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  1. Replies
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    Re: First build with James Condino

    The discussion James and I had about selecting the bars was mostly around the relationship of pitches between the two bars selected. Of course, if one of the bars sounded dead (as several did), they...
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    Re: First build with James Condino

    James and I strung up my top in the test rig yesterday. I'll work on getting some videos of that as I finalize the voicing and cut the ff holes. Here is a video to show the tonal difference up...
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    Re: Installing frets on a new build

    in the other thread is the movie from the gibson factory, movie has a short segment where they install the frets. chop, chop, chop style, impressive, very industrial.
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    Re: Instaalling frets on a new build

    I fret after gluing board to neck. I like to have surface prepared to perfect straight before I install frets and I don't force frets but rather remove a bit of the fret nibs with flat file so the...
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    Re: Instaalling frets on a new build

    I build mostly flat top instruments. I glue the fingerboard to the neck, finish carving it, then tap the frets in with a hammer as I was taught at C F Martin.
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    Re: Instaalling frets on a new build

    I like to press in frets using a fret arbor press and caul. I get a more level and cleaner installation this way. Typically, I don't have to do much fret leveling with a good fret press job. When you...
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    Re: First build with James Condino

    Here’s a quick video of my top on James’ test rig. Sound holes rough cut and braces shaped!

    https://youtu.be/QI7IRJEizK0?feature=shared
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    Re: Instaalling frets on a new build

    I am a newish builder, but I do the frets first before gluing it on.....particularly because I dont want to press or hammer frets and risk the instrument taking the stress, especially if you have an...
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    Re: Instaalling frets on a new build

    Afterwards for me, though I don't have "floating" fretboard extensions to worry about. I feel it's easier to get a good level fretboard that way - so less fret levelling afterwards. The thing is...
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    Re: Instaalling frets on a new build

    With guitar builds I fret after gluing the board to the neck and setting the neck in the body, with mandolins I fret the 'board before gluing to the neck/extender.
    I can't really give you a reason...
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    Re: Is this good for braces?

    The grading stamp has 'SPF' (spruce-pine-fir), which groups western species of similar strength. The spruce is Engelmann, the pine is lodgepole or other similar western pines, and the fir is white...
  12. Re: Best power carving tool for arching and graduating tops and b

    To follow Adrian’s comments about non-ergonomic use of hand tools, certainly in the West, I’d like to mention that before power tools were widespread, hand tools evolved to maximize human strength....
  13. Re: Best power carving tool for arching and graduating tops and b

    I was a kutzall fan but the dust they creat will go right to you lungs leaves an abraded surface where the Arbortech producers create chips. And they also make their power carving tool that is a...
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    Re: First build with James Condino

    Today was a lot of fun. We opened up the soundholes while Luke's new red spruce top was on the test rig with him playing it live. I also did the same on an almost finished mandolin (2nd one this...
  15. Thread: A new F-5

    by j. condino
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    Re: A new F-5

    Beautiful Graham.

    I wish more people understood and accepted the zero fret!
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    Re: A new F-5

    It is a satin rattle can lacquer from Germany, made by Wurth, who have branches out here. One can does a mandolin quite nicely. The top coat over the sunburst is three double coats, cut back very...
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    Re: Caliper precision vs. what's on the box

    Yes you are missing something. The amount of diameter reduction is minuscule. It would be the fifth decimal place inches for a 0.010 E string at 25 lbs tension. It is not measurable with a normal...
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    Re: Caliper precision vs. what's on the box

    I have an extremely fussy (former) customer who is very specific about his setup requests.

    I'm generally a very methodical technician who has a good education in mathematics and science....
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    A new F-5

    Not quite a traditional F-5 but in the sprit of. European spruce and maple, ebony fretboard, Gotoh tuners and an Allen tailpiece. A K&K twin pickup installed with the socket mounted on an extra...
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    Re: Caliper precision vs. what's on the box

    Joe… I think the problem has more to do with your caliper than with the accuracy of the strings. A vernier caliper is not the ideal tool for precisely measuring musical-string diameter. We use two...
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    Re: Anyone Spraying Shellac?

    I used Dave's math to mix 2-lb cut shellac, saw what the amounts looked like and then began doing it "by eye", figuring that the exact ratios are more or less arbitrary and anywhere close is still...
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    Re: NMC: Double Bass crack repair?

    Double basses are half of my business. I build them, I restore them, I gig almost 100 nights a year on them.

    Dremeling away the rib garland for a simple crack is not...
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    Re: Anyone Spraying Shellac?

    I've been using airbrush for this and never had problems. I have larger nozzle on my airbrush for larger pattern and try to keep pressure low for less shellac bouncing off. I use approximately 15-20%...
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    Re: Carbon Fiber for neck reinforcement

    (i am only a long time OM player, not a builder, here is my 2 cents anyway). when selecting OM strings it is very easy to make a mistake and install too-heavy strings on the bass side and too-light...
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    Re: Carbon Fiber for neck reinforcement

    I used this approach on a mandocello neck not long ago. It was an arch top to mandocello conversion and the new neck was pretty slim but it was a laminated neck.I didn’t want to take any chances even...
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