violin repair
Hello everyone out there in Livejournal land. I'm posting this several places so sorry in advance if you get it more than once. I'm looking to find information on violin repair. Mostly places you can go to learn about it. Summer programs are the best. Internships are alright too.\

TIA James

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I have just bought myself an old 4-string banjo. Does anyone know if it's possible to replace the tuning pegs and add more strings? Or will that break the neck? Don't have it in hand yet, so not sure of the make.

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hey
Anyone here circuitbend? bending is my life. And my life lacks friends, care to add me?

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New guitar - built by me
So as promised, here are some pictures!

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New wood
I just got some violin wood from my father. Spruce and Maple. The maple has a nice wave to it and the spruce has a very tight grain. I need to joint the edges before I create a rubbed hide glue joint for them. My first violin was a kit and most of the carving had been done. My first violin is also not done yet because I have really been taking my time with the purfling. But I am also looking forward to doing the carving of a belly and back. I'm just not sure if I should wait until I have the sides all done and ready for the belly and back. I am pretty sure that the wood I got is stable and seasoned. We'll see.
   I also remember feeling a little freaked when gluing the back onto the first one (the belly had already been done). Now I have an old pancake griddle on which to heat the pieces to be glued to increase open time of the glue.

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Hey, it doesn't look like anyone has posted here in a while, but I figured I'd just put myself out there. I'm currently working on building a solid body electric bass and my journal's purpose is to simply document my process. I'd appreciate any questions/comments/editorial remarks on what I've been doing.

Thanks, MP

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I'm thinking of refretting my guitar soon. I've never done a refret and always wanted to give it a shot, so I figure I could make a modest investment on tools and materials to refret it myself. It'd save a lot of money in the long run.

I have several books that give a step-by-step instruction on how to do it, so I feel I'm confident I can do it.

But knowledge is power. :p So does anyone have any tips they could give? Things to watch for? Input is appriciated. :)

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   ust found this place. I have been working on a violin for some time now. For me, the purfling has been the hardest part. I cut little tiny bits of the groove at a time. I think I may need better knives for the carving. It's a little bit frightening.

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Hey everybody
This is my first post in here.

I've been building guitars for about 3 1/2 years. I have finished two (I know, but it's difficult to keep building while I'm in college), and I am working on two more at the moment.

I'm always happy to answer any questions anybody may have, and if I can't answer them I can help direct you to a good source.

As for pictures of my instruments, I will try to post them here---but imagestation might not work. If that doesn't work, lemme know and I'll hit them up on photobucket.
This is my first guitar:
14 fret to the body
Mahagony back and sides
Adirondack Red Spruce top
Ebony headstock veneer, fretboard, and bridge

(Sorry this is the only picture)

This is my second one:
12 fret to the body (Parlor size)
Ash back and sides
Adirondack Red Spruce top
Indian Rosewood headstock veneer and fretboard
Brazilian Rosewood bridge



Current Mood: blah

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Hi everyone.

I'm not really a luthier.. But I want to get into it. I have a passion for music of almost any kind, I play many different instruments, and the thought of taking raw materials and sculpting them into something beautiful is very appealing to me.

I would really like to give this a shot, so to start off, I'm thinking of doing a small(er) project, and making a bolt-on electric guitar neck.

My question is, what tool do you use to make the rounded shape of the back of the neck? My dad suggested a wood rasp and sandpaper, very slowly but surely shaving wood off until it is in a rounded shape. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, I'll be very grateful.

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Hello-

Here's a couple pictures of a project I made this past fall.

It's a box uke, recycled from a broken baritone uke and a box I found at the thrift store.





there's a sound sample here: uke

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