MIMF

Hi All I'm the proud owner of an Avante AV2-E baritone that I bought second-hand. The previous owner had put stickers on the soundboard which I'd like to remove but...the colour of the wood underneath the stickers is significantly lighter than the rest of the wood. Is there anything I can do (short ...

You could convert it to a bolt-on using proper inserts. I've done a few for friends who bought cheap guitars with butt & dowel neck joints

+1 for the sharp blade suggestion. Shear the lacquer - then scrape it off the fret

It's not my call as it isn't my guitar but the spruce/birdseye is one of my favourite combinations - I'd leave it alone and hope I lived long enough for it to naturally age to the colour I wanted.

Include me - even though I'm the other side of the pond

Does anyone have any information about the neck joint on these guitars? I've been offered one for cheap but the owner says it has a 'high action' . I'll be going to see it in a couple of days, if it's in sound condition but just needs a reset I'll have a go - I've always liked the shape - and restor...

Hey Eric - send me the .stl files and I'll mail the parts back (I'm in the UK) - we use the Stratasys range of 3D printers so you can have anything from ABS to Ultem9085 and all points in between.

Hummingbird! Lucky guy - we don't get them here in the UK outside zoos - but I did see a group of Goldfinches today. They're beautiful birds and the collective noun is a 'Charm' of Goldfinches. I have to say, seeing them made my day.

For me, unless this particular guitar had massive sentimental value, I would just strip it for parts and move on. The time it would take (If I charged my going rate) would rapidly outstrip the worth of the guitar - unless, as I've said, it has sentimental value.

The main one is that I have a semi-bald left forearm. 'If it don't shave, it ain't sharp'. Not just tools like chisels, violin knives plane irons etc but also to kitchen knives. I have one relative (who shall remain nameless) who won't use my kitchen knives as they are 'too sharp'!

Beautiful as always Murray - more pics!

Hi all. I was at a game fair a couple of days ago and I came across some buffalo horn blanks that were squared-up at about 3/4" and about 5" long. As I'm always looking for useful material, I gave them a tap and they were really resonant with a nice 'ping' so I bought a few. Question is, d...

I agree with John. Leather is the way to go - doesn't mark and (as far as my racks have gone) doesn't react.

Double-sided tapes have come a long way! I'd use it, just consider that a lot of car companies use tape to hold badges/rub strips to bodywork. It'll be fine as long as you keep the faith - cleanliness is everything!

Hey Alan, Dave. Are we old? I remember a fitting instructor telling a (pretty naive) apprentice 'Take this drawing and lump of metal, file away everything that doesn't appear on the drawing, then stop'.
Sage advice

During my apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce we had to make, as part of the training, our own measuring/marking tools. IIRC (it was a long time ago!) thickness calipers were one of the 'set pieces' we were tested on. Must see if I can find them - they're in a toolbox with the rest, dividers, inside/outsi...

Me too!

Inspiring and incredibly clearly written (and photographed). I wish some of the luthiery books I've bought had been so well done

Jon Gomm, Andy McKee, Preston Reed and Newton Faulkner at the moment - along with some Beautiful South/Housemartins and The English Beat (as you guys would know them - over here they're just The Beat).

I'm in! As above I'd like something with MIMF on it - how much is shipping to the UK?