The Jazz Guitar Chord Dictionary

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Posts 326 to 350 of 419
  1. #326

    User Info Menu

    Similarly, once I got past the heel and over the next extension, I needed to support that area. Here's my setup mod for this area:
    First-timer Archtop Build-5c684c4c-9a83-42ad-a090-ef519065d58e_1_201_a-jpg

    Because the frets were narrower than the tape, I did the tape/wax stick one at a time.

    Here's after we emptied the fret holder:
    First-timer Archtop Build-d154efa3-1a09-4ca7-925e-995a798e66a1_1_201_a-jpg

    Couple of pix of the post-hammering:
    First-timer Archtop Build-fd7c7d80-9f86-4214-8c05-adbbc55fe6f1_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-565efe56-4680-44a8-82da-6e52810a1ed8_1_201_a-jpg

    Then, I used the StewMac fret cutters to nip the fret off at the fretboard edge:
    First-timer Archtop Build-0e48e07e-1e9b-4702-ba97-4cf668062399_1_201_a-jpg

    Overall, I think it went okay. Certainly not the most perfect installation, but there were no panic attacks or tragedies.

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  3. #327

    User Info Menu

    Here are some random photos of the current stage (minus tuners).

    Snagged the StewMac NoJak end pin, so I can string it up before electrifying:
    First-timer Archtop Build-089491e9-ce73-480e-89e4-580a79b469ab_1_201_a-jpg

    I brought the KA 12-pole over to get an idea of where I'll need to inset the pickup shape into the pickguard, and made a general mark in the area of where I think the pickguard will end up. Can see the white chalk pencil marks:
    First-timer Archtop Build-ac33643a-fdc0-44bc-a149-60b9e0f81262_1_201_a-jpg

    Starting to look like a real life guitar!:
    First-timer Archtop Build-e2059410-04ae-4c7b-abb4-4c062e3acc65_1_201_a-jpg

    And starting to look like a dad??:
    First-timer Archtop Build-93447600-5fa0-4ad7-964f-7dbd4f8b21ea_1_201_a-jpg

    If no baby by Wednesday, I'll hit the shop as the 7mm drill bit should arrive that day and I'll get the holes drilled in the bridge base and use the bridge fitting jig to get it sanded to the contour of the top plate. Additionally, I'll try to get the tuners fully installed and screw holes drilled on the back side of the tuner, and glue on either 1 or 2 shims to the dovetail tenon.
    Last edited by sbeishline; 01-28-2020 at 07:30 PM.

  4. #328

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    I went to the shop after work yesterday with the metric bits in hand. I wanted to start by knocking out the fret beveling file jig.

    To do this I just found the biggest semi-square piece of wood I could find in the scrap box, and milled it on all 4 sides:
    First-timer Archtop Build-9063ce52-aaee-4978-882c-c4dd596da97d_1_201_a-jpg

    I then set the table saw blade to 30deg and ran 2 passes totaling 3/32" along the rip fence. I knew the width, because I ran a few passes on a test piece for the spacing testing it with the thickness of the file itself. I did the same thing with the blade at 35deg.

    First-timer Archtop Build-79c15cc6-78b4-41a7-a216-eedcb87b8b65_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-1cee0fc5-f610-4210-b03a-6ad53a88f7ed_1_201_a-jpg

    First-timer Archtop Build-8fc5593b-07cf-4411-bf00-51f4fc33ba12_1_201_a-jpg

    I also made the slots just thick enough so that it could also squeeze in a piece of thin sandpaper to polish up the fret beveled edges (Tom Bills technique):
    First-timer Archtop Build-fd93d524-e3c7-4206-b89a-cbc035699fe8_1_201_a-jpg

    Standard is to bevel at 35deg, but if they still feel annoying I'll go to 30deg. Don't want to go too low of an angle, so that the E strings don't slip off of the edge.

  5. #329

    User Info Menu

    After making the beveling jig, I set to work on drilling the bridge base holes.

