New to Forum - FRETS.NET2024-03-29T02:22:31Zhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/forum/topics/new-to-forum?commentId=2177249%3AComment%3A132024&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThanks Lonnie, I appreciate t…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-05-06:2177249:Comment:1321002014-05-06T12:11:50.597ZKurt Rhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/KurtR
<p>Thanks Lonnie, I appreciate the welcome and will be posting questions as they come up.</p>
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<p>Thanks Lonnie, I appreciate the welcome and will be posting questions as they come up.</p>
<p></p> Well my friend; welcome to th…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-05-06:2177249:Comment:1320242014-05-06T02:26:26.542Zlonnie james barberhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/lonniejamesbarber
<p>Well my friend; welcome to the forum. Much info to be had here. If you have a question to ask there are plenty of informed people here to help you. Many of them are very famous in the world of luthiery. Enjoy your time here,Lonnie</p>
<p>Well my friend; welcome to the forum. Much info to be had here. If you have a question to ask there are plenty of informed people here to help you. Many of them are very famous in the world of luthiery. Enjoy your time here,Lonnie</p> Ned is right on - I am a hobb…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-04-29:2177249:Comment:1314612014-04-29T20:08:53.978ZMark Pollockhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MarkPollock
<p>Ned is right on - I am a hobbyist/amateur, but I try to charge for work so that I don't displace the fine craftsmen that do make their living locally. I will barter some work out, but only if it is a truly insane job that nobody would want to take on, or would want to charge to take on. Where the local guys would have to charge $600 to repair a $200 cuatro, I can barter for some homemade jam. </p>
<p>Ned is right on - I am a hobbyist/amateur, but I try to charge for work so that I don't displace the fine craftsmen that do make their living locally. I will barter some work out, but only if it is a truly insane job that nobody would want to take on, or would want to charge to take on. Where the local guys would have to charge $600 to repair a $200 cuatro, I can barter for some homemade jam. </p> I teach a ukulele club at my…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-04-29:2177249:Comment:1311712014-04-29T20:05:07.454ZMark Pollockhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MarkPollock
<p>I teach a ukulele club at my elementary school, and the first few weeks involve a lot of how to hold the hand, how to not turn the wrist, how the tendons work, and how to keep the arm working well. </p>
<p>Watching a performer's circle yesterday, I was struck by how few people pay attention to this really important detail. It's amazing how much easier things are with the correct posture!!</p>
<p>So, my advice has changed. Instead of buying tools, buy a yoga mat. :)</p>
<p>I teach a ukulele club at my elementary school, and the first few weeks involve a lot of how to hold the hand, how to not turn the wrist, how the tendons work, and how to keep the arm working well. </p>
<p>Watching a performer's circle yesterday, I was struck by how few people pay attention to this really important detail. It's amazing how much easier things are with the correct posture!!</p>
<p>So, my advice has changed. Instead of buying tools, buy a yoga mat. :)</p> I have friends or friends of…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-04-29:2177249:Comment:1314982014-04-29T19:15:02.545ZNed Knepphttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/NedKnepp
<p>I have friends or friends of friends that sometimes approach me with a problem because they know I like to work on instruments and, as a hobbyist, I tend to work for free. I figured out some time ago that it's usually best to give them my "free" evaluation and send them in the direction of someone that does this for a living. Part of my "free" evaluation is to highlight the idea that it's worth paying someone well for good work. </p>
<p>Frankly, I believe that "...the laborer is worth…</p>
<p>I have friends or friends of friends that sometimes approach me with a problem because they know I like to work on instruments and, as a hobbyist, I tend to work for free. I figured out some time ago that it's usually best to give them my "free" evaluation and send them in the direction of someone that does this for a living. Part of my "free" evaluation is to highlight the idea that it's worth paying someone well for good work. </p>
<p>Frankly, I believe that "...the laborer is worth his wage." If someone does good work then they are worthy of being paid for that work. The idea that I might take care of their problem for free is probably the worst reason they could have to bring an instrument to me. I try to get across to them in a kind way that they should be willing to pay for the best service they can find if they prize their instrument. Many of the people I've talked to have never thought about it this way. Most wouldn't consider using an unlicensed plumber or electrician and want a mechanic that is good and reasonable. They wouldn't consider trying to find a "free" mechanic to fix their car. </p>
<p>People need to be educated about the cost / value of repair services. The last thing I want to do is instill the idea that instrument repair has little or no value, thus I seldom take on repairs for other people. ( When I do, it's usually for someone that I know can't afford it and don't have anything else to play, mostly kids with no money. )</p>
