Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all,

I'm contemplating buying the classical guitar slot head fixture from Luthiertool.com, or the LMI version. I like the self-centering aspect of the Luthiertool version. Has anybody used either of these jigs and what are your opinions? I like the review Lance did on the LMI version. They both have some good and bad as far as the engineering standpoint. Do you have any opinions before I shell out a couple hundred bucks on one of these?

Thanks!

John

I dont have - but like the Luthier Tool unit because you can fix it to the headstock and do both sides with out haveing to unclame and flip to the other side.
I've been looking real hard at that unit too..

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

i was looking at both, but tracy has said that he is planning to produce a unit with the advantages of the luthier tool version at a lower price. may be worth waiting for.

I'm waiting for the Tracy jig also. TRACY...CAN YOU HEAR US!!!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Tracy, any update? I'd always prefer buying from somebody I know on the forum vs. a stranger if it's a good product. I'm getting close to slotting my next 3 necks and may be willing to wait if it's going to be sometime soon.

Cheers!

John

John,

I have the combination jig from Luthiertool. I think it is great! I have used it twice to practice, and both times it worked perfectly. I tried 3 times to slot and drill by hand, and ended up unhappy with the results and just tossed the necks. And, even though Mario might call me a sissy, I like this jig, and I can get the type of results I want. I will be using it when I start my "real" classical pretty soon, and I will feel confident in the results after my 2 practice headstocks.

I like the combination jig, since you can change from the round classical style, and the square steel string type slots, and also the tuner hole size. Also, if you end up trashing a slotting guide, you can get a new one to replace it. I know that this could happen, since I pulled the bit out before it had stopped spinning and put a nick in the guide. I could have really messed it up, and with a fixed template, I would have been in trouble.

Chris is the owner/designer at Luthier tool and he is very nice and helpful. I don't hesitate to recommend his tools.

Jeff

Yes, Yes, I hear you. But we haven't even started the design of this product. It will be much more complicated to design and put together, so it will probably take some time before it is available. I would love to get it out now, but I don't see that happening now. We have too many smaller and easier jigs that we need to get out there on my website so it actually looks like I am a company and not a 3 item shop. But I hear you all loud and clear, and will do my best to get this out as soon as we can. By the way, my jig will be similar to this jig, but will include several enhancements to it. Thanks for the interest!
Tracy

I have the combo jig also. Well made and thought out. If you decide to get one, go for the combo classica/steel string rather than the dedicated jig. Even if you never plan to build a steel string, ask for the parts for the classical only. This option is available for a reduced price. If you ever then decide to try a steel string slot head or sell the jig, it can be upgraded. Also available with the combo are custom slot templates built to your specs.

There is a 10% discount right now on the website until May 15th.

Chris, the owner of Luthiertool is a great guy. Very friendly and open to suggestions. I think Jeff Doty can back me up on this.

Maybe we need a comparison review from someone who's used the LMI jig. Lance?

Scott Thompson38478.7362847222

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Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg

Perhaps we need an OLF traveling jig. Imagine if 5 guys pitched in $xx and were assurred to get the use of it within 1 weeks notice. I might be willing to invest.

Another alternative...someone buy the jig and lease it out for $xx/week. I would be interested in that as well.

Still another alternative...after it's paid off, all lease proceeds go to the OLF fund for Lance's effort.

What would others think? What would the $xx's have to be for someone to take notice of such an offer?

I would only ever need to use such a jig 2-3 times per year. For other hobbyists with similar usage, it could make more sense to lease than to buy.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ,
I love this idea, and I might just be the person to make this happen. I could buy this jig for now and lease it out to people at say $20 a week with a $100 deposit. I could set up a calendar on my website that shows the reservation dates for this jig. Anyone wanting it could just look up the item on the calendar, and send me an email with the dates they would want to reserve it. I could also put the instructions on the website also. Maybe I should create a poll for this to see how much interest there is. All I would need to do is recoup the cost of the jig. If I make money, then that is a bonus. I would be willing to do this if there is enough interest. When I get around to making my headstock jig I'll sell it, and I'll also lease it.
Tracy

I'm still fixated on an OLF Jig Leasing Program. Here's how it might work...

1) Someone convince Chris from Luthier Tool to donate his jig to OLF

2) Lance rents it out for $20 a pop. I'll bet a lot of pros would take a $20 look. If they like it, they buy one from Luthier Tool...because the pros do a lot of slot heads and it is more cost-effective for them to own one. Chris makes out by selling more jigs.

3) Rookies rent out the jig and Lance pockets the dough to help cover OLF expenses.

4) Other jig makers look at this and say, "Hey, I'd like to donate a jig too." And Lance rents those out as well.

It's no different than going to a pro shop and using a $500 demo driver. If the ball goes long and straight, we buy the driver and pay it off from increased golf winnings! Admittedly it may not be the best analogy but you get the idea.

Waddya think, Lance?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

See my response in the vote thread. No need to cause a rucus in 2 threads.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

even though Mario might call me a sissy, I like this jig, and I can get the type of results I want.

Sissy...

<bg>

As I've tried to state so often, it's all about balance. This is one place I agree with the buying of a jig, as this one needs to be quite solid and accurate.

I made my own jig for slot heads, and, well, it sucks <g> If I did more of them, I'd buy me a jig, too...

balance....

[QUOTE=JJ Donohue] I'm still fixated on an OLF Jig Leasing Program. Here's how it might work...

