That method of thinning a wood shim between two sanding blocks is worth the price of admission, alone. This is a remarkably educational channel. Thank you.
Well stated. Great method for sizing small pieces of thin veneers. I'm a furniture repairman and learned a very valuable technique today, definitely entertained and impressed with the skills demonstrated here.
Wow I have not heard of Grit for years, decades maybe. His inlay work was amazing and he was a big influence to me to be a luthier. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I watched a documentary starring Grit when I was in high school in the 80's (TVO) and bought the book he published on T.O. area luthiers including Inokuchi (violins) and Linda Manzer (guitars). I was a guitar player of limited means (dirt poor) at the time and began to turn pieces of wood into musical instruments. Every luthier's trade magazine/journal at the time had articles on or by Laskin and his phenomenal inlay work. I've never played one but have heard them played. His inlay work is like expertly applied make up on Charlize Theron.
Your videos featuring lesser known brands is very instructive. I’m as snooty as any American, but there are other luthiers out there. Thanks for the variety.
So. I am an I&E technician for a paper mill in Louisiana. Everything I do has to be exactly right. Apparently I have a long way to go in attention to detail. Keep doing what you do!
I always feel like I did when I was a little kid, watching the Woodwright shop or an animal documentary, when I watch your vids. I love, love, love em!
Socrates (is reported to have said, by Plato), “The more I know, the more I know I don’t know”. Watching and hearing you delightfully and artfully repair these guitars is a truly beautiful thing. The problem is, now I’m terrified at the prospect of changing strings on my Martin for fear of something I don’t know! ✌️❤️🙏🇦🇺
Bah... Changing strings is easy. Just get the same gauge you had on it to begin with and everything should be good. Every guitarist should know the basics, in my opinion. Also, you can generally go a size lighter or a size heavier without needing to change your setup - on a decent guitar. With age, my preference is to move to lighter strings - but I own some truly antiquated instruments. If you lived nearby, I'd tell you to come on over and I'd change your strings while you watched, or have you do it while I watched. It's a trivial thing to do. They will stretch when new, so tuning won't be stable immediately - especially if you play hard. Wrap to the inside and up. Use a string winder that has the tool to remove the pegs that hold the strings in place. Plus the winder will help you wind up after faster. It's really, really basic. You've got this. If not, search online (right here on TH-cam, if you want) and I'm sure there are 10,000 videos that will show you how to change your strings.
As an amateur luthier/guitar repair tech, there are things I will do myself like fret leveling, recrown, and polish. And then there are things I will never do, like a refret on an old maple neck Fender (guitar builders will know why). Fear and respect for the process is a good thing. There is an old carpenter's adage: You know something when you've seen it done, did it yourself, and then taught it to someone. Watch builders/repair techs like Ted and then try it for yourself on a few less precious instruments. I did my first fret job on a pawn shop Washburn electric that a past owner stripped and attempted to refinish. I bought 50$ CAD for parts.
Hi, my comment about fear of changing strings was a metaphor. Ive been changing guitar strings for near-on 50 years, but thanks for the lesson. Have grea day. @@galeng73
What an absolutely beautiful sounding and beautifully made musical instrument that is. The attention to detail on the inlay work is just spectacular. It actually has quite a bit of depth to the tone considering the smaller body size. Nice job on this one.
Lovely work, Ted. I can't play pick-style. I learned from Simon & Garfunkle records in the 70s and can only fingerpick, dunno how you manage to hit the strings so accurately!
Beautiful guitar. Being in the US, this is the first one I've seen. Beautiful inlay. I've a fondness for Oval Soundholes and use them for my Octave Mandolin/Bouzouki Builds (on my 6th and hopefully last prototype. Being disabled means I don't get to work on my designs every day).
I know you have explained this before, but that was one of the most elegant explanations of sandpaper pulls I ever heard. As a matter of interest, on bolt ons I have pulled with the paper at an angleso that the central portion at the bottom also gets some action. Although the paper is at an angle, I still pull straight. Seems to work.
Rings like a bell! Great work, Ted! I'm working on reducing action on an old Harmony Sovreign that I rebraced 20 years ago, hoping not to have to reset the neck, just reduce the wedge I added last time under the fretboard overhang and maybe a bridge doctor. Thanks for the sanding tips!
