here, so just a quick introduction — I’m Andrew in Milwaukee, WI. I’ve been building a few years. My luthier eyes were opened first by Charles Fox in Portland which led me to the Gallop School. I recently retired from a tech career and I am now based in Milwaukee, WI focusing on acoustic builds. I’m currently exploring wood-body resonator guitars, and I’d love to learn more from t…

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Ian Davlin
Andrew, I'd like to talk to you about this question. Could we connect on a zoom call ?
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Acoustic Guitar Neck Repair

Hi Everyone, I was given this guitar to harvest parts from and then throw into a fire due to a partial break in the neck. When I pull the neck to close the break the action is perfect so I'd like to fix it and then donate it. Can anyone show me what clamps to use to keep it closed after I glue it? Also, would you recommend strait wood glue or would you water it down somewhat to allow it to seep in further? Thanks in advance!

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Ian Davlin
What kind of cauls do you have at your disposal ? I would thing a radiused sanding block and an F-Clamp would get this back together readily. As far as the glue, you could start with watered down Tite…
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Just one string buzz from 1-12 even with really hi action.

I work in guitar repair for over 20 years and this strange buzz happen only 3 times and i really going crazy. Five years ago a all parts strat neck in G string, change string, leveling frets twice thinking i made a mistake, in some point i made a rudimentar neck jig to tried to repair that neck. Work in that guitar for 3 weeks and string heigth like 3.5mm and yeat, buzzing with not so hard picking just the G, even in other tuning like F…

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Thanks Ian! It’s a brand new guitar, client contact the dealership and it’s in process to return and get other one. I really want to open and understand why this happened, not know why it’s a big bumm…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Bridge Conversion - Left to Right

Happy Friday Everyone! I have a friend that bought a worn out looking used guitar recently and has asked me to change it from a lefty to a righty. As you can see from the one photo there is a bulge in the soundboard that they won’t want to invest to fix correctly before having the new right handed bridge installed. He could buy a new or better used guitar but loves the worn out look of this one. Does anyone have a recommended process for b…

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Hi There, I understand the sandpaper option so I can simply sand the new bridge back and forth over the area until it takes the required shape but I was wondering what you would do with the scrapers? I…
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Mystery Buzz

Hi Everyone,I hope you’re having a great weekend! Can anyone help diagnose my mystery B string buzz? I tried to attach a video but the site won't take it. I’ve tightened all hardware and the b string is not hitting any frets. I’m giving it a set-up and when I had to lower the nut slot height of the B string it improved a bit. When I capo at the first fret the buzz disappears so it seems to be something going on at the nut. …

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Hi Ian, I just sent the email. Thank you for your time and attention!
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Brand new Gibson Hummingbird with Wolf tones

A customer brought me a new Hummingbird with fret buzz a few weeks ago. After performing what may be the best levelling job I've ever done, the buzz was reduced, but still noticeable, though it sounded different than normal fret buzz. When I noticed that the sound was worst when playing F2 (on the A string or D string), I did a frequency analysis and discovered that the main top resonance was at 163.9 hz, and it all made sense. Those…

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I am getting way above my pay grade here, but if you accept that (1) a wolf tone occurs when the impedance mismatch between string and soundboard is minimized and a resonance is created (allowing vibr…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Detached Wiring - Wire Hanger Enhancement

Hi Everyone, I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I have some wiring that has come loose in an acoustic guitar as the adhesive attached to the wire hangers has failed after about 1.5-2 years. Normally I would just pop in new ones but I'm wondering if there is a stronger adhesive that can be added instead of just relying on the sticky tape that comes with what is in the included pictures. Thanks in advance!

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If I remember correctly, I think Evan puts a small dot of thick CA glue on those to ensure a longer lasting bond. Great idea! I always forget. I've been using those for decades and if the wood is clea…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Fret Crown File Marks

Hi Everyone, What do you feel is the best way to remove the file marks from the frets after leveling and crowning with a fret crowning file? I'm happy with the shape and overall feel of the frets after crowning so this is an aesthetic issue more than anything. These are the files I'm using. The centered versions of 150 & 300-grit: https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/files/stewmac-compact-z-file-…

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I have found that if I don't hit the frets with 320 paper, I am likely to see some scratches when all is said and done. 320, 400, 600, steel wool, and then whatever further polishing you want to do (h…
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

National Triolian - Fishman Resophonic/Lipstick pickup rewiring

Hey everyone. I’m trying to figure out a wiring scheme for a modded National Triolian resonator guitar. It has a Fishman Resophonic end pin jack pickup (link to that is below) as well as a lipstick pickup that was installed along with a three way switch, and two potentiometers. Essentially what I’d like to do is wire it so there is one volume control for the lipstick pickup, one volume for the piezo, and the three way switch controls eac…

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@member @member Thanks for the advice guys! Yeah this is potentially a bit of a mess but I'll discuss these options wit…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Repair

Loose Truss Rod Nut

Hi Folks, I'm new here so I appreciate any input upfront! I had this guitar come through the shop and I've run up against something for the first time. The neck needs a little relief but when I went to adjust the truss rod the screw was already completely loose thus I couldn't perform that action. I tightened it just enough to get the truss rod nut to connect to the truss rod without making an actual adjustment to the neck in the wrong dire…

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Ian Davlin
Sometimes the truss rod can hang up the adjustment if there is surplus glue etc in the channel. Sometimes you can free up the relief just by flexing the neck. I usually grab it by the headstock and pu…
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…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

New member intro

Being new here, thought I would post an introduction. My name is Paul McGill Mcgillguitars.com I have been making guitars since 1976. I have lived and worked in Nashville since 1985 when I relocated here to work in the repair/restoration shop at Gruhn guitars. 410 Broadway, now a novelty shop. I was there a short time before commiting full time to guitar making as I had done prior to moving here. My main influence as a guitar maker was Ro…

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Hope to Paul, We did the 3 amigos show down there last March I doubt we will do it again though. Paul
Private member DiscussionTools and Jigs

Top Thickness calculator from the Gore / Gilet books

For folks familiar with the Gore / Gilet books and the top thickness calculations in section 4.5. I made a web based calculator to do the nasty spreadsheet math... So this is for once you've weighed and measured your top plates and then found the long, cross and transverse resonances it gives you the target thickness to hit a particular frequency for the long resonance of the plate. Just sharing so folks don't have to do the math for bu…

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