    I started by marking the midpoint centerlines on both the T-O-M bridge:
    First-timer Archtop Build-7657a451-ee6c-4608-a688-780f8f22e058_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-c3e65dd1-86f6-4248-ad01-602b09c639b4_1_201_a-jpg

    And also on the ebony base. I also used the white chalk pencil to highlight the centerline so I could align it through the T-O-M holes:
    First-timer Archtop Build-af413fa5-50dd-45e7-862d-1931d45d5a6d_1_201_a-jpg

    I used an awl to get the locations marked:
    First-timer Archtop Build-54fccec0-520c-46be-b6ec-e391ef996069_1_201_a-jpg

    Post-marking:
    First-timer Archtop Build-83a09fbc-6b66-42bb-9a33-76542a4c9404_1_201_a-jpg

    Then measured to check how deep to make the holes. I first measured the entire insert, but then remeasured it from the bottom flange as the rest of the thumbwheel thickness won't matter. Final depth was 5/16":
    First-timer Archtop Build-fc2e1aef-7a60-4f27-8ec8-5107e404ac21_1_201_a-jpg

    Then I used setup blocks to set the marking gauge to 5/16" and scribed a line so I could set the depth stop on the drill press:
    First-timer Archtop Build-3439e948-160c-40d7-936d-9be028a4ac8d_1_201_a-jpg

    Here's the setup before drilling hole #1:
    First-timer Archtop Build-0ab7ef2e-c990-4ace-97b9-4583c167cc14_1_201_a-jpg

  6. #330

    User Info Menu

    Here's after hole #1:
    First-timer Archtop Build-2412d0d5-e3c4-4ffb-a9e5-36cec7ccd92f_1_201_a-jpg

    And hole #2:
    First-timer Archtop Build-e96b2318-d621-490a-a8f0-4533c235ff55_1_201_a-jpg

    Finally having holes, I could now place the inserts in to use the bridge fitting jig:
    First-timer Archtop Build-f6e45c28-fde6-4c78-835b-c0549e8cdc1c_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-e13a1da9-7301-4472-a037-9517732f3741_1_201_a-jpg

    The bridge inserts fit very tight in the drilled holes, so I just put the in enough to use the jig.

    I taped on some 100grit sandpaper:
    First-timer Archtop Build-1b9e6aed-878d-401d-9721-08be8b0e4bad_1_201_a-jpg

    And marked the centerlines:
    First-timer Archtop Build-21b6600e-c1a5-43d8-96e7-cdbb24274438_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-6c35e50e-40c9-4d93-a4aa-57cb3f65e93a_1_201_a-jpg

    And started contouring:
    First-timer Archtop Build-b24b25a7-ad63-4d64-a8fb-457c4275ccfb_1_201_a-jpg

  7. #331

    User Info Menu

    This process took quite a while longer that I expected. Here's after about 2 hours:
    First-timer Archtop Build-ef7c5262-4353-4435-a440-872ba3f9bc89_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-d53d6d6d-fc0a-4a69-92a8-6a51b2df8450_1_201_a-jpg

    I probably changed sandpaper about 6 or 7 times to keep the process going as quickly as possible. Looks close in these pics, but I still had another 45mins to go:
    First-timer Archtop Build-de057270-194b-4d4c-a805-ea75a558c047_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-a50a520e-3552-4598-b670-157d747d9975_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-382b3e6a-ca04-499a-953c-c7dbdff2d67e_1_201_a-jpg

    Finally, I got it completely flush:
    First-timer Archtop Build-ef4162a8-97c0-40cc-9f12-4d302b1063a5_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-6068eadb-688a-4553-b549-9912070ec478_1_201_a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-618c82c1-db28-4239-8c66-a2fe455d915a_1_201_a-jpg

  8. #332

    User Info Menu

    I was ready to set the T-O-M in place and wanted to try and get a little more room in the holes.

    I tried using the 7mm bit by hand to rasp out a bit of space, but I didn't have much luck. I didn't want to go up a bit because I knew the closest I had would end up being too big. I also tried working it in very slowly twisting the insert, etc. and going a bit further each time but there wasn't much room. Because the holes are only 5/16" deep, I couldn't use the reamer. So I decided to tap them gently with a mallet.

    Unfortunately, having already shaped the bridge and being pretty thin, the holes were just too tight to accommodate the inserts and the bridge split:
    First-timer Archtop Build-c7d6fe9d-7757-4cdd-8d7c-e56f82fa7ec2_1_201_a-jpgFirst-timer Archtop Build-77a710b1-8600-4d87-a3c8-bd185152e2ff_1_201_a-jpgFirst-timer Archtop Build-30d55fe7-64ab-46c8-8fe2-e71e40cbc299_1_201_a-jpgFirst-timer Archtop Build-a1389e99-bd6e-43fc-93e5-594bc37ba73c_1_201_a-jpg

    Having googled "how to widen drill holes" after the fact brought up the rasp idea- I guess I could've tried that. However, the shit had already hit the fan. Racing the clock, I was pretty deflated.