I got into a great conversation, once, with the absolute legend that was Rick Turner (may he rest in peace) about Thomas Humphrey and Howe-Orme and the spectacular Compass Rose brand of acoustic instruments that Rick was making at the time. He mentioned that Mr Humphrey was none-too-pleased with him for his design choice but also brought up Howe-Orme (which was a big rabbit hole for me) and "others". I am assuming that this maker was one of the others that he was referring to.
That's a beautiful acoustic. I have one with the "arm carve" though it's done a bit crudely compared to this guitar. It's sounds a nice as it looks! I have picked up many nice-looking acoustics that were duds sonically speaking. What a specimen of great craftsmanship!
What a great trick with the sanding blocks. Thanks for that one. Great sounding guitar. I like that it's looks kind of gypsy Jazz but sounds amazing. The jazz guitars sound very thin to me. As always very perfect work. I've never seen a neck without a mortise of some sort and just this week I've seen two.
I did a similar two-bolt neck heel adjustment a few years ago. I was able to use feeler gauges slipped between the heel and the body up above the upper bolt. I could even string up the instrument to account for rotational stress movement etc. (I'd already roughed out the new saddle.) Then I removed the neck and took the gauge thickness in material from the base of the heel. Then blended this up to nothing under the fretboard. It wasn't perfect first time, but it was very close. As well as a few light sandpaper pulls, I also used carbon paper to perfect the fit of the heel against the body. Thanks as always for your videos mate.
While I'm not familiar with this luthier's work, I love the sound and It is simply a beautiful instrument.. The ebony bridge pad was certainly a surprise too. . I wondered how you were going to hold the neck against the body for the sandpaper pulls, you make it look easy. Thank you for taking the time, never get tired of your work.
for adjusting the angle of a butt-joint bolt-on neck, forego the paper-strip pull method and get yourself a very flat hard surface (I use a piece of marble) and mount it on the end of your bench. stick some sandpaper on the marble and now you have a fixed sanding surface you can push/pull the neck heel surface back and forth on. Using hand pressure on the heel end removes more material there, you can take more material off of one side of the heel by pushing only, or pulling for the opposite side. This makes setting the angle of a butt-join bolt-on neck extremely fast and super easy, with zero chance of damaging existing finish on the body of the guitar!
interesting! i'd still be kind of scared of throwing off my flatness or straightness or the correct angles or whatever while freely sliding the neck heel around on a sanding surface what i did do with a tacoma i reset (similar butt joint) was to indeed set up a flat plate on the edge of a bench but keep to the paper-strip pull method. i was also able to just center a wide strip under the entire heel and pull, as opposed to doing one side and then the other
Teacher..Guitar Surgeon.. Professor of Luthiery..Ted has taught many more than me to do their own repairs.. Myself? I'm very thankful for him passing on his knowledge.
Ted, beautiful repair on that little piece of wood that was pulling away on the heel. Thanks for another very informative and interesting video. Merry Christmas friend!
Wow, what a strange instrument! In over 30 years of playing guitar and being a part time luthier, I have never seen a flat top with a raised fretboard like that, and DEFINITELY nothing that had a negative neck angle, pulling the strings up like that. It's crazy how much the top moves under tension 😲 I own one of the strangest flat tops I've seen- '81 Ibanez Ragtime Special. Oval sound hole, raised rosewood ring around the soundhole (as opposed to an inlaid rosette) fingerboard extension out over the soundhole to get 24 frets on the high E and B strings, and a fiberboard baffle around the inside of the soundhole which directs the sound waves out to make it bigger sounding. It's like an OOO size, but sounds just as big and loud. It's actually one of the loudest acoustics I have ever played on.
‘Hey there gang’. Happy to be part of the gang.
That method of thinning a wood shim between two sanding blocks is worth the price of admission, alone. This is a remarkably educational channel. Thank you.
Well stated. Great method for sizing small pieces of thin veneers. I'm a furniture repairman and learned a very valuable technique today, definitely entertained and impressed with the skills demonstrated here.
"Well hey there gang!"
