MIMF

Those are awesome.

Very cool! I like the way you are putting your own touches in the design. My first flat top build was also a left-handed, an Englemann and Walnut dreadnought. It is disorienting to work to a left handed configuration, and I found myself double checking saddle orientation, nut slots, etc. because it...

Wow, beautiful guitar! I see a lot of really custom features, side port, elevated fretboard, beautiful binding. Really nice work, congratulations! Are you happy with the sound? Does the elevated fretboard make a big sound difference? Thanks, Christ. I think the sound is very good but I don't have a...

Hi, all. I have finished my fifth guitar. I feel like I'm making some progress and this one might be getting closer. This is a left-handed guitar and it's my first that will be heading to another home. Fortunately, the new owner is my brother-in-law so I can keep track of it over time. It's weird ma...

I’ve used it on some of the fretless basses that I’ve built. It works well in that application. I use pin bridges. The breakover angle at the saddle on mine is such that I think it would wear the bridge fast if it were hardwood. Good point about the wear on the saddle. I think the nut has more pote...

Violin family instruments use flat wound strings almost exclusively, which don't cut into the nut the way round windings do. I say 'almost' exclusively: I can't recall seeing any new violin strings that were not flat wound, but I have not seen them all. Ah, that make sense. Archtops frequently use ...

Hello,

My viola playing daughter asked me a question I don't have an answer for. Has anyone tried using ebony or other hardwoods for nuts and saddles on acoustic guitars? My daughter pointed out that the violin family has been using them for a very long time.

Thanks,

-Eric

I'm in!

-Eric

There's a small misspelling in that link. Here's the correct one.

https://www.bearmeadow.com/tools/fret-t ... index.html

[Staff: Link in original post has also been fixed.]

Karl Wicklund wrote: ↑Sat Oct 12, 2024 9:58 am Looking good Eric!

Thank you, Karl!

-Eric

How tall are the top braces at the X crossings? Mine usually end up about 1/2" or a bit less for the main X, and 5/16" or thereabouts for the lower X. You really don't need much bracing behind the bridge. Also, the caps on the X braces are thicker than they need to be. They're there to ho...

How tall are the top braces at the X crossings? Mine usually end up about 1/2" or a bit less for the main X, and 5/16" or thereabouts for the lower X. You really don't need much bracing behind the bridge. My main X is 16mm or about 5/8" at its highest. The lower X is smaller than tha...

Hi, all. I'm making good progress on guitar number 5. It's in some nice Koa with subtle curl. This is my first guitar that will go out to sort-of a customer. My sister is giving this to my brother-in-law. He's left-handed and hasn't had a nice guitar for a long time. He's very excited and I'm very n...

Thanks to all you good folks this old rookie has learned more here than from all the books and videos I've consumed. Before places like this existed learning this craft was a daunting task. You've made it possible and I'm very grateful.

-Eric

That sounds like an awesome time! What kind of cookie tins were used?

-Eric

Alan Carruth wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2024 11:11 am Here's a shot of the rough top and back bracing on one of my guitars. Sometimes it gets trimmed down a lot.

Alan

Thank you, Alan. That will be very helpful.

-Eric

Thanks, Alan.

That's great information on asymmetric versus symmetric bracing. I'm now searching the net for photos and drawings of double X bracings. I'd like to try it.

This guitar also has a side port and wouldn't lend itself to being reversed. I'm going to make a new one for him instead.

Hi, all. My sister wants me to make a guitar for her left-handed husband. She loves guitar #4 that I just posted about yesterday and wonders if I could just reverse the strings. My instinct says that it would not a good idea as the braces should be reversed too. What is the wisdom on this? Would a n...

Looks great, Eric. One suggestion: Move the low and high E strings 1/8” from the edge of the fretboard. Yours looks a little close to the edge and that can lead to strings slipping off the edge of the fret during play. Good tip. Making the nut and saddle are weak points in my abilities right now. I...

The Curupay headstock veneer is nice. This wood is also called Patagonian Rosewood, but it's not from Patagonia and it's not a rosewood. done-firstpass - 6.jpeg Cheap tuners that works well enough for the guitars I'm making at this point. done-firstpass - 7.jpeg Walnut neck that bolts on and is full...