In these 3 episodes I delve into nut slotting. I discuss methods for such things as determining string spacing, determining nut slot depth and radius, marking string spacing, filing the slots, shaping the nut and more. This is an excerpt from the online course “Building an OM Acoustic.” Questions on this topic or anything else […]
Well, in this case they are not really “knives.” My favorites are all kitchen spatulas modified for removing glue joints. In this episode of DIY Guitarmaking, I discuss my favorite implements for bridge and fretboard removal and for removing double stick tape on templates. Questions on this topic or anything else related to acoustic instrument […]
Questions on this topic or anything else related to acoustic instrument construction? Please e-mail eric@ericschaeferguitars.com with the subject line: DIY Question And I may answer your question on a Q and A episode of DIY Guitarmaking! Want more of this? Subscribe below for Weekly Guitar Making Tips from DIY Guitarmaking Want to really learn […]
I demonstrate fretting techniques over the body, as opposed to fretting the fretboard prior to attaching the neck. This is the ideal way to fret the board because it allows you to radius and level the fingerboard in place, before fretting. I break this down into 3 parts. These are all excerpts from the Online Guitar […]
I demonstrate fretting techniques over the body, as opposed to fretting the fretboard prior to attaching the neck. This is the ideal way to fret the board because it allows you to radius and level the fingerboard in place, before fretting. I break this down into 3 parts. These are all excerpts from the Online […]
Glue Delivery Strategies Being careful and meticulous, almost surgical, with the way you deliver water thin CA to the workpiece is the key to a long and happy relationship with water thin superglue. If you aren’t careful you will create a mess that is very time consuming to clean up. First of all, Wax paper, teflon, […]
Superglue can be a luthier’s best friend or worst enemy. Technically called Cyanoacrylate glue, or CA, in most cases it cures with effectively no wait time. The thinnest viscosities have incredible wicking properties that allow the glue to penetrate a pre-assembled, clamped joint. However, CA can be a nightmare to work with if you are […]
It all started simply enough with a referral from a local guitar shop for a fret job. This wasn’t even a refret, which can be more nuanced and touchy given the potential for damage to the fret slots during fret removal. This was a brand new slotted fretboard that the customer ordered online and replaced the existing fretboard […]
To follow up episode #22 When a Bridge Removal Goes Bad, I decided to also write an article on bad neck removals as well. This neck removal was particularly hairy. I won’t get into why this was the case, but you can see the damage to the soundboard beneath the fretboard tongue was extensive! […]
This Martin 000-15 came into my shop with a long split in the sides on the treble side. The owner told me that the guitar was never dropped or bumped into anything. It never experienced any kind of trauma to cause the split. Furthermore, the guitar had been repaired previously for splits in the sides, also […]
