Attention all Lurkers

[bobthebuilder]

Hi Martin, I have been a member of this forum forever but have had to stop working with wood for the time being on doctors orders but still like to visit to try to keep up to date in the hope I will eventually get back to building my guitars. I still have a very large stash of wood, some of which would be almost unobtainable these days partly due to CITIES and partly due to the world running out of some of the timber species through over logging. Anyway just letting you know I am still here and still enjoying ANZLF.
Cheers Robert.

[kiwigeo]

Thanks for the post Bob and thanks for letting us know you're still around. I hope you get your health issues sorted and get back to building soon. No good having a pile of lovely tonewood sitting in your shed looking pretty....it'll look much more pretty on guitar

Hi Martin, I have been a member of this forum forever but have had to stop working with wood for the time being on doctors orders but still like to visit to try to keep up to date in the hope I will eventually get back to building my guitars. I still have a very large stash of wood, some of which would be almost unobtainable these days partly due to CITIES and partly due to the world running out of some of the timber species through over logging. Anyway just letting you know I am still here and still enjoying ANZLF.
Cheers Robert.

[gerryt]

Hi all

The main reason I haven't posted is that I'm from neither Australia or New Zealand so I didn't know if it would be appropriate. I live in Scotland and have been building electric and acoustic guitars and the occasional uke for getting on for 17 years. Recently bought the books and am having my instrument building world turned upside down by them (which is what I had hoped for from them!). The forum is a fabulous resource and I appreciate all of the info on it. If it's ok I will start posting a bit although I don't have a lot of time and what I do have I try to use to build. Thanks again, Gerry in Whisky country, Speyside, Scotland

[kiwigeo]

Hi Gerry and welcome to the forum.

Despite the name we welcome members from any part of the globe. The only requirement is at least a mild interest in stringed instruments.

You mention you've just bought "The Books" which is another good reason to join our community. Quite a few of our members also have The Books and even better Trevor Gore is usually buzzing around ready to answer questions.

Cheers Martin (and Jeremy)

Hi all

The main reason I haven't posted is that I'm from neither Australia or New Zealand so I didn't know if it would be appropriate. I live in Scotland and have been building electric and acoustic guitars and the occasional uke for getting on for 17 years. Recently bought the books and am having my instrument building world turned upside down by them (which is what I had hoped for from them!). The forum is a fabulous resource and I appreciate all of the info on it. If it's ok I will start posting a bit although I don't have a lot of time and what I do have I try to use to build. Thanks again, Gerry in Whisky country, Speyside, Scotland

[gerryt]

Thanks for that Martin. The info on the books on here is unsurpassed and I find I need a bit of help interpreting some of it! It's like going back to school for me!

Anyway hope to see you on the forums.

Cheers and Merry Christmas to you and all, Gerry

[sebastiaan56]

Ive kind of changed direction in the last little while, A mandola in progress based on Cremonese Mandolin and a "I wonder if this could work mando". I'll take some nicer photos one day.

[Petecane]

Andos.
What a beautiful Ukulele you have built.
I simply love that shape of Uke.
It looks so beautifully feminine and also Martin.
( that is a compliment. )
As to your cirlcle cutters, they are magnificent.
I do not have the machines to make such so have had to make do with hand made wooden bodied circle cutters which I am quite proud of, offered to post pics of but I guess everyone is too busy.
Please post some pics of the finished Uke.
It is beautiful.
I like your style.
I notice you leave the fretting till last?
....
Dumn questions.
Well I am always asking them and I get referred to " the books " which I have ordered today to keep the peace.
I thought the whole idea of a forum was to discuss dumn questions however " the books " have all the answers so I have obeyed my instructions in ordering them.
Once I have the" the books " I may become a Lurker!
No excuses for dumn questions any more!
Pete
( an amateur old git that simply loves to have a go at making Ukes and enjoys the journey )

[Lillian]

Thank you for not binning my account Martin. Truly appreciated.

Left another soul-sucking job a bit over a year and a half ago now, but then I had to get my license for my current position. That took about nine months. I got that all sorted out, so now I actually have some free time and funds to get back in the shop.

I promised my son a new neck for his crappy knockoff strat for his birthday. So I have until November to get one all sorted out. I spent a big part of the weekend binning most of the crap that had just gotten tossed in the shop to get it out from under foot. So, progress is being made.

[Allen]

Great news Lillian. I've always enjoyed your participation here.

[kiwigeo]

No chance of your account being deleted Lillian...you're one of the originals

Nice to hear from you after so long and glad to hear there's going to be some action in your shop.

Thank you for not binning my account Martin. Truly appreciated.

Left another soul-sucking job a bit over a year and a half ago now, but then I had to get my license for my current position. That took about nine months. I got that all sorted out, so now I actually have some free time and funds to get back in the shop.

I promised my son a new neck for his crappy knockoff strat for his birthday. So I have until November to get one all sorted out. I spent a big part of the weekend binning most of the crap that had just gotten tossed in the shop to get it out from under foot. So, progress is being made.

[Mark McLean]

It is great to see you back here Lillian! I hope you have some fun making dust and shavings in the shop in the next few months, and then show us what you are doing.
Mark

[Lillian]

Hey Mark! It's good to be back. And yes, I will be asking questions and making shavings and sharing pictures. I even got a new camera, so no excuses. The first thing I'm going to be sorting out is a small practice electric guitar. Not much to it, but it should be a fun place to start.

