No problem. What rough dimensions do you like for the peghead stock? All the material got milled down to ~3/4" thick. Most of it's rift-to-quartersawn, with nice tight grain, but if you prefer showier flatsawn stuff for pegheads, I can probably scare up some of that. Let me know, and I'll put together a box for you.

AB

Sorry, PS - my personal email's blandyack@earthlink.net - it's probably simpler if you just email me your info.

AB

Bob I sure do appretiate the trouble you have taken to get me the info on that Arther Hensler Guitar. I have done business with Fokway in the past as they are only about 80 miles from me.I hope maybe some time in the future I can be of some help to you .I had this old farmer come in on Thursday with a Stainer violin and an old Banjo & the guitar to have repaired .Well needls to say he thought I wunted to much to fix the guitar. So I said I would fix the other two Insturments in exchange for the guitar. [We have a deal] . Good luck &Thanks again Bill."""""

Hi Bob, all good and I will get back onto the forum later tonight - have just been busy with bringing a new guitar model on line - we have a large build schedule and I tend to go hard at it for while then surface for a look at all the things that I have not been paying attention to - the repair side of the house gets put on hold from time to time so I can concentrate but it doesn't go away and the pressure builds - but, hey it sure beats any other job I can think of. See Ya and thanks for reminding me to breath! Rusty

HI Bob can you take a look at my last post on the removal ? i have questions

Well Bob it just turned out to be a Stainer copy .It seems that Stainer didn't stamp his name on the heal of his Violins.P.S I am getting along fine with the old Arthur Hensel guitar I took the back off to repair the bracing as some of the back ones were missing and I thought the top ones would be louse as well but they were ok it had a # 15 on the inside of the top.It was a way off scale as well. It had a flat BR fret board on it so I radiusd the board and put a trustrod in I have it all repaird and ready to refinish.It's going to be a nice little Guitar for some one thanks Bill.:::::::

Hi Bob,
I just wanted to thank you for the various bits of advice you have shared in the short time I have been on the Net here. I just got in a couple of material kits to begin my first instruments. I plan on starting small by building a couple tenor and concert size ukuleles to get some experience with the whole process and fine tune my techniques a bit before jumping into a full size classical guitar. It seems that most of the production ukes are made as simply as possible so it may be a really interesting proposition to build them with the spanish heel style construction.

Funny you should mention that, I was seriously thinking of building an english gentlemans rife with a Koa stock. I believe it would be very historically correct from the plantation/missionary era. Assuming that someone obtained the wood along with a cargo of sugar or pineapples and thougt it would be a unique conversation starter in the game fields don't you know.

Turkish walnut is the really gaudy stuff. I think its Luxus.com that supplys most of that in the US. Worth a look to see some really spectacular wood...it's quarter sawed too. I wasn't aware that anyone thought Koa was less than a top notch tonewood. I really love the sound of the Koa steel string guitars I have played. Of course I really like a mahogany guitar too. Martin D-or om-18s are killer good in my book. Have you had any experience with Black Acacia? I bought two B&S sets to make a matching pair of guitars. One steel string ooo and a classical. I thought it would be fun as a father and son set for my youngest and I. It looks quite a bit like Koa under finish and being related I hear they sound a lot alike.

Hi Bob Im more than proud to have you as a friens and I'm sure if I lived close to you I would be sharing time and swaping a lot stories with you..
I'd still like to know where you got thoes fancy spring clamps that you are using to clamp tops and maby backs on you're guitars..
best to you Bob and please be safe...
Donald

That Turkish walnut is some stunning stuff isn't it? I have never had a chance to work with any of it but I bet I could build a fine muzzle loader out of it. I have some forum buddies on the American Longrifle forum who are really masters and just do fantastic work in just about all mediums. Master engravers and truly skilled wood and metal workers. Those are the guys that use this stuff. Guns with five and six figure price tags.

Ok yeah, the FEGA show is just stunning. The guys I was talking about are members. I am too but mostly because it is the best base of information available to a beginner like myself. The engraving on Kentucky rifles is really pretty crude folk art for the most part and mine is no better than that so I really dont consider myself an engraver. I would really like to get a Lindsry airgraver and apply some nice shading to the pearl and abalone on my instruments if I can find a market for the "art" instruments.

