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Post by dnic on Mar 10, 2021 19:23:28 GMT -6
Strange as it may appear to the afflicted and addicted, occasionally something trumps guitars in the queue for attention. Happy belated birthday to Eddie's beloved. e&oe ...WHAT? STEVE! you have interests other than guitars? This is serious, we may need to have a Zoom intervention.
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Post by dnic on Mar 10, 2021 19:26:30 GMT -6
Eddie, looking forward to hearing this all strung up.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2021 17:41:49 GMT -6
Did a little bit today;
I found these little magnets yesterday at Home Depot. They are super strong. I drill out for them and used CA glue to hold them in. This is for the back lid.
This is on the lid.
here it is al wired up. If you look to left you can see an aluminum bar that I drilled 5 holes in for the strings. I use some of that T-Rex two sided tape to help hold in place.
Started on the nut work. Got the slots cut in for the strings.
here it is all strung up. I tuned it to pitch. Going to let it sit over night. I did see I forgot to make the truss rod adjustment hole bigger. So I'll have to do that so I can adjust the truss rod.
I like to string up the guitars and let them sit for while before I do anything else to them. It's something I like to do. I will finish the nut off, and it looks like I'll have to level the frets. So I have that to do as well. Even though the fret rocker says they are flat the strings are telling me another story. LOL!
The guitar sound good even unplugged. I was surprised at how well it sounds off.
Once I get this up and going I will make a video of it.
A word on that T-Rex two sided tape... It is super strong and it sticks to almost anything. After using it, I found out you need to take it off as soon as your done using it. Don't let it sit for a day or two. It's almost impossible to get off. But the nice thing about it I have not had come off during routing.
EB
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Post by dnic on Mar 11, 2021 19:12:39 GMT -6
Looks good Eddie! I string up new guitars and stretch the strings and then beat on them. Meaning play them hard. But I do the fret leveling and preset the truss rod before I string up. I don't like taking the strings on and off. "Then why did you get into guitar repair?' Good question.
Looking forward to the Keith Richards licks.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2021 11:25:05 GMT -6
Looks good Eddie! I string up new guitars and stretch the strings and then beat on them. Meaning play them hard. But I do the fret leveling and preset the truss rod before I string up. I don't like taking the strings on and off. "Then why did you get into guitar repair?' Good question. Looking forward to the Keith Richards licks. Most of the time I level the frets and adjust the truss rod before I put the string on. But when I did the fret rocker thing, and they all seemed level I thought maybe I would be OK. Not!!! I wont take the string off. I'll move them out of the way.
Had a bad night last night, so I am getting a late start on anything today. I don't know if I feel like working on this today. I'll have to see how the day unfolds for me. My right eye is getting worse as well. So, that is frustrating as heck.
I'll see what I can do in the next few days. LOL! Pun intended! HA!
EB
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Post by antares on Mar 12, 2021 16:38:48 GMT -6
Well I hope it's only a temporary set back Eddie, and that your eye surgery goes off without a hitch too.
I think that the much hyped (and many claim as overrated?) Plek machine holds the neck to simulate its profile as if it was under string tension? I've always assumed that you would adjust the truss rod when the strings are off to simulate that state too, which is maybe why you said you'd leave them on and move them to one side?
When I was maybe 17 years old, I purchased a Columbus S-type. It was horrific! I bought an oil stone, soaked it in oil and made free with it on the frets. It ended up like a fretless wonder and was really slick to play. Beginner's luck I reckon and I've never had the confidence to do anything remotely like that again!
e&oe ...
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Post by dnic on Mar 13, 2021 9:43:15 GMT -6
I also wish you all the best with the eye surgery Eddie.
I'm not a peek machine fan. In a production situation plecking is probably better than a hurried technician on Friday. But the set up on the plea machine is very important seems that if you can train someone to set up the machine they could be trained to do the job without it as well. That's over simplified but the main idea. I have re-leveled peeked guitars let's leave it at that. The neck jig that I made is a copy of the Stew Mac jig. And it allows for string simulation. Once again proper set up is vital to a great outcome. I rarely use it any longer, mostly for compression fret jobs with no adjustable truss rod.
Oh the fearlessness of youth! You know you could do this stuff. You're a very mechanical guy.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 13, 2021 16:24:07 GMT -6
I hear ya Dane on them machines. I too have had to re level frets that was suppose to be done on one. My argument is that guitars are wood and metal. The wood is always going to move. So what was done at the factory and by the time the guitar gets to you, things have changed. I have noticed that now that I don't play out anymore, my guitars stay pretty much the same. Only once in great while do I play one of my guitars and have to stop and make a truss rod adjustment.
Well, Back to this build; I decided to call it "Kitchen Cutter" HA!
I got got about 98% done. All the fret work is done. I am going to make some kitchen Items to hang off of the hole where the tuner goes. I still need to put on strap buttons.
But it is up and playing. Going to try and do a video before I have my eye surgery. That is on the 17th. So the week coming up. My problem is I have a lot of stuff to do before I have my eye worked on. I'll see the week goes.
So here is the "Kitchen Cutter"
The ebony nut worked out great! The truss rod cover is one I had taken off another build a long time ago. So, I reshaped to fit this build. I think it goes good with the cutting board top.
What I ended up doing on the frets was, from fret 11 on up I did what some call a drop off or step down. In other words I lowered those frets. I was getting a lot of fret buzz on them frets. This is what I use to do when I was building guitars before.
While on the subject of frets. When I made this neck I ordered SS Frets. I don't think I got SS frets. The package says they are but I have my doubts. These frets filed and recrowned super fast. I was expecting them to take some time. But, I had leveled and recrowned and polished them out in less than 30min. When I did that neck for my friend I had a heck of time doing them. Now, I had ordered the same SS frets for my other build. Now I am wondering about them. Hum...
So anyway, I am trying to build up my supply's. Last month I ordered a pound of medium taller frets. Next month going to order Medium/medium frets. I get them from Stew Mac. My Idea is to use the taller ones from fret one to 10 or 11. Then use the MM ones from 11 on up. I thought I would try that to see if it will work out better. If not, I'll have a good supply of frets. LOL!
We hit 77 degrees here today. Again a supper nice day out in my little shop. It's supposed to rain all of next week. OK Kids... Until next time! And remember If you don't have a Kustom! You aint got nothing! EB
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Post by antares on Mar 13, 2021 19:26:32 GMT -6
She's a beauty Eddie. Nice one.
The usual stainless-steel quick and dirty test is with a magnet, but in my time I've worked with high carbon stainless-steel and it is magnetic. We used to use a surface conductivity meter to check metals and compare to an expected reading chart. We had to because sub-contractors could be dishonest and on a "Form 1" (or air worthiness certificate) it is a criminal offence to make false claims. On the basis of my two guitars with stainless-steel frets, I'm a convert. I hope you get that slippery and glossy feel with your frets too Eddie. I'm not sure whether there's any difference in sound though.
e&oe ...
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Post by dnic on Mar 13, 2021 22:28:57 GMT -6
Looking forward to that video Eddie.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2021 12:47:00 GMT -6
Looking forward to that video Eddie. I made a video. Waiting for it to load up on the iCloud. So when that happens I'll be posting it on You Tube. I'll see how it goes.
EB
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2021 14:59:58 GMT -6
My video is uploading right now. Taking for ever! So as soon as it is done, I'll post it on here. EB
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