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Private member DiscussionDiscussions

Anyone know where I can find a Thumbwheel tone control assembly like this?

Client wants me to add a Tone control similar to this (pic) to his archtop. where can I get one? Thx!

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Private member
I get them from Mouser Electronics but you can also get them from WD Music Products https://www.wdmusic.com/alpha-thumbwheel-potentiometer-250-kohm-500-kohm-details.html#menu
Private member DiscussionJob Postings

Full-time luthier — Custom Shop & Production

Rask Guitars — Utah (relocation required) Rask Guitars is a Utah-based custom shop dedicated to building exceptional instruments — primarily high-end acoustics, alongside electric guitars and prototypes. We operate with a small, focused team where craftsmanship isn't just a standard, it's the entire point. We're growing, and we're looking for a skilled, experienced luthier who's ready to plug into a real production environment, contribute…

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Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Possible ground loop in Tele

Hello all, got a problem in a telecaster I rewired that has me in a twist. The basics: friend has a 2001 US Standard telecaster (left handed not that it matters). He bought it used and says it was quiet initially. A few years back he grabbed the pickups out of it and moved them to a new tele body with a torrefied maple neck he preferred. Recently he upgraded the new build with a Lollar CC tele set, and asked me to reinstall the original…

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Well, another update: I rewound the neck pickup, and flipped the polarity, so now the set is RWRP. Everything wired back up, and when the pickups are in series (position 4), it's dead quiet. The buzzi…
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

Aging Toner on a Sitka Spruce Top

I'm fast approaching the finish coating of 2 acousitcs. The sitka spruce tops are really bright. I'd like to tone them down a little and have been scouring the web for methods. Seems like adding amber toner in either the sand sealer or more likely the first set of nitro lacquer coats might be the the ticket. I see Stewmac has a Colortone stain called "Vintage Amber" that can be mixed into the nitro. Anybody have expirience with this pro…

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Hi Gerry, I recommend spraying a sealer chow it a light scuff and then one more sealer coat. If you are using lacquer, thin some 50% by volume and add TransTint or Colortone. Same dye and some of the…
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Mandocello top tap tuning

Hi all, I am building a mandocello, Gibson style but with f holes, currently working on the top. I got to a point where I carved it to about 5 mm in the center and about 3,3 around the edges. If has some flexibility but still feels quite stiff. I tap and listen but having experience only with flat top guitars I don't really know what I'm looking for in terms of tap tone and flexibility. I know there is no correct answer to this, but anyo…

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One more update. I have been generating Chladni patterns for the top. I normally do this with the closed box, as most luthiers seem to think that on free plates it's not very useful, but I found this…
Private member DiscussionElectric Repair

Suggestions for repairing an impacted tone pot on a semi-hollow?

I've got a D'angelico semi-hollow electric that's took a hit to one of the pots, breaking some wood and pushing the pot into the body. Not sure on the fix for this and can't find anything online, all suggestions welcome! Thinking of mounting an acrylic disk around the area to attach a long shaft pot to

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Ian Davlin
How are you with Zoom ? Do you mind if I explain this on a zoom call, record it and post it here ?
Private member DiscussionElectric Builds

What really effects tone?

Ok, I'm a new builder and I've only done solidbody electrics so far, so this question is related to only those. In my opinion, these are the things that have the most impact on tone, listed in order from most influential to least. Have at it! Pickup/electronics, neck joint type, neck construction (including fret size/material), scale length, bridge type, bridge saddle material, tone wood Of course, this only takes into account the guitar.…

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I'm not an expert electric builder but I think I'd go something like pickups 70% Body type (archtop/solidbody/variations thereof) 15% setup 10% vibes 5%
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 DiscussionElectric Repair

Double Humbuckers - Schematic?

Friends, I am looking for a wiring schematic that shows how to set up 2 humbuckers, each with their own Volume pot -- no Tone in this circuit. Everything I have has some type of Tone control in the circuit. Any suggestions? Thanks!

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i erased the tones. if you are leaving a switch out the output hot goes to both middle lugs of pots
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

Useful Mixol Tones

I have to place an order and need to add a few things to get free shipping. I was going to add some mixol tints. Any recommendations on useful tones for Acoustic repairs?

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Ian Davlin
I alway start with the primaries - red, yellow, blue - black and white and then a very neutral brown. The idea that with those colors you can mix into anything. Turns out, pigment mixing doesn't work…
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Martin D-18VM No truss rod?

In the process of evaluating the repairs needed on this guitar I checked to see if the truss rod was working. There is hole in the transverse brace where you would normally insert a truss rod, but all I see is the end of a metal bar with a smallish hole in the center. I tried several allen wrenches that would fit in the hole, but nothing seems to grab. Did they really eliminate the adjustable truss rod on this vintage reproduction? Here'…

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A reproduction with that much wrong?!?! Did the thing go of a cliff in the back of a car without a seat belt, get thrown, and wash up 10 miles south?