Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Neck relief will affect action etc but it's important that neck relief is set up correctly before playing with action. Don't treat your truss rod as a way of adjusting action...you'll get into all sorts of trouble. Neck relief should be adjusted with strings on and at normal tension. Ok then I am a...

What's the current neck relief? If you adjust truss rod so fretboard is perfectly flat then there's a high chance you'll get fret buzz mid neck. A bit of relief mid neck allows for string excursion without slapping the frets. Will check relief later when home. The neck was flat without strings on. ...

Ok I have a short scale bass guitar Samick Baby Bass. Taken it out after several years. Here is my previous post Samick Baby Bass Setup Several years ago I was doing this up added a set of EMG pickups. Strings 4 thickest strings from a 5 string set to get corect tension and thickness. Setup I have i...

For $8 I probably would have grabbed it too. For the fingerboard, start with a rub down using superfine (0000) steel wool over the frets and the timber. Then a good vacuum, followed by some oil. Good idea. Part of a good fretboard clean I would be surprised if you need superglue for the FB. I can't...

The other day when I was in local Charity Shop. I found a Makala Dolphin Ukulele. These are fairly cheep ukes but for the price $59nzd new are a great ukulele that are recommended by most ukulele players and teachers for beginners. For $8 I decided to grab it even though it was in need of some TLC P...

If you loosen off the truss rod you may notice your neck relief at mid point between 1st and 16th fret to increase :) yes this did the trick. Got good relief and set up now. That said its important to get a handle on how flat your fretboard is with the truss rod loosen off fully. why is this import...

Well its worth a try to loosen it slowly before I tale it in to get a setup from Luither. Thanks.

Hi all I have a short scale Samick Baby bass. It's around 660mm, this is fret 5 on standard scale bass. It is smaller than a standard short scale bass. It had custom set of strings .80, .60, .40, .20. These were fairly hard to get, loose and never sounded resonant and lush like bass should. After so...

For some reason this did not post corectly. What I wanted to say was... This week I found a soprano ukulele neck blank for $1 score. Does anyone know where I can find a fretboard blank in Auckland New Zealand and what tools etc I need. I have several tins and wooden boxes I can use to make a ukulele...

Hi all this week I found a Soprano Ukulele neck blank in a local 2nd hand shop here in Auckland, New Zealand. It is in excellent shape.

1/3 varnish 1/3 boiled linseed 1/3 turps this is a danish oil but lacks the terebine [japan driers] found in off the shelf stuff like cabots Danish oil flood surface leave for 10 minutes wipe off till surface dry - repeat at 24 hourly intervals at least 3 times not great for acoustic instruments Th...

I would avoid superglue personally. Use a yellow glue like titebond, Superglue is great in our business for lots of things but joining spruce IMO is not recommended. Steve Not my first choice either. Rub some titebond into the crack from underneath and then slap some patches along the underside. Ok...

Double post can't delete this.

I don't generally glue my nuts in as they are always a tight fit. If you do need to glue a nut then just a tiny dab of CA (super) glue is all you need. If it was my axe I'd make up a new better fitting bone nut. Not a hard job with basic tools.... Thanks but this nut will need gluing as there is no...

Hi all I have an electric bass guitar the nut is loose and I am wanting to know what would be some good glue to use. Assume it's a plastic one as cheap bass. I have some thin superglue, pva, Selleys All Fix (multipurpose glue). The nut looks a bit munched so not sure if I should get a new one fitted...

Hi, I just got some cigar boxes from ebay within Australia to make a cigar box amplifier for a ukulele. I think one of the sellers would post to NZ. Just search "cigar box" and there are heaps to choose from. Cheap and really cute. I'm just waiting for some lithium batteries and a speaker grille to...

I have been away and have just re connected with the forum. I'll answer you! I would get an Allparts self adhesive clear pickguard and cut it to size. You might need to clean the surface of the instrument with methylated spirit or Naptha to remove any oiliness in that area first. Naptha will remove...

Hi I have been looking online and found some, stompbox drums, strum sticks and this ukulele simple cigar box ukulele

I am wanting to know any places I could get cigar boxes for cheep or free in Auckland New Zealand. I don't have a workshop or many tools to male boxes so it would help to get some.

I think I bought mine at Harvey Norman or Officeworks. For a more permanent solution, you can get clear self adhesive polycarb from Wheeler Custom Luthierie. https://guitarwoods.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=131&osCsid=2a84a0jqlbqmkvggo77n7qtc12 I recommend that you get the shape righ...

I think this does confirm I need to take it to the professionals. I brought this nice ukulele 2nd hand online unseen, no indication of this damage, $100nzd I could have gotten a pretty decent ukulele new for this price or just a bit more without any issues. Oh well that's the breaks. Not going to ca...

Yes as I thought all I have are some f clamps. Think I will take it to the violin and guitar shop fomally Hewitt's Fiddle Shop here in Auckland New Zealand. This is the place where Kapono ukuleles are also made. Alwaus serviced my guitars and get resonance prices there.

Hi all I have a nice old Bruko soprano ukulele. Made in Germany in the 90s, has a nice sweet tone I love it. http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/600x400q90/922/ee7ER9.jpg http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/600x400q90/921/WELemP.jpg It has has a problem with the bridge comming away from the top. Just want...

Noticed allot of tablet and phone screen protectors don't have a sticky surface. Tried some not good results reluctant on trying more.

I think I bought mine at Harvey Norman or Officeworks. For a more permanent solution, you can get clear self adhesive polycarb from Wheeler Custom Luthierie. https://guitarwoods.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=131&osCsid=2a84a0jqlbqmkvggo77n7qtc12 I recommend that you get the shape righ...

It occured to me that the same or similar material is used on iPad, tablet and phone screens, so today I bought an iPad screen protector, which was big enough to make three pickguards, around $19 from a Telstra shop. Works a treat, the thickness of the film is 0.11mm on my thickness guage. I brough...