  9. #333

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    After that disaster, I just glued 1 piece of shim onto the dovetail tenon with HHG:
    First-timer Archtop Build-d3bd92c0-8383-4c54-aa28-3de3e41335fe_1_201_a-jpg

    There was no great clamp for this because of the dovetail angle, so I just held it by hand for a few minutes:
    First-timer Archtop Build-fbc064c0-4adf-4c2d-9207-1a90ea7d4425_1_201_a-jpg

    I had decided yesterday to take today off of work today to try and dive towards the finish line with limited time left pre-fatherhood, but this bridge may put us behind the 8ball.

  10. #334

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by sbeishline
    I had decided yesterday to take today off of work today to try and dive towards the finish line with limited time left pre-fatherhood, but this bridge may put us behind the 8ball.
    But you've done really well so far, so don't let a minor mishap get you down. Imagine the mess if it had been the headstock - which looks very nice now that I saw it with the rest of the guitar; at first I wished you'd have given it a Höfner (bass) wave, but this works nicely.

    p.s. first babies are often late, so you still have a margin

  11. #335

    User Info Menu

    Sorry about the bridge. I use these:


    Archtop bridge nickel knurled thumb screws and posts

    But they wouldn’t match your hardware color. Perhaps if let soak in CLR or some other acid. I assume you could glue the crack and it would be both strong and invisible and still use what you got.

    Also, cut the tang off the file. There will be one side near the headstock where it will get in your way and you may mar the neck. It happened to a friend of mine....


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

  12. #336

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Zina
    But you've done really well so far, so don't let a minor mishap get you down. Imagine the mess if it had been the headstock - which looks very nice now that I saw it with the rest of the guitar; at first I wished you'd have given it a Höfner (bass) wave, but this works nicely.

    p.s. first babies are often late, so you still have a margin
    Thx, Zina. You’re right. Could’ve been much worse.

    No sign of baby yet, so the docu-drama continues!

  13. #337

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by rlrhett
    Sorry about the bridge. I use these:


    Archtop bridge nickel knurled thumb screws and posts

    But they wouldn’t match your hardware color. Perhaps if let soak in CLR or some other acid. I assume you could glue the crack and it would be both strong and invisible and still use what you got.

    Also, cut the tang off the file. There will be one side near the headstock where it will get in your way and you may mar the neck. It happened to a friend of mine....


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
    Thx, Rhett. I was able to recover. See upcoming..

  14. #338

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    Took today off last minute to take advantage of any time that may be left before the baby arrives. Here was my starting point:
    First-timer Archtop Build-f89fba35-8c01-477f-adb3-1401d8e6e5d9-jpg

    I started out cutting out the last appropriate sizes piece from my ebony stash:
    First-timer Archtop Build-06bb56f3-bb07-4b16-93e6-0add2086d4d9-jpg

    I used the previous blank and measurements to mill it to size:
    First-timer Archtop Build-46b4f498-2560-4598-8345-387297669aec-jpg

    Next was making the midpoints and centerline markings:
    First-timer Archtop Build-a4a92a3f-9f7d-4806-a448-d9914c8c4916-jpg

    Transferred centerline to sides:
    First-timer Archtop Build-0df983d4-64bb-4e78-912b-74eb92301ed0-jpg

    I milled this piece a bit higher - marked thumbscrew depth:
    First-timer Archtop Build-7a93fca9-f957-4636-884f-1e8426486a16-jpg

    Highlighted centerline for T-O-M marking:
    First-timer Archtop Build-cfd1968b-2b57-4119-a8f3-8b03ac9cf53f-jpg

    And used awl to mark the T-O-M holes:
    First-timer Archtop Build-217e3b92-bd69-4c0d-99ad-ae33cb60ebbf-jpg

  15. #339

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    Then marked the top plate contour:
    First-timer Archtop Build-d23865d3-c90d-4016-86f7-08323ea11ad8-jpg

    Now, I was ready to drill the holes. I was hesitant to drill the entire length with the additional bridge height (instead of just deep enough for inserts), but decided to forge ahead. Here’s ready for hole #1:
    First-timer Archtop Build-761b16be-98c1-4e8d-8645-74dab7496c09-jpg

    Post-drilling:
    First-timer Archtop Build-70287236-41b5-4167-9b74-38423b684226-jpg

    Then drilled hole #2 (No pic).

    Next, I decided to try and widen the holes with a 1/4” drill bit wrapped with sandpaper, but it didn’t really do much:
    First-timer Archtop Build-1d0cf7ad-1cec-4688-836a-8f8f6927c721-jpg

    I kept at it a bit and eventually tapped them in.

