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  #196  
Old 08-04-2021, 09:42 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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Default Fretting question

Hello, all. I've decided that I should probably do the frets first. As you see, I did a bound fretboard which means that I will need to nip the fret tang. I'm not about to buy Stew Mac's tool so I did some searching on YouTube and came across this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IWnt8yY9NI

I went the Harbor Freight route and bout the nippers for about $18 but have yet to modify them by using a triangle file to make a groove for the side of the fret to fit it. I did however buy an attachment for my bench top drill press on Amazon with the appropriate radius which I hope will work in lieu of Stew Mac's also ridiculously expensive fret radius contraption.
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  #197  
Old 08-24-2021, 07:04 PM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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I modified the contact plate with a carbide grinder bit on my Dremel. It’s not ideal but with some fenangeling it get the job done. I have all the frets cut to length and the fangs nipped. Now on to pressing them in.

I can’t recall what glue (if any) to use though. CA? AR? None?
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  #198  
Old 08-26-2021, 07:10 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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I opted to use nothing and all the frets are in. I’ve filed the ends down flush with the binding and am moving on to leveling.

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Last edited by Neil K Walk; 08-26-2021 at 11:24 AM.
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  #199  
Old 08-26-2021, 01:33 PM
Treenewt Treenewt is online now
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Looking good Neil!!!!
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  #200  
Old 08-26-2021, 03:21 PM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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Originally Posted by Treenewt View Post
Looking good Neil!!!!
Thanks! I feel like I’m in the home stretch but now the little details have me feeling nervous.
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  #201  
Old 09-12-2021, 02:06 PM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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I have a question concerning the Stewmac Saddlematic. I understand the basic operation of it but the adjustment of the two pins denoting the setting of the saddle and compensation eludes me. The only thing I know for certain is that the pins are supposed to mark the front of the saddle slot.

This guitar has a 25.4” scale length so I’ve got other guitars with the same scale length to refer to. I took the strings off that guitar and am using it to set up thr Saddlematic. With the nut and saddle both installed I have definitive settings but am I setting myself up for failure later on though?
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  #202  
Old 09-13-2021, 11:43 PM
BEJ BEJ is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil K Walk View Post
I have a question concerning the Stewmac Saddlematic. I understand the basic operation of it but the adjustment of the two pins denoting the setting of the saddle and compensation eludes me. The only thing I know for certain is that the pins are supposed to mark the front of the saddle slot.

This guitar has a 25.4” scale length so I’ve got other guitars with the same scale length to refer to. I took the strings off that guitar and am using it to set up thr Saddlematic. With the nut and saddle both installed I have definitive settings but am I setting myself up for failure later on though?
Their site has down loadable directions on using it, it shows the adjustments for the saddle offset.
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  #203  
Old 09-14-2021, 11:30 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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Originally Posted by BEJ View Post
Their site has down loadable directions on using it, it shows the adjustments for the saddle offset.
Yes, it came with them printed out too. I just didn't understand if the high E string requires any compensation at all. In rereading it I see that the high E string has 1/16" of compensation beyond the length of the distance from the nut to the 12th fret.

Sorry, I'm just sweating the details at this point. Building the body is the fun part and the measurements don't have to be so precise. It's a bit daunting. It's nice having another guitar on hand that's properly intonated though. I'm even using a similar bridge and saddle. Now I just want to verify that my neck angle is correct and I can go about masking for the bridge and move on.
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  #204  
Old 10-19-2021, 03:37 PM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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Default Next build I will not be doing a purfling shelf on the back

Let me say this again: next build I will NOT be doing a purfling shelf on the back. LMI does sell the double length BWB strips for backs but I haven't mastered getting a properly squared binding channel so there's always a little play which leads to misalignment. This has been my solution:

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  #205  
Old 04-15-2022, 08:37 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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It's been awhile but the end is in sight:





This is just the first session on the top but the neck alignment is set and the bridge is plotted. I splurged on the Saddlematic from StewMAc and the Simple Centerline Finder with the Bridge Square Attachment from Luthiers Suppliers so I'm confident about the bridge placement. I drilled two positioning holes to temporarily mount the bridge so that I could mask off the area with painter's tape.
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  #206  
Old 04-15-2022, 12:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil K Walk View Post
It's been awhile but the end is in sight
Lookin mighty purdy!
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  #207  
Old 04-15-2022, 03:16 PM
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Craig Wilson Craig Wilson is offline
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I just went back and speed-perused your thread. Man, that's some journey you've been on. I'm really impressed with your persistence.
I learned early on that it's not a mistake until you can't (or won't) fix it. You obviously agree with that.

The results of your efforts are impressive. Looking forward to seeing the end result on NGD. Enjoy that first tune - you've sure earned it.
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  #208  
Old 04-22-2022, 08:07 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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Thanks, but I'm probably going to be disappointed in it; it's only my second and that notch in the top sticks out like a sore thumb - almost literally. It looks like some kind of appendage, at least. I'm on the third French polish session after the first wet sanding step and it's getting a nice sheen to it. It won't be perfect but at this point I just want to finish it and start with the next build before I forget what I had to relearn in order to do this one. FWIW my first build is actually superior in tone, but I had lots of help.

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  #209  
Old 10-04-2022, 08:30 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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Sorry for the broken links but Flickr "Photobucketed" me so I had to weed out my camera roll down to stuff that I'd consider getting printed. I may have to break down and just put everything in Google.

Anyway, since I last posted in April I went back and redid the binding again and I'm now in the process of pore filling so I'm in the home stretch.

BTW, #3 is in progress. I made my own drum sander and have been working on the soundboard. I've already had setbacks - of course.
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  #210  
Old 10-18-2022, 07:58 AM
Neil K Walk Neil K Walk is online now
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I've been making progress with the French polish on this one and hope to have it done in a week or two. The following are Google links since my hosting site has decided to be difficult.

Wash coat of shellac
https://photos.app.goo.gl/qFrVo8EHL5scgkha8

Second coat of shellac (prior to pore filling wit pumic powder_
https://photos.app.goo.gl/8RumnPjtfagtqXkX8

Starting on the sides (pore filling on the back is about 85%)
https://photos.app.goo.gl/WA5zFowY4ezxn9Tm9

EDITED TO ADD:

Please allow me to enjoy what little progress I've made with this. This comes after a trip out west to visit my elderly aunt in Carson City, Nevada who had a fall; followed by a trip to the local ER where my elderly mother suffered a nosebleed from the altitude and Eloquis' followed by a return home were I went on a too-long bicycle ride which my internals protested for a week; which prompted me to go to the ER; which resulted in a 2 week bout of COVID; where my elation at finally testing negative caused me to go for a celebrator bicycle ride where my front tire exploded; which ended me back into the ER with a concussion.

I cannot catch a break this year, but I'm making it my mission to finish this guitar - so that I can start another!
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Last edited by Neil K Walk; 10-18-2022 at 09:23 AM.
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