Thread: Cumpiano and cork sheet

6mm cork tiles with 3mm mdf curout in the middle
or lino tiles maybe

art supplies shops

Hi Ross,
I don't know if it helps or not, but I made mine from Cumpiano's book too.
I got my cork from Embleton's at 147 Bakers Road North Coburg Melbourne, they may have an office or similar in Sydney.
I think it cost me $5 for a large sheet, which I am still cutting bits off 6 years later
BBM

Thanks guys Hobyco in Sydney seem to have what I want on their website.

Hey bassbuilderman how did the Guitar turn out?


Ross

Hi Ross,
Thanks for the interest.
Like you probably, I decided to build a classical guitar because I thought I could do it. Bought Cumpiano's book,spent 6 months reading and digesting it. I had no wood skills, apart from high school tech. What I learned from the experience is great. I moved on to electric basses (4 built) and 1 six string electric. I build according to my son's interest and whatever he is playing at the time. Sounds a bit corny, but I enjoy him using the guitars and seeing them used on stage.

Back to the classical, well it was the first, so there are some things that I would definitely do better. The sound is terrific. I followed the book as much as possible, though I did look at Jim Williams book too. Did the brushing lacquer from Stewmac. The finished aspect in the book lacks a bit I think, I've learnt much more on subsequent builds. Experience is everything, but having said that I'm still learning

I got most of my timber from Gilets, neck from AFT. I got caught a bit on the upper transverse brace curve, so I had to put a shim between the neck and the top.

But you know, there is an unofficial rule with Cumpiano (so I believe) and that is id you get into sh*t, you can email him and he will answer. I did and he did too. But just don't push your luck with silly questions or stuff that is already on his site. Contact him if you get into real doo-doo.


Having a break from building at the moment 'cos SWMBO wants some chopping boards
BBM

Originally Posted by bassbuilderman

Hi Ross,
Thanks for the interest.
Like you probably, I decided to build a classical guitar because I thought I could do it. Bought Cumpiano's book,spent 6 months reading and digesting it. I had no wood skills, apart from high school tech. What I learned from the experience is great. I moved on to electric basses (4 built) and 1 six string electric. I build according to my son's interest and whatever he is playing at the time. Sounds a bit corny, but I enjoy him using the guitars and seeing them used on stage.

Back to the classical, well it was the first, so there are some things that I would definitely do better. The sound is terrific. I followed the book as much as possible, though I did look at Jim Williams book too. Did the brushing lacquer from Stewmac. The finished aspect in the book lacks a bit I think, I've learnt much more on subsequent builds. Experience is everything, but having said that I'm still learning

I got most of my timber from Gilets, neck from AFT. I got caught a bit on the upper transverse brace curve, so I had to put a shim between the neck and the top.

But you know, there is an unofficial rule with Cumpiano (so I believe) and that is id you get into sh*t, you can email him and he will answer. I did and he did too. But just don't push your luck with silly questions or stuff that is already on his site. Contact him if you get into real doo-doo.


Having a break from building at the moment 'cos SWMBO wants some chopping boards
BBM

BBM

I got plenty of woodworking behind me but I dont think the difficulty is in the woodwork as such more the planning and execution in the right order.

Despite have a well equipped workshop I find that every tool I seem to need I dont have for this work and i dont have to money to buy them so I am getting frustrated more by the day.

I am a bass player so my first effort was going to be a fretted 4 string but while researching that I started to play guitar and got hooked on that and the idea of making guitars in general.
Got put off starting the gass on a tight budget because of the cost of the electronics etc.

Ross

Sure , its not the cheapest hobby to get into...having said that
you can get away with just regular hand tools....I have a few specialty tools but not many.
what sort of tools are you talking about that you think you may need..?

The only ones out of the norm I have is a heating blanket and a safe-t-planer .

Originally Posted by gratay

Sure , its not the cheapest hobby to get into...having said that
you can get away with just regular hand tools....I have a few specialty tools but not many.
what sort of tools are you talking about that you think you may need..?

The only ones out of the norm I have is a heating blanket and a safe-t-planer .