    Next, I traced the end shape lines:
    First-timer Archtop Build-92bca9fc-abf6-4b7c-aa7f-6a340b5c3deb-jpg

    Then I was ready to cut the shape/contour lines on the bandsaw:
    First-timer Archtop Build-137fd063-548b-4de8-9f55-770b07f8fd23-jpg

    Then to the spindle sander to refine the top and get closer to line on bottom (contour side)- no pic.

    As I had suspected, the base was too high for my liking, so I decided to bandsaw again through the thumb screw holes:
    First-timer Archtop Build-ef4239fe-f2f9-421f-9001-b3444aa307ad-jpg

    Having already posted last night’s bridge fitting, I didn’t take pics again.

    Here’s post cutting and fitting to top plate with holes too long:
    First-timer Archtop Build-bb0d23d6-cac4-4cfa-96fb-05b0833011d7-jpg
    Last edited by sbeishline; 01-31-2020 at 07:47 AM.

  16. #340

    User Info Menu

    I then used the Dremel with metal cutting disc to cut the protruding screw amount off:
    First-timer Archtop Build-b93b084d-99ca-40e1-a833-16b8a6370425-jpg

    Here’s the final fit:
    First-timer Archtop Build-15451d41-6134-4da8-b78c-4cccb8cca5fb-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-fcbd28c9-0e8f-4575-867d-9adbb83b6316-jpg

    With T-O-M attached:
    First-timer Archtop Build-f8c9b6b6-2cc0-4a23-9056-be5807e6bf90-jpgFirst-timer Archtop Build-ce1a8a0e-8f68-4159-8a8d-5de4417dfc37-jpg

    Using a straight edge with neck angle (neck in place not glued), it lands just about on top of the saddles:
    First-timer Archtop Build-b152abd1-2fe1-4f09-b7d5-4305dcaac8ab-jpg

    Took me about 3.25hr from milling to having it fit to the top and back to speed.

    I forgot to hand plane the long edge contour on top, but will hope to do that tomorrow night.

  17. #341

    User Info Menu

    After seeing pics of my neck with frets installed, I didn’t like how long the end of the fretboard was past the last fret (was so much longer than the 22nd fret distance).

    So, I used the same template as I did previously:
    First-timer Archtop Build-e764b738-5cb0-4bce-bbbb-72efad1241d3-jpg

    And traced the new lines and recut it on the bandsaw:
    First-timer Archtop Build-27f114fa-4631-470b-98e7-dc4472df7fa6-jpg

    Then went to spindle sander to refine:
    First-timer Archtop Build-6ed23b27-5db1-4820-834e-8c42c06d2a8b-jpg

    End result:
    First-timer Archtop Build-70a45f20-0a4f-46ce-a9a5-ae05555e2008-jpg

  18. #342

    User Info Menu

    Used the bevel jig with the file as documented this morning.

    Rhett, having just read your messages, I didn’t get rid of the tang. Plus, it’s Steve’s file, so I wouldn’t want to mess with it. Haha Fortunately, no gashes.

    Here’s beveling in progress:
    First-timer Archtop Build-2fb7684c-0143-4e3f-b34d-007aa34ca8c7-jpg

    Post-beveling with file:
    First-timer Archtop Build-94ff3230-1c49-41eb-97e5-075432c37fb2-jpgFirst-timer Archtop Build-e18819be-66b8-4f18-94e9-dfa2104a414f-jpg

    Next, I used the Tom Bills technique of sneaking in some 400grit sandpaper in the file slot on the file to smooth the filed fret ends:
    First-timer Archtop Build-7f29fd25-8207-4c83-809c-d4dd79c30645-jpg

    Here’s post beveling file and sanding:
    First-timer Archtop Build-313a76fc-4187-4a9f-a09b-2cbd5e902f51-jpg

    What appreciation for guitar repair techs and luthiers. I never figured I’d do this!

  19. #343

    User Info Menu

    After beveling, I was ready to level the frets, and I had purchased the StewMac leveling bar.

    First, I used the truss rod to remove some back bow and level the neck:
    First-timer Archtop Build-e554e476-c4a7-4714-9ca4-a192f902c52a-jpg

    Next, I used a Sharpie and marked along the top of the frets:
    First-timer Archtop Build-2fb2d170-dc57-4609-88bf-33bcaba651d2-jpg

    And used 220grit sandpaper to use the leveler just enough to remove all marks along top of frets.

