In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: – Should you use Carbon Fiber Rods and a Truss Rod? – Making your own bulk binding strips – wild grain versus homogenous grain – Buying go bars – Changing fretwire size when refretting – Where to buy a gramil? – Issues with […]
Category: Guitar Making
The Most Important Gram of Wood in a Guitar
In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, we talk about the function of the X-brace cap and how it restores structure to a critical part of the bracing pattern. Then I demonstrate a simple method for attaching the cap with tape. 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar […]
Rosette Making and Brace Carving on Guitar #116
I’m working again on Guitar #116, the all maple, 13 fret cutaway Parlor model. In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I install the Abalone into the rosette channel, and I carve the soundboard braces, discussing carving technique along the way. 🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com 🔴 Register for a 9 day Hands-On Guitar […]
Q&A | Taptuning Tops, Tonewood Myths, Best Guitar Brands, and More!
In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: – Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show – Favorite Guitar brands/companies – Fret slotting saws – Marketing your guitars – How many pounds of pressure do go-bars produce? – Inlaying into dark woods as opposed to light woods – Lazy builders – Jim Lill […]
Q&A | Sizing Fretwire, Neck Profiling Jigs, Electric Guitar Tonewood Myths and More!
In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: – Do headstock templates include space for the nut? – A jig for profiling necks with a router – An audio example of a student’s guitar – Choosing fretwire with the right tang size for your fret slots – Leg tapering jigs for […]
Using Teflon to Install a Mother Of Pearl Rosette | Guitar #116
In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I discuss some design considerations for my new, florentine cutaway parlor build, Guitar #116. Then we walk through the process of cutting a rosette channel and inlaying two fiber purfling strips and a teflon “place-holder” for the Mother Of Pearl, which will be installed later. 🔴 All episodes […]
Prepping Guitar Plates and Prepping Brace Blanks for Guitar #116
In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I am back to work on Guitar #116! I cut the bookmatched pairs of the back and soundboard to shape on the small bandsaw and thickness the plates. Then we talk about bracing stock and grain orientation and other important factors to consider when prepping your brace blanks. […]
Q&A | Purfling Depth, Instrument Glue Recommendations, Mold Making and More!
In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR Questions! Questions/Topics: – hide glue vs. titebond – fish glue – how deep should purfling be inlaid? – inlaying turqoise – The “Best” Guitar show – Using waxed wood strips like Teflon strips – Top thickness – french polishing and tru oil – fastening latches […]
Q&A | Resonating vs Reflecting Backs, Top Thickness, Scrapwood uses, and more!
In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics: – What do you do with your scrap wood? – Buying pre-bent sides – Best heating blanket for side bending – radial rosettes – thicknessing backs as a resonator or a reflector – Thicknessing tops – Plate gluing jig – laminated sides – […]
Making a Florentine Cutaway Mold for Guitar #116
In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I build a mold for a florentine cutaway parlor guitar model. I cover the process of stacking and duplicating the pieces of the mold on the router table, fine-tuning the cutaway with a chisel, and making the best out of your latch mechanism so your mold lasts a […]