Thread: Goings on in the Workshop

No guitar building in the shop for next few days..busy dealing with a flood of tonewood that has arrived from various locations. Got to get the stuff properly stacked and stickered before going off to work next week.

Right..ok...its friday the 13th so its to be expected that something catastrophic should happen in the workshop. The Hauser Classical has a back problem which requires major surgery. For some unknown reason the back of the instrument has lost its 15' radius curve and now has developed a noticeable concave profile about midships. A loose back strut was the obvious suspect but the struts are all intact. I worked the back a bit thinner than backs on previous instruments so maybe that has something to do with it. Anyway after much thought I have decided to remove the back and replace same. Many would say the instrument will still sound okay with its dodgey back but to me it just doesnt look right so off it comes.

Friday the 13th wasnt all bad...I finally got instrument No 2 finished and strung up and once its had a week for the French Polish to harden it will be going to its new owner...a bass player in an all girl lesbian rock band. Pic attached of the finished beast.

Thats one rockin classical martin, love the contrast between the rosewood and the spruce.
I'm about to start a Hauser design myself, I've never done one so would love to know what bits you think worked and what bits you'd do differently.
I reckon the back sink is coz the humidity had dropped below the level at which the thing was glued together. I'm with you for changing it too! I'm sure its quite stable and will work fine as it is, but i reckon if somethings not quite right like that, and its bugging you, and you go back and fix it even though it'll take hours, then thats how you get good! takes it too a next level
Jack

Hi Jack,

Humidity is a possible cause but the workshop is climate controlled to minimise risk of these sort of problems. I'll go a bit thicker with the back this time around or go to same thickness but whack in a fourth back brace.

Cheers Martin

You're probably right martin, I must admit i have a tendency to blame humidty changes for everything! Its always been such an issue for me.. but I doubt theres much risk of too much moisture in South Australia these days! And if you're running a dehmidifier anyway.
Thinking about what you said about the back being a bit light, do you think its possible that the normal slight distortion in the body that comes with the string tension has changed the alighnment of the sides/ back enough to do it?

although.. I cant help going back to the humitity thing! Might it be possible that its gone the other way a bit, meaning it was a bit too dry when glued up and the expansion in the back now that its out in the world has gone a tad too far?
Forgive me if i seem to be over analysing it! I get similar things happen too, I generally blame myself for not fitting it well enough in the first place, but theres still a bit of alchemy involved it seems..
Jack

All comments most welcome Jack. You've built alot more instruments than I have and have no doubt run into the same hiccups that Im having.

Bindings and purflings have been routed out and Im now in the process of lifting the back off the linings. So far its all coming off in one piece.

Cheers Martin

Guitar No 3, a steel string got a fret job on friday. Pics attached.

Its been raining for the last 3 days here in Adelaide so no ourdoor domestics going on. have managaned to get stuck into the french polishing on No 3 (steel string) and No 4 (Classical). Pics 1 and 2 are of the classical and pic 3 is the steel string. Both guitars are getting body sessions using 1.5 lb cut blonde shellac. The muneca is gauze with used T shirt material wrapped around.

That guitar looks good enough to eat!

I have found that french polishing when its raining is much harder. Need a dry warm day to get good results. But I suppose you have a nice climatised shed?

I'm afraid I don't think I have the guts to tackle french polishing on my bass.
I'd love to, but its just too big. But i could be convinced ...

Hi Matthew,

Yep the workshop is held at a steady 18-20 deg C and humidity at around 40%. Its also ideal temperature for drinking red wine

I havent had a chance to check in to the website and get an update on progress with your bass. I trust its all going well.

Cheers Martin

That's looking sensational, Martin. It's very impressive.
I don't know much about french polishing techniques, but as soon as I
prise the spraygun out of my hands, I'll do some research and give it an
allmighty crack. What's the worse that could happen..........
apart from total failure

cheers, Stu

Stu,

The great thing about French Polishing is...if it all turns out to be a total catastrophe you can simply whip out some wet and dry and sand it all off and start again. Dont ask me how I know

Well, I got a few body coats on the classical and then after looking at the back of the guitar under natural light decided I wasnt 100% happy with the grain fill job. Soooooo......out with the 120 grit sandpaper and off came the shellac. I then applied one further coat of full strength Z-poxy with a credit card and sanded same back to bare wood after 12 hours. After applying a couple of wash coats of 1.5lb cut shellac the pores appear to be filled alot better and its now full steam ahead on the French Polish job.