Official Luthiers Forum!

I see that Rick Turner is the newest member. Don't let his forum newbie status fool you. This guy knows his guitars.

Al

Yeah, we have several members like that... real industry heavy weights.    

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Yeah, I'm here.   Nice stuff going on.

Welcome aboard Rick, hope you'll enjoy being with this great bunch!

Serge

Welcome aboard, Rick. I enjoyed your talk at the last GAL meeting, and I hope I'll see you at the next one this summer!

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

Rick,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for freely sharing your
work and knowledge on internet forums over the years. I am sure there are
many beginners like me, and experienced guitarmakers as well, that have
learned a tremendous amount from studying your postings.

Brook Moore

Rick Turner!   

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Hi Rick! Welcome to the OLF!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

He's a Hack, couldn't build a good guitar to save his life!

Lance

But like a fool, I just keep trying!

I calculate that I'm at about 3,500 guitars, basses, ukes, and mandos that I've directly participated in as a hands-on type loofier.   That's building, and much of it with help, but still that's a lot of dust from my fingertips.   Probably about the same number of instruments for repairs and restorations, maybe a few less. I think I'm just hitting my stride now, and I'm probably good for another 20 years or more. I might figure it out by the time I hit 85 or so.

[QUOTE=Rick Turner Gui]I calculate that I'm at about 3,500 guitars, basses, ukes, and mandos...[/QUOTE]
Can't make up your mind, eh?    Welcome, Rick!

Welcome Rick,We can always use another expert loofier around here!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Welcome to the OLF Rick. Hope to hear from you a lot.

[QUOTE=McCollum]He's a Hack, couldn't build a good guitar to save his life! Lance [/QUOTE]

Maybe someday I can be a hack loofier! You guys!   

Okay Rick, I have a Bass Guitar Question? I'm building a second neck for a Wal Bass as I speak. Can you tell me the radius of the fretboard on a Wal or an Alembic five string fretted bass? Thanks

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I can tell you the radius I put on my Renaissances and Electrolines...17".   I haven't made an Alembic five string neck in about 30 years...so forgive my memory lapse.

Just remember the George Jones line: "If whiskey don't kill me, her mammaries will."   At least that's how I heard it...

That should get me close, thanks Rick. I'm flying by the seat of my pants on this one.

How about carbon-fiber rods? I was thinking about two rods on either side of the truss rod. I know Taylor uses steel reinforcement in their guitar necks, but it doesn't run the entire neck if I remember right.

Also, What kind of truss rod would you recommend? It's hard to determine all this without destroying the Wal neck to look. The point of this project was to build a fretted neck and toss the fretless into the closet to preserve resale value of the Wal should it ever be sold. Kind of like having various barrels for a shotgun. Thanks.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

He's a little shy. We will have to prod him a little before he tells us what he really thinks.

Al

Yeah, you should see the dust-up I'm in over at the AG Luthier's Corner!   I'm sorry, but the idea of a first timer shaving a classical bridge down with a spoke shave is just scary...

Anyhoo, I use two 1/8" x 3/8" CF bars in my bass necks in addition to the LMI-style double action double rod...the one with the thinner top flat bar on it. All I can say is that this has worked for hundreds and hundreds of basses.   Also, for tweaking the truss rod, I always advise clamping the neck into an exaggeration fo what you're going for and then tightening the rod so the threads don't have to do all the work.   I've had a few rods break right where the nut is welded to the threads, and that's no fun to deal with. Clamp the neck and then set the relief with the rod.

I think I hear what you are saying here Rick.

After completion of the neck, bend the neck into position using clamping action externally? Is that right?

Then tighten the truss rod to hold that pose? Is that right? Great idea, wish I'd thought of it. I love hanging out with real loofiers.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I do this during setups after strings are on and I see what's what with the neck. Yes, external clamping action.   I'll do this particularly on any neck with graphite in them, be they bass or guitar necks and also on any neck where I feel too much resistance when turning the truss rod nut. There's nothing quite like that little "snap" accompanied by a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize that the truss rod is now scrap metal...inside the neck.

Sorry Rick I just couldn't help but tweak you just a little bit. I've always had the utmost respect for you, your experience and willingness to share. I wish that I had met you during the 30 years that I lived right over the hill in Union City,Ca.

Best regards    Al

I snapped a double action rod in a guitar I was building-could never bring myself to use that type again.

[QUOTE=Brad Goodman] I snapped a double action rod in a guitar I was building-could never bring myself to use that type again.[/QUOTE] Brad, was that one of the plated ones made in China under the supervision of a luthier? Where they tell you to bring it to full tension before you install it in a guitar because they often suffer from infant mortality?

The ones from Stew-Mac seem to be made in a way that they are not going to break in the next decade or so absent a very sweaty guitarist.

The ones that broke in my instruments were mostly first generation Chinese ones from Allied Lutherie; I had four or five of them go. I had one LMI one break and one Carlson...aka the Stew Mac style.   Nothing has broken in a while, thank the gods of lutherie.   It's not fun and it's not cheap, but when these rods work correctly I think they're the best at finding the place that needs the help.   Just clamp before tightening...

Eric -- I recently snapped the truss rod nut of just the truss I believe you speak of -- the neck was ready to carve -- headstock/fretboard - bound, inlayed and engraved with an animal theme and laminated to the neck blank. I ordered about a dozen more and sure enough one of them snapped right out of the box when I tested it. Anyone one else had their share of problems with these truss rods?