Day instantly improves.
Your attention to detail is second to none. That is what makes the difference between a good repair or modification and a great one.
Wow I have not heard of Grit for years, decades maybe. His inlay work was amazing and he was a big influence to me to be a luthier.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
what do you use instead? is it an SAE thing? like "True Grit" .. lololololo
I watched a documentary starring Grit when I was in high school in the 80's (TVO) and bought the book he published on T.O. area luthiers including Inokuchi (violins) and Linda Manzer (guitars). I was a guitar player of limited means (dirt poor) at the time and began to turn pieces of wood into musical instruments. Every luthier's trade magazine/journal at the time had articles on or by Laskin and his phenomenal inlay work. I've never played one but have heard them played. His inlay work is like expertly applied make up on Charlize Theron.
Sir…you are a true craftsman…it is a joy to watch you….
What a gorgeous instrument! I don't know how many resets I've watched you do, but it never gets old!
Your videos featuring lesser known brands is very instructive. I’m as snooty as any American, but there are other luthiers out there. Thanks for the variety.
This guitar is quite a surprise, & the bolt on design works well for neck re-setting. - Totally changed my mind on bolt on necks. Excellent.!
What an incredibly beautiful guitar! Great work by both of you.
So. I am an I&E technician for a paper mill in Louisiana. Everything I do has to be exactly right. Apparently I have a long way to go in attention to detail. Keep doing what you do!
Beautiful guitar, and awesome work as usual!
VERY skillful work, many thanks 😮😮😊
I always feel like I did when I was a little kid, watching the Woodwright shop or an animal documentary, when I watch your vids. I love, love, love em!
Always enjoyable watching a craftsman like you mate 😂
Wow! This one is incredibly bright and loud. The bluegrass players would love to get their hands on one of these!
Socrates (is reported to have said, by Plato), “The more I know, the more I know I don’t know”. Watching and hearing you delightfully and artfully repair these guitars is a truly beautiful thing. The problem is, now I’m terrified at the prospect of changing strings on my Martin for fear of something I don’t know! ✌️❤️🙏🇦🇺
Bah... Changing strings is easy. Just get the same gauge you had on it to begin with and everything should be good.
Every guitarist should know the basics, in my opinion.
Also, you can generally go a size lighter or a size heavier without needing to change your setup - on a decent guitar. With age, my preference is to move to lighter strings - but I own some truly antiquated instruments. If you lived nearby, I'd tell you to come on over and I'd change your strings while you watched, or have you do it while I watched. It's a trivial thing to do. They will stretch when new, so tuning won't be stable immediately - especially if you play hard. Wrap to the inside and up. Use a string winder that has the tool to remove the pegs that hold the strings in place. Plus the winder will help you wind up after faster.
It's really, really basic. You've got this. If not, search online (right here on TH-cam, if you want) and I'm sure there are 10,000 videos that will show you how to change your strings.
As an amateur luthier/guitar repair tech, there are things I will do myself like fret leveling, recrown, and polish. And then there are things I will never do, like a refret on an old maple neck Fender (guitar builders will know why). Fear and respect for the process is a good thing. There is an old carpenter's adage: You know something when you've seen it done, did it yourself, and then taught it to someone. Watch builders/repair techs like Ted and then try it for yourself on a few less precious instruments. I did my first fret job on a pawn shop Washburn electric that a past owner stripped and attempted to refinish. I bought 50$ CAD for parts.
Hi, my comment about fear of changing strings was a metaphor. Ive been changing guitar strings for near-on 50 years, but thanks for the lesson. Have grea day. @@galeng73
What an absolutely beautiful sounding and beautifully made musical instrument that is. The attention to detail on the inlay work is just spectacular. It actually has quite a bit of depth to the tone considering the smaller body size.
Nice job on this one.
I like the tip about the shim between two sanding blocks
Ted, you take precision woodwork to the highest level possible. You should be paid accordingly !
What a pretty guitar! The headstock and pickguard are beautiful
Great fine detail work and a pleasure to watch. A beautiful, almost 12 string, ring to it 🤗
Lovely work, Ted. I can't play pick-style. I learned from Simon & Garfunkle records in the 70s and can only fingerpick, dunno how you manage to hit the strings so accurately!