<p>If a tradesman doesn't charge what they are worth, I think they will probably continue to attract the sort of customers that place price before quality. That seem to me to be a quick way to a failing business. There is always a cheaper price somewhere. I understand "needing the work" and" wanting the experience" but I don't think it would be in their best interest to establish a reputation like this. If they want/need experience, maybe it would be better to seek it in places and with people who really need help and really can't afford it. In this way they can get experience with a more philanthropic explanation. It might be better to be able to explain that "yes, I gave them that price, but they were a special case."</p>
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<p>Any way, my two cents.. or maybe 10 cents since I went on so long. </p>
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<p>Ps. I really hate paying plumber rates for their work but it's funny how I don't think about the cost, the next morning when the toilet flushes cleanly and the shower drains easily. When what your fix works well, people tend to forget the cost. </p>
<p> If your work can make their instrument play well, they will not be thinking about the cost when they play it, they will be thinking about how nice it is to play it... thanks to you.</p>
<p></p> Don't ever work for a loss -…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-04-29:2177249:Comment:1312662014-04-29T17:08:37.289ZIan Penderhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/IanPender
<blockquote><p><span> Don't ever work for a loss - you will resent it and it it will haunt you. Turn down jobs that are marginal money makers or outside your skill set - they will eat you alive 9 times out of 10. Don't quote short to get a job - it just makes your business smaller and damages the industry as a whole.</span></p>
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<p>That one seems so obvious, and yet, I know I learned it the hard way. It's too easy to rationalize it by telling yourself that you're doing…</p>
<blockquote><p><span> Don't ever work for a loss - you will resent it and it it will haunt you. Turn down jobs that are marginal money makers or outside your skill set - they will eat you alive 9 times out of 10. Don't quote short to get a job - it just makes your business smaller and damages the industry as a whole.</span></p>
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<p>That one seems so obvious, and yet, I know I learned it the hard way. It's too easy to rationalize it by telling yourself that you're doing it for the experience or practice or whatever. Never again.</p> Hi Mark,
Thanks for getting w…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-04-29:2177249:Comment:1312632014-04-29T15:49:58.213ZRussell Vancehttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RussellVance
<p>Hi Mark,</p>
<p>Thanks for getting where I was coming from.</p>
<p>I'm a victim of the saying "if i knew I was going to live this this long I would have treated myself better" - I've got more titanium in me than a space shuttle. We wear out bits that we use a lot and seeing as we all live longer and work longer these days (and I enjoy work much more now than I ever did when I was a kid) I do everything possible to extend the life of my frame and senses.</p>
<p>That's the point I made…</p>
<p>Hi Mark,</p>
<p>Thanks for getting where I was coming from.</p>
<p>I'm a victim of the saying "if i knew I was going to live this this long I would have treated myself better" - I've got more titanium in me than a space shuttle. We wear out bits that we use a lot and seeing as we all live longer and work longer these days (and I enjoy work much more now than I ever did when I was a kid) I do everything possible to extend the life of my frame and senses.</p>
<p>That's the point I made about the use of power tools and energy saving (body energy) measures to prolong our working life and quality of work.</p>
<p>Nobody will ever question the pleasure of working with finely tuned hand-tools or the joys of hand sculpting and creation, but, for everyday work and for the purposes of efficient and profitable processes we need to work faster and with the least effort - hence my avocation of power tools and other energy saving tools.</p>
<p>I have written previously about teaching oneself to work both left and right handed to spread the load and also the need to change grips and stances and use ergonomic handles on tools etc.</p>
<p>Also , the double wammy is that a lot of us are players and beat the crap out of our knuckles, wrists and elbows when we are taking time off the job - which is doing exactly the same thing.</p>
<p>We are seeing the issues now and it is our responsibility to raise awareness of these things with those coming behind us.</p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>Rusty.</p> Agreed on the power screwdriv…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-04-29:2177249:Comment:1311672014-04-29T13:39:46.436ZMark Pollockhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MarkPollock
<p>Agreed on the power screwdriver. Agreed on anything that preserves the most valuable tools we have - our hands, our heads, and our lungs. Good dust collection is a must, lots of safety glasses all over the place so that there is no reason not to put them on, gloves to protect hands, ear protection, dust masks, etc. Push sticks, dead man switches, jigs that secure work - all very important. A safe place to put used oily or solvent - filled rags seems like a must as…</p>