Well other than the big ticket items like a thickness sander and Spindle sander which while not technically needed do make life a lot easier.
The tools I dont have but can see myself needing real soon are

• Fret File
• Nut files
• Reamer
• Deep clamps for bridge glueing etc
• Fret Saw & Mitre Box
• Purfling tools
• Electric Side Bending Iron (sure you can use metal pipes and a propane torch but if you dont have one to get one and a bottle with gas etc is well pas the half way cost to the electric one)
• Rosette Cutter (was making one till my lathe blew up)
• Assorted router bits

Ross

Originally Posted by Different

Well other than the big ticket items like a thickness sander and Spindle sander which while not technically needed do make life a lot easier.
The tools I dont have but can see myself needing real soon are

• Fret File
• Nut files
• Reamer
• Deep clamps for bridge glueing etc
• Fret Saw & Mitre Box
• Purfling tools
• Electric Side Bending Iron (sure you can use metal pipes and a propane torch but if you dont have one to get one and a bottle with gas etc is well pas the half way cost to the electric one)
• Rosette Cutter (was making one till my lathe blew up)
• Assorted router bits

Ross

Welcome to my world...

There is ALWAYS something else...

Originally Posted by mongrel

6mm cork tiles with 3mm mdf curout in the middle
or lino tiles maybe

Dont use lino..it'll scratch the hell out of your spruce, especially if its Englemann.

I dont bother with the cork on my solera. I have a sheet of that rubbery non skid material you put under rugs etc sandwiched between the solera and my top. I buy the things from Woolies. All youre doing is protecting the spruce top from the solera surface. The material must be thin and flexible enough to conform with the surface of the solera, especially in the lower bout area where the surface is dished. To minimise damage to tops I always give the solera surface a quick rub with sand paper after removing the guitar from the solera.

If youre using Campianos book then use it in conjunction with his website. Hes changed his philosophy on a few things (eg bolt on necks on steel strings) since the book was written. The website also has some other valuable info on it.

Cheers Martin

I got cork sheets from Spotlight, but it's only about 1/16" thick.

Originally Posted by Different

Well other than the big ticket items like a thickness sander and Spindle sander which while not technically needed do make life a lot easier.
The tools I dont have but can see myself needing real soon are

• Fret File
• Nut files
• Reamer
• Deep clamps for bridge glueing etc
• Fret Saw & Mitre Box
• Purfling tools
• Electric Side Bending Iron (sure you can use metal pipes and a propane torch but if you dont have one to get one and a bottle with gas etc is well pas the half way cost to the electric one)
• Rosette Cutter (was making one till my lathe blew up)
• Assorted router bits

Ross

I am also constrained by the amount of funds available for this hobby..
my solution was to buy tools as I need them ...and utilise my own ideas and jigs alone the way if i think it will do the job..
hence the paddle pop stick rosette cutter,...I made a base for my laminate trimmer for cutting binding ledges for the cost of 2 bearings to register on the sides.
yes , some of those tools are expensive ...but you won't be needing fret crowning files and fret saws and mitres box's till way further down the track...

Originally Posted by gratay

I am also constrained by the amount of funds available for this hobby..
my solution was to buy tools as I need them ...and utilise my own ideas and jigs alone the way if i think it will do the job..
hence the paddle pop stick rosette cutter,...I made a base for my laminate trimmer for cutting binding ledges for the cost of 2 bearings to register on the sides.
yes , some of those tools are expensive ...but you won't be needing fret crowning files and fret saws and mitres box's till way further down the track...

How long do you think it is going to take.
If I had all the bits and pieces and tools I would have something that looked like a guitar in a week or two.

Ross

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

Dont use lino..it'll scratch the hell out of your spruce, especially if its Englemann.

I dont bother with the cork on my solera. I have a sheet of that rubbery non skid material you put under rugs etc sandwiched between the solera and my top. I buy the things from Woolies. All youre doing is protecting the spruce top from the solera surface. The material must be thin and flexible enough to conform with the surface of the solera, especially in the lower bout area where the surface is dished. To minimise damage to tops I always give the solera surface a quick rub with sand paper after removing the guitar from the solera.

If youre using Campianos book then use it in conjunction with his website. Hes changed his philosophy on a few things (eg bolt on necks on steel strings) since the book was written. The website also has some other valuable info on it.

Cheers Martin

What is a "Solera"


Ross