Great video and a very nice looking guitar. Thank you
I really enjoyed the builders suggestions! They were insights I had not considered. Thank you!
Beautiful guitar. Being in the US, this is the first one I've seen. Beautiful inlay. I've a fondness for Oval Soundholes and use them for my Octave Mandolin/Bouzouki Builds (on my 6th and hopefully last prototype. Being disabled means I don't get to work on my designs every day).
That's a pretty sound. Thanks a lot for another free neck re-set course, very well explained.
I know you have explained this before, but that was one of the most elegant explanations of sandpaper pulls I ever heard. As a matter of interest, on bolt ons I have pulled with the paper at an angleso that the central portion at the bottom also gets some action. Although the paper is at an angle, I still pull straight. Seems to work.
Thank you Ted ! 👍👍👍
The master of masters!
Wow! What projection...a instrument worthy of your expertise!
Wonderful work, Merry Christmas to all mankind. xXx
Got shirt from your former supplier. Love it. Prized addition to my stylish wardrobe
Forever grateful for your existence Ted
Beautiful guitar! Another job well done!
Thank you for the valuable lesson, much appreciated!
Rings like a bell! Great work, Ted! I'm working on reducing action on an old Harmony Sovreign that I rebraced 20 years ago, hoping not to have to reset the neck, just reduce the wedge I added last time under the fretboard overhang and maybe a bridge doctor. Thanks for the sanding tips!
Gotta love that bolt on neck: no steam, no sweat, no problems.
I really enjoy your videos. Thank you!
Beautiful instrument, beautiful work
I got into a great conversation, once, with the absolute legend that was Rick Turner (may he rest in peace) about Thomas Humphrey and Howe-Orme and the spectacular Compass Rose brand of acoustic instruments that Rick was making at the time. He mentioned that Mr Humphrey was none-too-pleased with him for his design choice but also brought up Howe-Orme (which was a big rabbit hole for me) and "others". I am assuming that this maker was one of the others that he was referring to.
wow i really like how that one looks, its rounded in a very nice way
I find these videos so relaxing, in a kind of Zen-like way 🙂Also, I'm amazed by your eye for detail and the precision of your work!
That's a beautiful acoustic. I have one with the "arm carve" though it's done a bit crudely compared to this guitar. It's sounds a nice as it looks! I have picked up many nice-looking acoustics that were duds sonically speaking. What a specimen of great craftsmanship!
What a great trick with the sanding blocks. Thanks for that one. Great sounding guitar. I like that it's looks kind of gypsy Jazz but sounds amazing. The jazz guitars sound very thin to me. As always very perfect work. I've never seen a neck without a mortise of some sort and just this week I've seen two.
once again another fine job by T Woodford . . . Bravo!
Great job; what an interesting guitar design. Your attention to detail is always impressive. Thanks Ted.
I did a similar two-bolt neck heel adjustment a few years ago. I was able to use feeler gauges slipped between the heel and the body up above the upper bolt. I could even string up the instrument to account for rotational stress movement etc. (I'd already roughed out the new saddle.) Then I removed the neck and took the gauge thickness in material from the base of the heel. Then blended this up to nothing under the fretboard. It wasn't perfect first time, but it was very close. As well as a few light sandpaper pulls, I also used carbon paper to perfect the fit of the heel against the body. Thanks as always for your videos mate.
That heel block repair turned out mint! 👍
Thanks for another great tutorial. I have a neck reset to do and have been going through a bunch of your videos - VERY helpful!
beautiful guitar! great work by Ted
I always learn new ‘luthiering’ things in your videos, Ted.
Very good stuff!
While I'm not familiar with this luthier's work, I love the sound and It is simply a beautiful instrument.. The ebony bridge pad was certainly a surprise too. . I wondered how you were going to hold the neck against the body for the sandpaper pulls, you make it look easy. Thank you for taking the time, never get tired of your work.
Such a wonderful repair work! Great job again Ted!
A genius at work, thanks once again Ted.
i cannot explain it. i simply like your videos.
