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Private member DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

Acoustic Guitar

Hello! This is my current build! https://www.instagram.com/p/DMO6PqXRAkg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MWdhbW4wdG51bDJ4ZQ== "Here’s a quick check-in on the two guitars I’m currently working on. The bodies are getting ready for binding(arm bevel too!), while the neck is in the middle of headstock design. For the tiger-patterned guitar, I’m planning to inlay Jakho-do (Korean tiger-and-magpie painting) with mother-of-pearl. The other one…

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Private member DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

Acrylic touch up paints?

After installing purfling and bindings I noticed a black dot on one of the maple lines— and right at the florentine point! It’s not sanding out. Bummer. As I get close to finish prep does anyone have recommendations on acrylic touch up paint SKUs that work well with maple? These maple purflings happen to be from Gurian Instruments, for what that’s worth. Also, if anyone has an idea of what this dot is and how it got there I’d love to he…

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Ian Davlin
Also, Jeff Jewitt goes over this in this segment. https://dev2.loothgroup.com/post-type-videos/in-the-booth-with-jeff-jewitt/
Private member DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

R Guitars #16

Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Sitka spruce top with heavy bear claw, curly koa binding, Brazilian bridge/fretboard/headplate

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Ian Davlin
Amazing. That pickguard is also really nice. Did you make that ?
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Low spots on sides

Im going to be starting my 6th acoustic build soon. One issue I continue to have is low spots on the sides. I use an LMI bender with the spring steel slats that LMI provided (they are pretty stout). One observation, sometimes there is a bit of rebound in the sides as I take them out of the bender. I sort of force them into the mold to glue the neck and tail blocks. I’m wondering if that may be where the issue is occurring. After removing…

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I find that I get better results, meaning less springback if I let the sides sit in the fox style bender overnight. Also side splints can help as well.
Private member DiscussionFinish Repair

Mild celluloid rot damage

G'day...I have a nice old Burny LP in that is showing some rot in the fingerboard binding, with some on the body binding as well... I'm looking to stabilise things for now (I understand that eventually, it will all turn to dust)...thinking about: acetone applied sparingly to cracks, Duco cement (not really sure here...maybe try to just adhere crack edges), or CA (ultra thin, wicked into cracks)... Very grateful for any suggestions.... Stev…

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Doug Proper did a Ding Kings on this issue. He's got a couple proprietary mixtures he uses; one is to stabilize.
Private member DiscussionShare Your New Builds Content

New Tenor Ukulele

Tenor Ukulele recently sent out. It's my first time selling through a store, and I'm pretty nervous. Top is redwood. Back and sides Oregon Myrtle. Fretboard and bridge are Mun ebony. Binding is Koa.

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Ian Davlin
Wow dude ! That looks fantastic !
Private member DiscussionAcoustic Builds

Bending Crelicam Ebony

A client has asked me to build an acoustic guitar using crelicam ebony for the back and sides that he is getting form Stewmac. I have heard it's challenging to bend, and this will be an OM so the waist is pretty tight. Any thoughts or suggestions for bending these sides? I use a homemade bending machine modelled after LMI's latest design (may they rest in peace) and I have had good success bending rosewood, walnut, mahogany, and pau fer…

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See the Michael M and Michael B entries in the "Side Bending" thread below
Private member DiscussionGeneral

Gretsch Rebind Glue

I've been slowly chipping away at a rebind on a Gretsch streamliner with full on rotted binding. The repair was started by a luthier in KC that passed away a couple years ago and I inherited the repair after it sat for a few years. I've glued some binding back in place on martins with the Pacer canopy glue, and that has worked out fine in the past. I did a test w/ some new ABS from stewmac that I was going to use for rebinding the gr…

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Hey Dalton! Have you found a better alternative than canopy glue for your ABS binding yet? I've had a similar issue finding an adhesive for celluloid binding repair that won't attack NC lacquer. Karl…
Private member DiscussionFinish New Builds

Soundboard Tearout

When removing the tape from a binding install, I had a significant tearout on the soundboard. It's too deep to sand out. Suggestions on how to fill/patch this to minimize it's appearance?

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On another point, I appreciate your efforts to keep your soundboard consistent in thickness but I just do not think that some sanding in on area is going to make any perceptible change on the sound of…
Private member DiscussionNeck Reset Database

1952 Gibson SJ

1952 Gibson Southern Jumbo. I drilled 2 holes 1 cm from the edge through the 15th fret slot for the wire heaters. This one didn’t require any steam just a lot of boiling water. Be weary of the celluloid inlays and binding. They melt fairly easily. (Oops) It happened to a friend once! lol

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Ian Davlin
Great looking guitar Scott !