<p>Agreed on the power screwdriver. Agreed on anything that preserves the most valuable tools we have - our hands, our heads, and our lungs. Good dust collection is a must, lots of safety glasses all over the place so that there is no reason not to put them on, gloves to protect hands, ear protection, dust masks, etc. Push sticks, dead man switches, jigs that secure work - all very important. A safe place to put used oily or solvent - filled rags seems like a must as well. </p>
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<p>Russell, I wonder if part of the problem with Carpel Tunnel is the complete lack of thought some of us put into posture and hand position when working. I know that I think about where my hands are when I'm playing, but I never look down when I'm deep in a neck-fitting session at where my hands are and how I'm using them. I'll try to be more conscientious of this in the future. </p>
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<p></p> Hi Guys,
There are two parts…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-04-29:2177249:Comment:1312582014-04-29T05:15:23.887ZRussell Vancehttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/RussellVance
<p>Hi Guys,</p>
<p>There are two parts to this story: one is a comfortable hobby environment and the other is making a living by luthiery and repairs. Two different things and not to be compared.</p>
<p>"No power tool is truly necessary, they can just make things easier."</p>
<p>How about: "they just make things a lot faster and prevent a whole bunch of arthritis and Carpel tunnel / Tendonitis that has befallen just about all of the senior guys in the business.</p>
<p>Faster by such a degree…</p>
<p>Hi Guys,</p>
<p>There are two parts to this story: one is a comfortable hobby environment and the other is making a living by luthiery and repairs. Two different things and not to be compared.</p>
<p>"No power tool is truly necessary, they can just make things easier."</p>
<p>How about: "they just make things a lot faster and prevent a whole bunch of arthritis and Carpel tunnel / Tendonitis that has befallen just about all of the senior guys in the business.</p>
<p>Faster by such a degree that power tools = profitability in a small business. </p>
<p>A complete pull apart of a Strat takes a minute or two with a power driver compared to 15-20 minutes with hand held screwdrivers - ditto setting up a heel adjusted truss rod on a bolt on - couple of cyles of removing the neck plate soon gets tedious with a screw driver. Same goes for 11 screw pickguards and the pickup screws.......work at this for a few years and it all mounts up. Not to mention the joys of a powered string winder/unwinder - absolute bliss and a lot less damage than a hand operated winder.</p>
<p>Same goes for radius blocks, and particularly the full length cauls which accurately radius and index the whole fretboard and frets in one operation.</p>
<p>It's not disagreement: it's just different things. </p>
<p>Regards,</p>
<p>Rusty.</p>
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<p></p> Old Harmony guitars (US made…tag:fretsnet.ning.com,2014-04-29:2177249:Comment:1312562014-04-29T01:07:18.996ZMark Pollockhttp://fretsnet.ning.com/profile/MarkPollock
<p>Old Harmony guitars (US made ones) have dovetail joints and all hide glue construction. They also often have poplar wood for the neck block, which is not as much fun to work with but not horrible either. Many of the better ones have solid tops and can be rebraced for rather excellent tone. The H162 and H165 are real bargains in this regard. You can often find an old Sovereign as well, which sold for about the same price as a comparable Martin or Gibson at the time, but produced a less…</p>
<p>Old Harmony guitars (US made ones) have dovetail joints and all hide glue construction. They also often have poplar wood for the neck block, which is not as much fun to work with but not horrible either. Many of the better ones have solid tops and can be rebraced for rather excellent tone. The H162 and H165 are real bargains in this regard. You can often find an old Sovereign as well, which sold for about the same price as a comparable Martin or Gibson at the time, but produced a less saleable sound due to the ladder bracing. I just picked up a beater Sovereign for $50, which is a steal, given the solid spruce top, solid one piece mahogany back, Brazilian rosewood fretboard (of somewhat lacking grain selection and sanding) and generally excellent wood all around. All of these have atrocious neck angles though, and really respond well to a reset. With a fretboard job and refret, and when x braced, these are killer guitars, and can compare quite favorably to almost anything in the Guitar Center expensive acoustic room. </p>
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<p>No power tool is truly necessary, they can just make things easier. I would say that great chisels and knives are really the key, and the ability to sharpen them to be truly sharp. I use my grinder a whole lot less that a set of diamond sharpening stones and a flat chunk of countertop material with sandpaper glued to it. I've never burned the almost-perfect edge of a chisel with sandpaper, but have done so (more often than I would like to admit in any public forum) with a grinder. :) That said, a drill press and band saw can be really useful. </p>
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<p>Lots of people don't bother with the radius blocks - they are cool, but the time it takes to use one properly while keeping it aligned perfectly with the fretboard seems equal to the time used in just running a jack plane or old level with sandpaper adhered to it across the fretboard. </p>
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