[Duct Tape]

I’m still here too, but have been building a new shop for the past year. Also been collecting some nice anz tonewood, including some gidgee I’m terrified to bend.

Jon

[kiwigeo]

Thanks for the update Jon, put up some pics of that new shop when it's finished.

I’m still here too, but have been building a new shop for the past year. Also been collecting some nice anz tonewood, including some gidgee I’m terrified to bend.

Jon

[Andos]

Hi Pete,

Sorry for the late reply.
Thanks for for compliments about the uke - It was the 1st 1/2 way decent instument I've made. I'm just glad that the camera is very forgiving!!
As for the circle cutters, working metals is easy- wood though, I struggle with. I envy those that can make works of beauty out of wood. Post the pics of yours, I'd like to see them. I'm always interested in others peoples take on home built tools.

From one old amateur git to another
Ando

[Kid_Moe]

Hey there, I'm Tom, I'm here in Perth, I love this forum so much knowledge.

I've built two guitars/wall hangs. The first I've not intonated but enjoyed making so much I started a second.
The second I routed my saddle slot in the wrong place (I'd forgotten my scale length) and measured wrong.. like a rookie I thought the center of the 12th fret was inbetween the fret bars not the actual fret :/ not my brightest day ahah, so the intonation was way out but neck/build was of better quality.

I'm now getting the bits together to make a 3rd I've sourced some blackwood that Ive resawn and put through the thicknesser, but the machine was too aggressive and started to chip when it came close to where I wanted it.. so I was just on here "lurking" looking for information on how Im going to get my boards to width when I saw this Lurker Post..
(I'm thinking toothing plane and scraper or hand plane then scraper and sandpaper... I don't know more answers are here to be found me thinks)

Thanks for letting me join this forum and thanks to everyone who posts and contributes.
Please don't delete me I'll post some pics maybe a post Re; thicknessing, if I don't find some info already here.

Thanks.

Tom.

[56nortondomy]

Welcome Tom, we all stuff up at times, it's part of the learning process.
Wayne

[Francis]

Sadly I feel a bit of a lurker these days and must admit that I spend more time with the Acoustic Soundboard forum. However I regard the threads on this forum with the greatest respect and thank current and former contributors for their valuable and often unique approaches to both problem solving and straight forward approaches to builds.

[Kim Strode]

Hi Admin's,

I'm still lurking around from Daylesford, Vic and am currently attempting to build a 12 string acoustic guitar.

[ozziebluesman]

Hi to you all,
I am also still lurking and have a few projects on the go. One I will share with you soon is two OM builds with different top bracings and top backs and sides. I plan to do a sound demo and let you all know what I found that is interesting. I mean you've got to experiment a bit.
Thanks to Martin and Jeremy for keeping things going.
Cheers for now
Alan

[ozziebluesman]

Hi to you all,
I am also still lurking and have a few projects on the go. One I will share with you soon is two OM builds with different top bracings, backs and side materials. I plan to do a sound demo and let you all know what I found that is interesting. I mean you've got to experiment a bit.
Thanks to Martin and Jeremy for keeping things going.
Cheers for now
Alan

[Chalks]

Yep. Still lurking. I dont build a lot. Mainly because I love it. So, a Strumstick dulcimer thing, an acoustic bass, semi acoustic carved top and now a twelve string acoustic.

I dig this place. Good place to find answers.

Greg

[Bob_H]

Howdy - I’ve just completed a Stew Mac tenor kit, which I found very valuable as a first build learning experience and yielded a nice playable instrument. I have attached a couple of build photos, I have just ordered a kit from Tim Spittle which I am very excited about - a tenor with Tiger Myrtle back and sides and a King Billy sound board. I’m planning on using a Spanish heel and looking forward to tapping into the collective knowledge of the group.

[kevjed]

Hi Folks,
its been some time since I have even lurked but I am back and hope to become a (semi) regular again. My 13 yo daughter has given me a hard time about not building much I by putting it up here I am making a commitment to actually contribute. I will post my daughters first attempt at woodwork let alone a ukulele. Its only my second uke but I've made a handful of guitars over the years. I jelly of how quickly my daughter has progressed and I'm sure she will put me to shame in no time.
I just want to say thanks for all the help I've got from you all here when I was just starting out the first time. Starting out again I'm sure you will be more direct knowing that you won't offend.
See you once the banter begins.

[kiwigeo]

Thanks for the update mate. Looking forward to pics of your daughters build....and also yours when you get back into it.

Hi Folks,
its been some time since I have even lurked but I am back and hope to become a (semi) regular again. My 13 yo daughter has given me a hard time about not building much I by putting it up here I am making a commitment to actually contribute. I will post my daughters first attempt at woodwork let alone a ukulele. Its only my second uke but I've made a handful of guitars over the years. I jelly of how quickly my daughter has progressed and I'm sure she will put me to shame in no time.
I just want to say thanks for all the help I've got from you all here when I was just starting out the first time. Starting out again I'm sure you will be more direct knowing that you won't offend.
See you once the banter begins.