OK Bob I think I did it. you have 3 pics to view-- the mold is made from cabinet grade birch plywood and sports 15 hold down clips on a side to hold the top or back on while the glue dries.. the neck is held in place via hold downs that I have devised.. NOTE the center line in the mold to locate the proper place to put the neck... sometimes I have a tuff time getting things rite with a puter but I'm still on the learning cerve... DAAAAAA

Donald

Hey Bob -- I planned to do this thing face down on the first one to see what happens--Im realy no strainger to making jigs and things to make things easer for me,,, you see- I was a high end cabinet maker for many years before I retired last year, and made a lot of holding devices to make things easer.
Im also making a device to taper the fret board and it will be movable ao I can put what ever I want for a taper. sound good??
Cheers my friend,
Donald

Hey Bob -- well I decided to go a lil hi tec with my build and I went and ordered rosewood for the sides and back and engelman spruce for the top along with snakewood for the binding.
I give all of my guitars a name so I'm calling this one elegant jane -(was going to call it plain jane but since I'm doing it up a lil fancy then the name should fit. LOL
what is it that you usually use for the tops and binding??
Cheers,
Donald

Hi Bob -- you seem to as I put it "have your stuff together" and it sure seems like you have a routeen for making your guitars.. ^5's on that...
I'm in the process of making up a jig to use my router to put the taper to the finger board.. ( don"t have a time saver or any kind of sander like that)
You be well and please be safe ok??
Cheers,
Donald

Hi Bob -- the jig I want to make WILL be adjustable at one end, and I will be able to clamp it from the sides too via a built in system... (I'll show you a pic when I get re done)... I happen to be one of those power tool junkies if you know what I mean, so therefor I use them at any chance I can..
I agree with you on doing the body assembly before I taper the fret board.
Well that's all the news that is the news so be well and please be safe
Cheers,
Donald

One more piece of info that I'm after is the finish on the guitar.. I'm thinking of going with True oil finish insted of french polish .. whats your openion??
Donald

Hey Bob -- A blog??? Hey why not, seems like a fun thing to do...
the Idea of varnish and then true oil finish I think is the way I'm going to go.
I have some questions along the way and I will be asking you like a pain in the butt 5 year old kid, but I'm on a learning curve here and I can use all the help I can get.....
I have a question on the fan braces that go to the top-- the print calls for .160 wide and .160 tall and .200 tall respectively... now that seems to me as to be awfully small unless that's the way its suppose to be.
Also-- are the braces tapered down to zero at the ends??
Need Input here....
Cheers,
Donald

Hey Bob this is a P.S. to the last question that I asked-- one other thing...
The print calls for mahog. to be used for the back braces and the back strip.. NOW-- is spruce acceptable or will I need to get some Mahog.??

hey Bob -- thanx for the reply on the info that I was looking for..
looks like I'm gonna half to get out my charge card and get some mahog.
no problem tho ---
once again thanx for all the info -- you are a good guy :-)

Hey Bob The fans are NOT scalloped -- just rounded on the top, but I was wondering about the taper tho, thanx for the info :-)

Hi Bob here I am again with another question.. (I kno -- why don't this guy stop already) but I'm trying to learn here..
I was looking in LMI's cat. and saw a rosette that I want to use, and along with the rosette there is a thing that is refered to as a tie block.
question is -- what the heck is a tie block and what does it do?????

Gee thanx Bob-- I guess I need to learn the parts of a classical guitar since I'm not fimilar with them.... DAAAAAAAAAAAAA
BTW-- how do ya start a blog?? is it done with introducing your self and saying a lil about your self and then the thing is wide open???
Cheers,
Donald

ok Bob-- that doesn't sem like a diffacult thing to do..
lets see how it works out......
cheers,
Donald

hey Bob -- somehow the pic of my form doesn't seem to want to load
give me some time to figure it out and I will start a blog ok??
Donald

Hey Bob -- I started a Blog on my page.. view and enjoy...
Cheers,
Donald

Hey Bob -- that sounds like a better idea. sounds like you use to work for the Ford motor company in the past ..... LOL

Hey Bob well I'm on my way to making the classical, posted a pic of braces.
Cheers,
Donald

Thin??Heck iffin I turn sideways and stick out my toung, I look like a giant zipper LOL

Hey Bob I have a new pic of progress-- take a look see ok?? Donald

Well Bob I have the body with the neck attached-- I got so involved with making the thing that I neglected to take pics along the way-- Im not all that happy with it
because I couldn't get the sides to fit the form exactly but came real close.
I took and did a tap thing on the body just behind the bridge, while I held it by the neck up by the head stock and it rang like a bell and gave a near perfect "B" note. ( I guess that's good no??)
If you have any hints for me I would appreciate it --Cheers, Donald

Hey Bob -- when you make laminated sides where do you get the cedar to make the inside of the laminate with ?? I've looked in a few suplier cats. and havent seen it anywhere.. HELP??
peace...

