Official Luthiers Forum!

After taking a year or so off from building, I am finally enjoying spending time in the shop again. As some of you are aware, my wife Karen was diagnosed with breast cancer in October of 2023? She is cancer free and doing great and is still in possession of both of the twins (Yay!).

I’ve taken on another student which slows things down a bit but we finally glued on the rims for a 27” baritone. It’s a sonically tested Lutz top from PRT over Bocote. The guitar is slated for the 2025 La Conner Guitar Festival.

Cheers, M

Glad you're back to building, but even gladder that your wife is doing OK. My mother in law died of breast cancer in her 50's, and I have numerous friends who have had it and survived. Medical practices have definitely improved in recent years as have potential outcomes. Hope she continues to do great! And I hope that you and your building continues to do great too. But mainly, health of friends and family takes precedence over everything else.

Dave

Thanks Dave,

Yeah, I guess you could say she had the good kind of breast cancer, only requiring a lumpectomy and a short shot of radiation (no chemo).

I do love building and teaching - here’s to Bini (Karen) staying healthy!

M

I'm finally getting around to leveling this final pore filler coat which has been sitting for a week while I got knocked down by covid. Argh.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Wonderful news regarding your spouse, Michael! As a bonus, it will be great to see what you come up with in your shop. It’s always something interesting and well executed.

And Jay, I’m a sucker for maple binding on a dark set of back/sides. Yum!

Michael good news about Karen.

J I hope you feel better.

I was discharged at 4:00 PM today from U of M hospital I had hernia surgery and they found nine of them. They called it Swiss cheese hernia... Recovery was rough and they kick you out pretty early now but hospitals were never good places to hang around at. I have to wear a big belt (binder) for a month and am struggling with pain some but very glad to have this finally done. Took me ten years to have this surgery and I was down to only 5lbs that I could lift without issues.

My Doc who is Israeli and I were kidding because some of what I do to fix guitar cracks has the same idea behind it as what she does to fix me. She even used glue now (and stitches). She's a professor and teaches surgery so I was a class project which I have mixed feeling about but what are ya going to do. I set a goal for myself to be the best patient possible or die trying. It all went very, very well and I could not be more pleased with my care.

Should be back at work Monday fixing guitars, gingerly.... I now have a 10 lb limit and in time she said I can do 25 lbs which is life changing/improving for me.

Michael, I'm so glad to hear about Karen, it must be such a relief to you both.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Working on an L-0 shape for myself in flame Myrtle/Torrefied Bearclaw Swiss Spruce

I have a Lady Student coming to build a J-45 in EIR/German Spuce.

Planning an upcoming build for a Madrose J-185/Quilted Sitka or German Spruce.

Going to try some finish testing with Rubio Monocoat.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

It's been fairly quiet on this post, but I see Michaels wife and Hesh being healed. Michael and Colin, doing cool builds and taking on students. Jay also recovering, and making another of his mandocellos.

And people who really do care for them here.

Cool.

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Why be normal?

Colin I notice that you do not carry the fretboard extension support right through to the UTB, unless it is a trick of the photograph. What is the thinking behind that if I may ask?

Cheers Dave

After gluing the top on, I shape and glue a tapered wedge tapped in between the UTB and the FB extension to ensure a firm fit.
Pic after fitting the wedge.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I do it a little different. I make the UTB part of the rim assembly rather than glueing the UTB to the top like most folks do.

Just makes more sense to me, M

Different strokes....

Sent from my moto g(50) using Tapatalk

And my my final check on fret plane clearance at the saddle position before gluing

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Did you disarm a porcupine?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

It's OK, he's regained consciousness and should get out of A & E in a few hours.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Hesh, missed your post eariier, swiss cheese eh - not good.
Take it easy partner, you're a national treasure.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

A buddy of mine brought me his late father's old tenor guitar. No marks or numbers. 21 1/4" scale and 1 1/16" nut width. He said he remembers his Dad playing it a lot for as long as he can remember up until about 30 years ago when the neck broke loose somehow. He doesn't know how. Anyway, side crack, fretboard extension broken off with a piece of the top still attached, cracked brace under the fb extension. frets are pretty worn but I'll try to salvage them. It's definitely had a lot of playing time judging by the fretboard divots and the top wear. Neck is nice and straight but will need to be reset. Also will make a new bridge. Will clean up with naphtha and maybe a light French polish. Hopefully get it playing again for him.

Darryl - that project is too cool for school.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I agree Chris. Kinda looking forward to it. I've never played a tenor like this. Closest is a baritone uke. Side crack closes easily with light pressure. Will have to make a new nut as well as the grooves are worn down too low.

Darrel That does look like a fun project. Looking forward to progress updates.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

double post

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Cedar build is coming along, have the topped and back braced, braces inlet into the sides.
Working on a rosetta made out of.....cedar.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Production got a little behind schedule at the North Pole, but this finally saw the light of day this week. My son and his family in their camper/toy hauler.


How I made the Mercedes log inlay plug:

Really good news about your wife, Michael!