Category Archives: Q & A

All, Guitar Making, Jigs, Q & A, Uncategorized

Q&A | Sizing Fretwire, Neck Profiling Jigs, Electric Guitar Tonewood Myths and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions!

Questions/Topics:

– Do headstock templates include space for the nut?

– A jig for profiling necks with a router

– An audio example of a student’s guitar

– Choosing fretwire with the right tang size for your fret slots

– Leg tapering jigs for the bandsaw

– A case for titebond over hot hide glue

– Bevelling fret slots

– Why Strats and Les Pauls sound different

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for a 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Guitar Repair, Jigs, Q & A, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | Purfling Depth, Instrument Glue Recommendations, Mold Making and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR Questions!

Questions/Topics:

– hide glue vs. titebond

– fish glue

– how deep should purfling be inlaid?

– inlaying turqoise

– The “Best” Guitar show

– Using waxed wood strips like Teflon strips

– Top thickness

– french polishing and tru oil

– fastening latches to molds

– the neutral zone for a dual action truss rod

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for a 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Guitar Making, Jigs, Q & A, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | Resonating vs Reflecting Backs, Top Thickness, Scrapwood uses, and more!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions!

Questions/Topics:

– What do you do with your scrap wood?

– Buying pre-bent sides

– Best heating blanket for side bending – radial rosettes – thicknessing backs as a resonator or a reflector – Thicknessing tops

– Plate gluing jig

– laminated sides

– inlaying Opal for fret marker dots

– What is the purpose of a shooting board

– modifying an existing guitar to increase the bass response

– inlaying mother of pearl without teflon strips

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Guitar Making, Q & A, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | Chisel Sharpening, Mesquite for Fretboards, Happy Accidents and more!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions!

Questions/Topics:

– Chisel Sharpening

– source for dyed purfling strips

– bridge wood

– amp repair

– mesquite for fretboards?

– happy accidents

– what to do with “mistakes”

– the role of patience and focus in nut slotting technique

– bird’s eyes on silver maple – why does sugar maple burn so easily?

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Jigs, Q & A, Tools, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | Scarf Joint Jig, Choosing Top Wood for a Parlor, Using Slotted or Unslotted Bridge Pins…

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions!

Questions/Topics:

– Can backs be flatsawn?

– a miter box design for cutting scarf joints

– Best wood bindings to replace white plastic bindings

– Best topwood for a parlor size instrument

– using slotted or unslotted bridge pins

– building a light box/ light box alternatives

– the 14th fret hump

– sourcing backstrip material

– fixing soundboard tearout along the binding edge

– lint free cloth in the Netherlands

– flatsawn maple

– The ‘Best Guitar Show’ in Altoona, Pennsylvania, February 25th

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Design, Finishing, Guitar Making, Jigs, Q & A, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | Radial Rosettes, Soundhole Binding, Pinless Bridges, and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Questions/Topics:

– Tasmanian Blackwood

– Radial rosettes

– Binding the inside of the soundhole

– Making radius dishes

– Paste wax for preventing glue from sticking to jigs

– Pinless bridges – Box elder for guitars?

– What is your sharpening process for chisels and planes?

– Inexpensive Wenge

– Avoiding lint and dust in finish

– more on shattered saddles

– Stewmac’s customer service

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Q & A, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | Saddle Height, Lint in Finish, Why is My Saddle so long?, and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions!

Questions/Topics:

– Soundhole Binding

– Bone nut/saddle porosity

– Saddle height

– vacuum bags for laminating sides

– solid linings

– fixing misplaced fretboard dots

– carbon fiber humbucker covers

– sanding the contour of the bridge wings

– how to deal with lint and dust in the finish

– flat sawn lumber for sides

– maple as a back and side wood

– shooting boards

– spline joints

– difference between rosewood and walnut

– Why my saddles extend out toward the bass side

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Guitar Making, Q & A, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | Shrinkage Cracks in the Top, Purfling Materials, Nut Slotting and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions!

Questions/Topics:

– Soundboard cracks and humidity

– Eastern White Cedar for Tops

– Purfling materials for a headplate

– How deep to cut your nut slots

– The role of patience and perseverance in lutherie

– more suggestions on what I should build next!

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Q & A, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | My next build, how to store wood, planers vs. jointers, and more!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions! Topics/Questions:

– Slide Guitar Nut Compensation

– Buy a planer or a jointer first?

– Stewmac side bending machines

– What should me next build be?

– Best way to store wood

– bridge plates – Quilted Mahogany

– Soundboard radius in the upper bout

– More about “The Tree”

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/

All, Q & A, Uncategorized, Videos

Q&A | “The Tree” Mahogany, Bending Solid Linings, Fretboard Radii for Acoustics and More!

In this episode of DIY Guitar Making, I answer YOUR questions!

Topics/Questions:

– Flattening the top radius in the upper bout to glue the fretboard tongue

– Bending solid linings or laminating solid linings

– What is the lowest fretboard radius used for acoustic guitars?

– Bosch Colt trim routers

– The story of “The Tree” mahogany

– Measuring top deflection

– Countersinking tuners

– Stainless steel frets

– Aluminum bridge plates

🔴 All episodes available at diyguitarmaking.com

🔴 Register for an 9 day Hands-On Guitar Building Workshop in Bernville, Pennsylvania: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/learn-to-build-your-own-guitar/

🔴 Check out the online course “Building an OM Acoustic”: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/course/building-an-om-acoustic/

🔴 To commission an instrument from Eric: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/instruments-ordering/ 🔴 Check out the Radial Rosette Maker Jig: https://lxm.a73.myftpupload.com/the-radial-rosette-maker-kit/