Kentucky KM-150 mandolin [2.0 lbs] :: fit bridge foot and setup

November 8, 2014

Kentucky KM-150 mandolin [2.0 lbs] :: bridge foot fit and setup.

The bridge foot was better fit to the top to improve volume, tone and overall string transfer efficiency to the body. The top of the bridge had sagged slightly where the middle strings were lower than the outer strings with respect to the fingerboard. The outer string course bridge notches were filed to correct for this. A few high frets were reseated, the nut slots adjusted and restrung with Ernie Ball 80/20 bronze alloy light strings.

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Fraulini Angelica [4.1 lbs] :: top crack repair

November 7, 2014

Fraulini Angelica [4.1 lbs] :: top crack repair.

This guitar has a top center crack caused by low humidity and I've been battling with it for most of the summer. The top was dried to the point of concavity (lower in the center than the edges). Normally acoustic guitar tops have an arch or are at least flat. I have had good luck in the past by humidifying guitars to close small cracks before gluing and cleating them. This crack repair however keeps wanting to pull itself apart, even in my climate controlled shop. I've gone through two iterations of structural / finish repairs and both times tiny checks developed in parts of the repair. Having to wait 3-4 weeks for the finish repairs to cure before rubbing and buffing only to find unsatisfactory results was frustrating. The repairs didn't look terrible, but I knew it could be better.

Cutting and fitting a slice of spruce into the crack helped relieve the stress on the top. One last round of finish repairs and at long last this great guitar is back in it's owner's hands.

Previous photo of fitting the splint here.

And photo of gluing in the splint here.

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Lanikai LU-22CGC Concert Ukulele [1.2 lbs] :: setup

November 6, 2014

Lanikai LU-22CGC Concert Ukulele [1.2 lbs] :: setup

A few high frets needed to be reseated, restrung it with D'Addario T2 strings and adjusted the saddle and the nut.

Note that I do not get a lot of ukuleles in the shop so I took the opportunity to get some insight from master builder Jake Maclay of Hive Ukuleles. We both share Santa Cruz, CA luthier roots but unfortunately did not cross paths out west. He is extremely knowledgeable and builds beautifully clean ukuleles with a contemporary style. Make sure you check him out.

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1966 Vox Bobcat [4.9 lbs] :: missing tuners ... and everything else

November 5, 2014

1966 Vox Bobcat [4.9 lbs] :: missing tuners ... and everything else

This 3 pickup 335-style guitar is a "husk-only" project (no parts). The owner was initially looking to restore this guitar but is working out a deal to trade for a Vox Lynx body (same guitar, 2 pickups). We decided to just install new tuners at this time. Glad to find that Grover Sta-Tite tuners install with no major modifications required other than slight reaming to fit the press-in bushings on the face and tightening the fit of the mounting screws.