1) Someone convince Chris from Luthier Tool to donate his jig to OLF

2) Lance rents it out for $20 a pop. I'll bet a lot of pros would take a $20 look. If they like it, they buy one from Luthier Tool...because the pros do a lot of slot heads and it is more cost-effective for them to own one. Chris makes out by selling more jigs.

3) Rookies rent out the jig and Lance pockets the dough to help cover OLF expenses.

4) Other jig makers look at this and say, "Hey, I'd like to donate a jig too." And Lance rents those out as well.

It's no different than going to a pro shop and using a $500 demo driver. If the ball goes long and straight, we buy the driver and pay it off from increased golf winnings! Admittedly it may not be the best analogy but you get the idea.

Waddya think, Lance?[/QUOTE]

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Lance...Can you expand on the "3-smile" comment?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Lance, I agree with JJ, I think this would be good for the OLF. You should do it!
Tracy

I sort of have to agree with Don on this one.... The people making these jigs have put a lot of heart, soul, time, money, and brain-power into these. While I don't think that there is anything *** wrong *** with the idea of collectively sharing jigs... I do think that it undermines our ability to tap these people for future resources.

I think the idea of sharing is good at first examination, but if this forces people like Mark Kett, John Hall, Tracy, and others from using their engineering skills for our benifit (because it is not financially worth the effort), then we all lose out.

We all have to admit, no matter how expensive these jigs are NOBODY is getting rich in this business...

... Just my .02 worth and something to consider before we venture down this road.

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

after a little more thought, I have to agree with Don and Brock --

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Brock...I agree that ***IF*** it forces the jig-makers out of the business, it would be a very bad idea. But, on the other hand, it could generate more exposure to their jigs and ***Could*** end up benefitting them.

Tracy's rental store idea might be a good one to ponder. There's some company out there that makes the best post hole digger in the world and it probably costs over $1000. The construction companies buy them without batting an eye but I, as a homeowner only need one every 10 years. So I rent one for $100 for a weekend. The demand is there, so an entreperneurial rental store guy invests in a service that meets that demand...and in the meantime, guess what... he buys post hole diggers that would otherwise go unsold. Everyone benefits!

2 years ago, I rented a major $300 jig for $40 from a jig-maker we all know. I ended up buying one because it worked so well and made me realize that I needed one. It also allowed me to stick my toe in the water and see if I wanted to build more guitars. Since that time, I've had this idea that others could benefit as well...and with the benefit to the forum, it just might be a way for jig-makers to get some exposure beyond 2-dimensional pics and descriptions. The real benefit for the jig-makers could be for the pros to do a trial rental where they might otherwise not even consider buying the jig. If they like it, they'll surely buy it.

Sure, it's a risk that the jig-makers might get nervous about, but I feel that the risk is minimal. I actually think the jig-makers should make this service available themselves.

The discussion could be advanced with some jig-makers and pros chiming in with their opinions.

I love this forum!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Brock, you are absolutely right, no ones getting rich off of these jigs. I'm in an unusual situation because I never planned to make and sell jigs. I just happened to meet an incredible engineer with a cnc machine that can make just about anything. So I thought this company could help guitar builders if we build jigs that are functional, and are hard to find. Since I split the profits with my engineering buddy, I'm not getting rich, and I'm not so sure he would like the idea of renting high end jigs. But I still feel strongly that I would not be hurting my business by doing this, I think that it would actually generate sales in the end. I feel the same as JJ, in that if I rented the expensive jig and loved it, and I was committed to building more guitars, then I would go ahead and spend the money. It also gives the buyer a chance to try before they buy. I think the consumer benefits in the short run, and the jig makers benefit in the long run. So I'm not worried about losing business or to not continue researching new products for the guitar builder. I would love to hear what others have to say. And like you JJ, I do love this forum for this very reason!
Tracy

like tracy said!

...So I just BOUGHT the slothead jig from LuthierTool. Chris is a great guy and he's running a 10% discount until May 15.

Sorry Tracy, I couldn't wait any longer. I have 2 necks that will need to be slotted next week. Chris had them in stock and so I made an impulse buy.

I'll let you all know what I think about the jigs. If I can use it successfully, anyone can!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ,

Do you know what routers/trimmers can be used with the jig? My only holdup now is I have a Bosch trimmer, and I don't want to buy a new Porter Cable just for this jig. I'm thinking by the time I buy all the add-ons, including the OD/ID templates, The LMI might be the way to go for my 2-4 guitars a year. Both jigs look really nice though? Hey--there goes my excuse for coming up to play golf!   

John

John...You don't ever need an excuse to play golf with me! Love of the game is sufficient.

I'm sure your trimmer would work...all that is needed is a 3/8" OD template guide with a 1/4" downward spiral bit...no different for either jig.

The reasons I went with this jig over LMI's are:
...it can be converted to classical
...one can replace the drill bushings...LMI is severely limited
...but it's a bit more costly than LMI...the 10% discount helped.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

[QUOTE=JJ Donohue] ...So I just BOUGHT the slothead jig from LuthierTool. Chris is a great guy and he's running a 10% discount until May 15.

Sorry Tracy, I couldn't wait any longer. I have 2 necks that will need to be slotted next week. Chris had them in stock and so I made an impulse buy.

I'll let you all know what I think about the jigs. If I can use it successfully, anyone can![/QUOTE]

Can I rent it?

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA