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"How do they DO it?!"

Posted by Mister Scott on December 22, 2010 at 7:22pm in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever

About 6 months and 5 builds into my CBG obsession, I've been making very good progress, especially considering that I did not come from a technical or mechanically-inclined background. Plus, I've met some very helpful and fascinating people since I've joined with CBNation.

 

That being said, when I look at the photos of other peoples' build here, and see just how bloody gorgeous they are, I want to pull my hair out.

 

In fact, I feel just like Robert Crumb in this comic strip he did about his hero Harvey Kurtzman, the cartoonist and founding editor of MAD...

I sincerely hope I'm not alone in this.

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Replies

  • Mark Bliss December 24, 2010 at 4:57pm

    In my earlier post I mentioned Woodcraft when I meant Woodsmith. Woodsmith.com (I think thats right) has tons of woodworking tips and ideas, they publish nice periodicals as well.

    There is also a large amount of information at, or available through:

    Luth.org

    frets.org

    stewmac.com has a free tips section, In fact they just sent me a newsletter link to an article on guitar label making.

    Theres is also good stuff at Luthiers mercantile.

    The list goes on, I will add more as I think of them.

  • KaptnKen December 24, 2010 at 4:13pm
    Every build is a learning experience for me. I just finished my 5th as a gift for my son-in-law and in many ways it's much better than what I previously built and thought was just wonderful. Each build just gets better and better. Don't try to rush it, it'll come. I kinda try to focus on one or two aspects of a build to improve on...this time it was dual piezos in the bridge. Next time I need to focus more on my fretting. But I find that if I start to obsess about doing something "perfect" then it never turns out half as well as I know I can do and I don't enjoy the process. And I enjoy this too much to do that. Have fun. Make joyous noise.
  • Hoov December 23, 2010 at 8:08pm

    All that matters is how much you love doing whatever you do.

    The rest

    is fluff

     

  • colin mcgrath December 23, 2010 at 4:04pm

    Happy Holidays to you as well.

     

     

  • JUJU December 23, 2010 at 1:50pm

    Hey Scotty
    we are all in this together so it's always good to help each other out when possible - for the short while you have been building you have com a long way as you said the lat time you did anything like this was back at school i think you aught to give yourself a good pat on the back for what you have achived to date

    if you want to know a little more about jigs check out this album i added some info on the working out of jigs and Cutters along with Router Guid bushings - if you want to use jigs you will need a Router or a Router Base for the Dremel you already have - a Dremel router base comes with guid bushes

    router jigs

    hope you have a good holiday mate and 2011 enjoy

     

    juju.


    Scotty C. said:

    Before I shuffle off for holiday-related stuff, I just want to thank all of you for your suggestions, kind comments, and encouragement. It's nice to have such a helpful community for this hobby. Happy holidays to you all!
  • Mister Scott December 23, 2010 at 1:30pm
    Before I shuffle off for holiday-related stuff, I just want to thank all of you for your suggestions, kind comments, and encouragement. It's nice to have such a helpful community for this hobby. Happy holidays to you all!
  • Mark Bliss December 23, 2010 at 1:25pm

    Hey Scotty,

    You already alluded to it, but I was going to point out how hard it is from your perspective to see how far you have already come. I have watched your posts from the very beginning, and noted your questions as you progressed. You have done well, just keep yearning and learning, it will come.

    Many of your questions have in fact given me ideas for things I would like to present ideas and tips on, and if I ever get caught up I hope to do some of that!

    On the template thing, I would suggest you could get ideas from mainstream woodworking sources. Stuff like Woodcraft router handbooks. and there are many online sources for these ideas as well. Just scale the techniques and tools down a bit and you should get some ideas.

    Happy holidays!

    Mark

  • MichaelS Country Boy Guitars December 23, 2010 at 11:48am
    Scotty, I do the same thing ( I hand draw it onto paper ) trace the edge onto the box then drill the end holes, I save the stencil for future builds if i like the shape, then I cut it out with an electric sabre saw with a fine narrow blade. It makes a nice smooth cut and if you don't go outside the lines there is almost no sanding needed. Sharp drill bits and saw blades make for less sanding, tip of the day.

    Scotty C. said:
    The way I've been doing it was to print out the f-hole shape on thick paper stock and take an Xacto to it, leaving a hole in the sheet. Then I tape the sheet onto the box and shade-in the space with a pencil. Then, like Colin, it's drill, jab saw, dremel, sandpaper.

    colin mcgrath said:
    My boxes are all different I have never thought of a jig for sound holes. It seems one would have to have all the same boxes or different size jigs. But I use a pencil, drill, xacto knife and dremel in that order too. One thing I have done is draw the shape out first and then copy it to cardboard for a template. Or you could drill circles and install the rings like others do. 
  • Mister Scott December 23, 2010 at 11:29am
    The way I've been doing it was to print out the f-hole shape on thick paper stock and take an Xacto to it, leaving a hole in the sheet. Then I tape the sheet onto the box and shade-in the space with a pencil. Then, like Colin, it's drill, jab saw, dremel, sandpaper.

    colin mcgrath said:
    My boxes are all different I have never thought of a jig for sound holes. It seems one would have to have all the same boxes or different size jigs. But I use a pencil, drill, xacto knife and dremel in that order too. One thing I have done is draw the shape out first and then copy it to cardboard for a template. Or you could drill circles and install the rings like others do. 
  • MichaelS Country Boy Guitars December 23, 2010 at 11:26am
    Jig Shmig, these are hand made old world simple instruments, don't fret (lol) over them and enjoy the building process so you can get to the playing of it.  Keep building on your experience from each one and go from there. (just kidding about the jigs, if your building lots of them for whatever reason jigs do speed things up).

    colin mcgrath said:
    My boxes are all different I have never thought of a jig for sound holes. It seems one would have to have all the same boxes or different size jigs. But I use a pencil, drill, xacto knife and dremel in that order too. One thing I have done is draw the shape out first and then copy it to cardboard for a template. Or you could drill circles and install the rings like others do.

    Scotty C. said:
    Indeed, some sage advice going on in this thread. Although I yearn to know more about these jigs for F- holes that people are talking about... I've been drawing them out on my boxes and carving them with a jab saw, a drill, and a Dremel. Can anyone shed some light on these jigs?
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