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I came across this video recently on the Peghead Nation website. Wow, I just love the look and sound of this instrument!

2007 Heiden Heritage F-5

As an aspiring builder (just how much longer can I claim to be an "aspiring" builder?), I know that I'm my own worst critic when it comes to fit and finish issues with my own instruments. This is a...

Nigel, I was born in Rothbury, but lived in Morpeth until I was eight years old, after which we joined the ranks of the £10 Poms!

A large part of my enjoyment of Nigel's videos is in hearing his broad Geordie accent. It reminds me that I may have grown up sounding just like him had my parents not decided to leave Northumberland...

Nigel, as a guitar builder, I'm used to installing four back braces. Can you please explain why your "gouzouki" has five?

Watching with interest!

Thanks, Nick!



Given that I live in a tiny village with a population of around 300, that's funny! I'll definitely be in touch. :)

Thanks for that observation, Bertram. I'm thinking I either have the neck join the body at the 17th fret, as others do, or I elongate and perhaps widen the body shape somewhat next time around....

Thanks Eric!


If I didn't believe that, I'd hang up my chisels! I definitely have plans to build more of these, and I'm already hatching plans to improve the next instrument.

I thought it worth posting a few shots of my first Irish bouzouki, which I strung up a couple of weeks ago.

With no prior experience building bouzoukis, I researched the web sites of the usual...

This is my first Irish bouzouki, which I strung up yesterday. Some minor adjustments and I'm calling it done. :grin:

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Thanks for the generous comments John.

It's funny that you're comfortable with the dovetail joint you learned in college while I'm sticking with what I considered was achievable back when my...

Thank you Earl - much appreciated.

With the benefit of my past guitar-building experience, and Graham MacDonald's excellent publication "The Bouzouki Book", I'm using a bolt on neck.

My first Irish bouzouki assumed its ultimate shape this week. Final sanding and pore filling are the next tasks.

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I'm afraid I don't, but I really like the look of Stan Miller's solution:
http://millermandolins.com/Construction/Con2.htm

Apologies if you've already seen it! :redface:

As the developer of Luthier's Workbench I'm unable to give it a direct plug on the various forums, but since the issue of a Mac version has been raised, I hope the forum moderators will forgive me as...

I've contemplated such things over the years but, like you, have stumbled when it's come to devising a way to secure the looped end strings. I'd love to hear some ideas from others here.

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't try to disguise it, thereby branding it as a self-confessed mistake. Make a feature of it instead - you'll be praised for your creative genius rather than ridiculed...

Contact lenses!

Stewart-MacDonald have an online fret position calculator here:
http://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator

I wish I was able to find the link which discusses some tests done on penetration of Tru-Oil into softwood tops. I can't locate it, but the gist was that there's very little penetration if it's...

I imagine you'd have trouble finding anything cheaper or more effective than the jig described here:
http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?t=2763

I worked with western red cedar for some time with no sign of allergies, however, it seems my body was slowly filling with sawdust from the toes up, because I quite suddenly began to react to it to...

Thanks everyone - some great tips to file away for next time.

There are so many other aspects of mando #1 which are less than perfect, so a little stain in the joints isn't the disaster it would...

Ralph, do you use the filler at the same time you're gluing the bindings, or afterwards? I'm assuming the former as the gaps weren't really visible after gluing and would be difficult to fill. I...

I'm working on my first F5, and have recently taken the plunge and applied the stain; I applied it by hand, with the assistance of a cheap air-brush to even out the "burst". Although I thought my...