A lot of great information in this vid, Ted!! Thank you for all of your efforts in repairing as well as editing!! You are dearly appreciated man! 🙏
I was really hoping for a rendition of the intro music. This seemed like the ideal guitar for it.
A very well-made guitar and a great job of getting it back as it should be. Wishing you and yours a great Christmas and New Year!
Wow, sounds amazing !! Thanks again for the video & seasons best to you sir !! :)
for adjusting the angle of a butt-joint bolt-on neck, forego the paper-strip pull method and get yourself a very flat hard surface (I use a piece of marble) and mount it on the end of your bench. stick some sandpaper on the marble and now you have a fixed sanding surface you can push/pull the neck heel surface back and forth on. Using hand pressure on the heel end removes more material there, you can take more material off of one side of the heel by pushing only, or pulling for the opposite side. This makes setting the angle of a butt-join bolt-on neck extremely fast and super easy, with zero chance of damaging existing finish on the body of the guitar!
interesting! i'd still be kind of scared of throwing off my flatness or straightness or the correct angles or whatever while freely sliding the neck heel around on a sanding surface
what i did do with a tacoma i reset (similar butt joint) was to indeed set up a flat plate on the edge of a bench but keep to the paper-strip pull method. i was also able to just center a wide strip under the entire heel and pull, as opposed to doing one side and then the other
Teacher..Guitar Surgeon.. Professor of Luthiery..Ted has taught many more than me to do their own repairs.. Myself? I'm very thankful for him passing on his knowledge.
That’s a really nice acoustic. The ebony bridge plate was cool I wonder if it helps the high end.
Masterful work, and so much respect for the builder!
I enjoy seeing the different guitars you get to work on, Thanks.
I cant get "Telegram" to work on my computer...it's really old
That’s a good and interesting point about the shape of the heel, I hadn’t previously considered that…
Such a beautiful guitar. Lovely job. Thank you
Oval holes are indeed a challenge .My side ports are oval and love to see this .More please young man !
Woohoo, the spotty blankets back! 🥳
That binding is wonderful!
Great synopsis, fantastic work, and the sound is delightful!
I like the overall aesthetic of the guitar. I especially like the shape of the bridge.
I once saw a classical guitar with a neck set like that. It had a strong bass. I got to record the player, it sounded great.
Beautiful guitar, masterful work by you. Clap clap
Beautiful work! That think sounds great
Beautiful. That guitar really sings.
I have a set of those same machinists squares. They have been more useful than I thought when I first bought them.
An amazing guitar.
Fascinating and well-narrated.
Stunning instrument!
Thanks for the video!
Ted, beautiful repair on that little piece of wood that was pulling away on the heel. Thanks for another very informative and interesting video. Merry Christmas friend!
Gorgeous!
Beautiful work as always
Interesting techniques that you use. Thanks for sharing your expertise. PS - what a beautiful instrument.
Looks good sounds good 👍
Interesting design
What a cool video! Thanks! If I don't have a chance later on Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Nothing better than a new video while on a 24 hour shift :)
Nice sounding guitar. Sensitive repair.👍
Wow, what a strange instrument! In over 30 years of playing guitar and being a part time luthier, I have never seen a flat top with a raised fretboard like that, and DEFINITELY nothing that had a negative neck angle, pulling the strings up like that. It's crazy how much the top moves under tension 😲
I own one of the strangest flat tops I've seen- '81 Ibanez Ragtime Special. Oval sound hole, raised rosewood ring around the soundhole (as opposed to an inlaid rosette) fingerboard extension out over the soundhole to get 24 frets on the high E and B strings, and a fiberboard baffle around the inside of the soundhole which directs the sound waves out to make it bigger sounding. It's like an OOO size, but sounds just as big and loud. It's actually one of the loudest acoustics I have ever played on.
The unmatched bridge pins are driving me batty! Never could I ever!
Great work as always.
Beautiful guitar, indeed.
Nice work! I always admire your patience!👍😎🎸🎶
That's a beautiful instrument.
Sounds so good.
That is a truly beautiful guitar, sounds good even though I was listening on my phone
Excellent😊
Beautiful guitar. As always, your meticulous work is a pleasure to watch. Happy holidays, Ted!
All the best to you and your family
Man you do good work!