    Here’s partway through:
    First-timer Archtop Build-8e99e305-a69b-4420-9394-a0b51a360492-jpg

    At completion:
    First-timer Archtop Build-33f538f5-a139-4604-802f-e25a59a6b9ca-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-db3cc078-b9fb-4bf5-9d11-e5d602056742-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-fce0e7e1-1661-4ab9-b00a-43c8f1592067-jpg

  20. #344

    User Info Menu

    After frets were leveled, I was ready to crown. This is fairly straight forward concept to get as a player, but it’s really wild having the task in front of you to create a good-playing fretboard.

    Being I don’t do this regularly and I won’t get tons of practice for using a triangular file, I decided to drop the dough on the Stewie Original Z-File. e
    As I said previously- even though the idea of it is fairly straightforward, it took me some uglier frets first to get the hang of it and feel like I understood the feel, angles, etc.

    Here’s post crowning:
    First-timer Archtop Build-6eb4a236-30a3-4620-83bb-41a83976e929-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-7d1014c9-15a6-46bd-b43f-22a3441bbecf-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-e9cd8a06-c62b-4284-a152-462e78a2f69d-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-a8b23970-67c6-41a8-9906-8c9c2947ebfe-jpg

    I did use the Stewie Fret Rocker and there was only one 3-fret span that there was minimal rock. I’m sure it’ll be buzz city, but certainly curious to see how it comes out!

  21. #345

    User Info Menu

    After crowning, I cut up some of the 3M polishing papers I got from Stewie (400,600,1200,4000, 6000,8000grits).

    I used the Bills method and went down the line to polish up the frets.

    Here’s papers ready to roll
    First-timer Archtop Build-df0a3980-7b2e-4ae2-85af-dfc1b28ed54f-jpg

    Pile of dirty papers after polishing!:
    First-timer Archtop Build-6bcb079f-a7f2-4242-8ce7-3952e54f0a63-jpg

    All finished with the fret process!!
    First-timer Archtop Build-b795e326-b50c-4733-8510-6278f2aa1a53-jpgFirst-timer Archtop Build-4e5c69a9-22e6-4ced-bd2b-b0e22d57ad2a-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-0fbe7159-33d1-4382-afa8-4822500b9ce6-jpg

    By feel, the neck and frets feel purdy good - nothing sharp as far as I appreciate.

  22. #346

    User Info Menu

    After finishing the fretwork, it was close to dinner time and I needed to get home. My goal was to get the tuners aligned and backside screws placed.

    I had gotten the tuner hole jig from Stewie and a #38 depth stop drill bit. Not sure why I thought that was the right bit, but it wasn’t. The screws for the Schaller M6 tuners were 2.20mm and I needed to drill a 2mm pilot hole. Thank goodness I had the 2mm drill bit from the side position markers, because I needed it for this.

    Ended up not using the drill guide or #38 bit, and just drilled in by hand.

    Final tuner positioning:
    First-timer Archtop Build-dcc63edc-0e90-4a8f-9ee5-21564999ae3b-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-b93a304c-9d60-4326-b7e3-b981a269e0af-jpg

    PS - The vintage copper tuners are heavy as hell, so I got some ebony replacements from Stewie to save weight and it’s noticeably lighter. I think it looks better, too.

  23. #347

    User Info Menu

    Current status:
    First-timer Archtop Build-e720396e-9c18-4f07-9f5a-3887f9741361-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-0dba184b-b602-4734-b35b-86f9f5c42d13-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-86248d54-804e-43f4-8db7-4106c498a947-jpg
    First-timer Archtop Build-ea91a24a-4074-4f46-937a-44a9c07f54cb-jpg

    Goal is to final fit and glue neck tomorrow night, and Saturday AM shape and fit the nut and string this bad boy up before fatherhood!!!

    Will deal with final sanding, finishing, and pickguard/pickup/wiring/end jack post-baby.

  24. #348

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by sbeishline
    Will deal with final sanding, finishing, and pickguard/pickup/wiring/end jack post-baby.
    Sure you will. Right about when she starts kindergarten. You’ll start having a little more time then. ;-)


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

  25. #349

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by rlrhett
    Sure you will. Right about when she starts kindergarten. You’ll start having a little more time then. ;-)
    Hah! It's funny because it's true.

    Good progress so far, my man!

  26. #350

    User Info Menu

    Shame about the bridge, but sh*t happens. The main thing is you got there. Keep it up, I’m really enjoying your posts, and at the same time learning how much time, effort, patience, creativity and skill go into making a guitar.