MIMF

Seems my post from last week got lost in the server swap! But not before I received excellent advise. I spent about 60 minutes gently picking out crushed grain and associated splinters along the break, then glued it together using hot hide glue. It came together well enough, but I wouldnt say perfec...

Thanks, Barry. This is EXACTLY the kind of experience and detailed knowledge I was looking for. I will replicate your approach 100%. Totally agree regarding bolt-ons. While I respect the approach is not for everyone, I have owned a 1986 Marc Beneteau GC with Florintine cutaway for 30 years and it is...

Sorry - a Kung foo reset is when you use a very thin-kerfed , flexible Japanese saw to saw between the body and the neck heel up to the fretboard- basically you cut the heel off flush to the body, removing the dovetail, leaving the FB - theN you reset the angle and convert the neck to bolt-on. Lots ...

...as are thoughts about how successful a Kung foo reset would be with the *TRUSS ROD.

Hi there. I posted earlier this week seeking advice on a neck break on a 1915 a Gibson A mando. The post seems to be gone. Did I inadvertently break a rule? Pls advise so I can avoid in future, if so.

Many thx for all the great work you do!

Js

Back in the 1980s, I owned several Fender acoustics - F35/75/85 - when these were considered decent guitars. While they looked kinda purdy, I got rid of them all by the mid 1990s and moved on to actual good guitars! All but one, that is - the cheap F-35, all-plywood box. I loaned this guitar to a de...

Thx. I'm very pleased with how this project turned out. The banjo wire is a pleasure to play vs the original, very thin and low fret wire. I like it so much, I'm thinking of installing banjo wire on my 1916 Gibson A. We'll see! Complete set of pics for the restored Kalamzoo can be found here: https:...

Another way to improve or correct the soundhole 'dip' or 'potato-chipping' on old ladder braced guitars, is to install bracing round the sound hole running from the lower brace to upper brace. Ideally, you sand a slight radius into the braces too, to counter the existing forces. I have done this on ...

I have found that clean feeler guages work well to force glue into that transition area where it gets really tight. You do need to be careful, as the thinner guages WILL break. Pull them straight out, as opposed to on an angle. I keep a broken one around specifically for this purpose.

Compress_20230319_213126_6125.jpg Compress_20230319_214626_6458.jpg X-Bracing the 1920s 'The Vernon' parlor by Stromberg-Voisinette. Back in January, I was ready to x-brace the top of this old parlor guitar. Then I got COVID. But more to the point, I got a little lazy ... Getting back at it, ... I ...

That's some beautiful craftsmanship on the kerfed lining.

We'll, I'm certainly not Mr. Ford, but I'm more or less happy with how the patch turned out. I beveled the inside edge and chalked fitted it the best I could, and managed to get a decent glue-up. It is still pretty rough on the top, but certainly a great deal better than before. I think with the con...

Barry, as always, thanks so much for the detailed response. I think I will pull the back (it's loose in a couple spots anyway), and get this done correctly. Might even convert to xbrace while I'm in there, as I think it will add to the strength of the weakened top, which has a lot of cracks. I did a...

I like to refurbish old parlor guitars. I've been working on this guitar and off for a quite a while. The top under the bridge is in very rough shape. The bridge that was on it was a martin-style many years ago by the original owner, who wasnt particularly careful. I'm worried that I won't get enoug...

Thanks, Bryan and Clay. This discussion has been very helpful! I think I'm ready to go now.

Cheers. Js

Thanks, as always!

The wisdom and experience of this forum is second to none!

Js

Hi Andy. I love the look of the butternut. Its beautiful. I live not far from Ottawa and have some butternut trees on my property. This gives me ideas! Thx for sharing.

John

Im starting off (slowly) on my first build - an L00 replica.I have a Blues Creek side bender that I purchased a while back, used, with a dreadnaught bending form. I intend to build a new form for the L00. Building the outside building form from the plan I have is easy enough. But I wonder if the ins...

Thanks very much for this thoughtful suggestion. I will try this and report back. J

Hi there. I recently finished restoring an old Kalamazoo km11 mandolin, including application of a thin french polish preservation coat. Overall, I am very happy with the result. However, while I am getting pretty good at french polish, I find my end result is *slight* sticky. Not really perceptable...