All Blog Posts (140)

I bought a cheap Japanese Yamaha-copy 12-string guitar at a second hand store for $50. It had an over-bellied top, a bushing missing from one of the tuners, old strings and a misaligned nut. I hung it in the garage for months, planning to torture it as a repair experiment.



Then, as I researched repair methods for over-bellied tops, I discovered the JLD Bridge Doctor, a simple, mostly wood device easily installed inside the guitar that flattens the top and also acts as a soundpost,…

I have an old Harmony that needs some work, but obviously is not worth putting any money into. I has a surprisingly good sound. I was considering the idea of practicing any future luthier skills I might have on it myself. However I have come to the conclusion that this is definitely not for me, at least not at this time in my life. Maybe someday in the future. I hate to just throw things away, especially since it does sound good. So I was hoping someone here on this forum might like to use…

I'm happy to announce that we've just completed a new Big Guitar Wall for the well-known and renowned archtop builder, Peter Hopkins. Here's a peek a the new Hopkins Guitar Wall located at http://hopkinsguitars.theguitarwall.com.

We've also just added the Great Wall of Walls where you can see over…

I have been doing guitar repair and an increasing amount of acoustic guitar building for the last twenty years. It has always been fun and exciting, never becoming "just a job" for me. Recently it hit me like a freight train: the nature of guitar repair is a losing proposition; the best repairs are invisible, therefore the only advertising that can possibly result would happen by a unique constellation of 1. a person who needs repair 2. must ask 3. a satisfied client who will produce a…

Maybe helpfull... Morris model "205" dated 05-73, made in Japan

The back is off. The neck-block appears to be just glued to the soundboard an sides...

Neck and neck-block are connected by 5 dowels (??? excuse my english).…

Needed a place on the web to ,temporary, store these pics...

This is Mod E-3, nr: 0102124 by Guitarras Quiles.

Minor issue: the finisch in the corner where the neck meets the body (trebble side) has gone from transparent to "milky white": the finisch seems to be loose from the wood on that spot... (bad picture, I know)…

I have been working on this guitar for the last few days. The problem is that the fingerboard has shrunk causing the fret ends to stick out. I have no problem dressing them. The problem is the finish. At every fret the laquer has popped off, leaving a small crater. My question is.. Should I touch the finish up before I dress the fret ends or after. My thoughts are that I will touch them up before, and level the finish while dressing the ends. Any advice would help.

Thanks

Hello

I'm a first time poster to this forum, but have read it and Frank's blog for awhile now.

I have a question that seems like it could be addressed by you fine folks. I have a 1966 Martin D-18 that has had alot of work done to it. That I know of: the neck has been reset at least once, the bridge has been moved (if not replaced), the saddle has been shaved, and the frets have been dressed. When I got it the A string was extremely flat past the third fret. I changed to 3…

Spruce (Engelmann, Sitka?) top, Brazilian rosewood back & sides; ebony bridge & fretboard,

mahogany neck, heel is capped with laminates of redgum eucalyptus and rosewood, peghead veneered with rosewood; bindings of ebony & rosewood; rosette, position markers, peghead inlay, end and back trim are of 'found' abalone. Saddle and nut are bone. Scale = 24-13/16". Fret board is bound on each side with ebony.

Body is 14.5"…

I'm new, 1st time post....how many times has that phrase started sumpthin...

I have a Peavey Acoustic SD-9P, that needs the bridge replaced, I think. It is attached with Titebond, where do I start?

I've been restoring this instrument I made some 34 years ago. It started out with 4 strings and tapered violin pegs, but about 4 years ago I really wanted a bouzouki, and since I couldn't afford one, I decided to convert this (I used to call it a) dulcilyn....kind of a combo between a dulcimer and a mandolin. I…