Hey Bob Boy am I having a time with bending wood.
I tryed to do some mahog. and if I didnt scorch it beond recognation I brokr it from putting too much pressure in it.
I read the chapter on bending wood in the book Classical guitar making, but it didnt say anything about weting the aterial -- maby thats my problem -- any way -- HELP????

I think I'm ether being a bunch too impatient or something here Bob,,,,
I might have the bending iron way too hot, because as soon as I feel the wood give, its scorched....
What are you using for a bending iron??
Need more Imput ----

Hey Bob First let me welcome you to a new day --
What I would like to know is -- how long it takes you to bend up a side to a guitar - can you give that info to me in real time??
Thanx for all the info that you have passsed my way - I appreciate it very much.
Peace,
Donald

OK Bob - I guess I just need to be more patient with my material, I;m possably going way too fast and expecting too much. I'll slow down and try it- thanks for the imput :)

Hi Bob Yes I did finish the classical-- and the pic next to my name is it but here are some other shots too -- I must add if it weren't for the help that you gave me and the Patience you have with people then I don't think it would have come out as good as it did-- NEWS PIECE- My son in law in his own rite is quite the guitar player and he plays classical too and he wanted to have me give it to him and I said that he could buy it and he backed down (darn)
piece, Donald

Hey Bob ya got a thing there with a smack but my son in law is 6-4 and I'm only 5-8 so I would need to jump up in da air to smack him--- all kiddin aside the kids treat me and mama pretty decent and we all live in the same house but not in the same space. (2 family)
Meanwhile the box has a tru oil finish on it but I first put a real thin coat of shellac on it first... The sound of the thing is like the bells of ST.Marys
and Im sure it will even get better over time.
Im trying to get my son in law to make a recording and if he gets arround to it then I will send it along ok??
Peace,
Donald

Hey Bob - here's hoping that you can help me once again with all of your wisdom. I'm wondering if there is a special tap to make threads for the insert tat is used for a bolt on neck.. HELP?????
Peace,
Donald

That's what I thought Bob, however, I measured the out side body size of the insert and then used the proper size drill, and then tryed to thread the thing into a piece of scrap mahogany and I split it. :-((
I'm going to post a method in the general area on how I did my own method and see if you agree... just another way to "skin a cat" so to speak. Need to take some pics to go along with the script tho so stay alert and in a few days I will have it all put together ok???
Peace,
Donald

Hey Bob -- I finally got my self an electric bending iron and I tried a piece of maple on it first and I bent the thing without scorching it ( YEAH )
Then I tried it on a good piece of Mahogany and I also bent that without scorching it. Im in the process of making a mando that will be tuned one active
lower than a std. mando.
I'm making the body the size of a classical with a 24.625 inch scale.
it aut to be something to see how it comes out, and I'm thinking of putting it in a blog.
the sides and back will be mahogany, and the top will be spruce, neck will also be mahogany with a 1-11/16 nut.
Peace,
Donald

Thanx for the reply Bob - good to have a bud like you that has some common ground with ;-)
I'm taking and modifying the classical mold that I made in order to make the new project, however I will still be able to make a classical with the same mold...
Yes I will make a new blog and provide pics too ;-)
Peace,
Donald

Bob I have a problem I costomer brought it a 2007 Fender flat top this morning he has droped a flashlight on the top bout and put a ding in it about 1\2'' around it also put a ding in the side . I have the bruse repaird from inside but I have not done any repairing on Polyurethane finish. Is that the same Polyurethane you buy in the Hardware store or not? I looked back a few threds and saw were you said that I could be repaire with CA.If so how would you do that just keep building if up until you had it level then sand it down? The man said that the finsh was Polyurethane for sure .I hope you can help me on this one Bill."""""""

Hey Bob - well I started a second blog about the mandolin that I am in the process of making.. comments are more than welcome.
Peace,
Donald

Hey Bob -- got any Idea where I can get spruce for tops that is maybe 30 plus inches long??
Peace,
Doanld

hi Mr Bob-- well I finally got that bass mando finished-- posted a pic on the blog on my page
hope ya like it -- Peace, Donald