Rabs Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Hello all..... So ive had a small break since last Wednesday from my building... Which I needed since I don't really have "normal" holidays.. Havent had one in many many years... But anyway... So last week I went to finish that maple build and after wiring it all up I put the top and bottom E on and was presented with this... Why did this happen.. Because I hadn't thought about the string saddle notch position... What I had done was centre the bridge from the centre line... WRONG!!! On this bridge the notches arnt in the middle of the saddle but rather slightly off centred by a couple of mm So yup.. that meant I now have to take it all apart an de-solder the pups, re-route the bridge pickup, re-do the scratch plate and then re-finish the top and put it all back together again (groan).. Which last week I just didn't have the heart to do.. All just because I didn't pay enough attention to the saddle notches... So I re-cut the bridge pup cavity Which left a nasty mess... It seems that double sided tape sticks more to tru oil than the wood as I can usually get it off easy when I use it without any finish on the body Checked the new position.. and BINGO!! :) (even though I need a slightly wider nut for this guitar) I then filled in the holes since what normally happenes when you do stuff like this is that the old holes overlap or are just at the side of the new ones I will need to make.. So its better to fill them first Then I took a ahhemm "burst" type shape off the top which I will re-finish tomorrow So I will let that glue dry and get back to this tomorrow... Anyway... So this shows just how much attention you have to pay to EVERY single detail... or you make way more work for yourself... If I was actually on the clock for this job it would be costing me badly... But I guess this is why im still learning... So.. like the scratched record that I sound like... Almost there :) More soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Hang on, Rabs; Couldn't you had simply sourced a different set of saddles?... Bit late now, I suppose, but aren't there any which would have allowed you to use the original bridge with the notches centred? P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Hang on, Rabs; Couldn't you had simply sourced a different set of saddles?... Bit late now, I suppose, but aren't there any which would have allowed you to use the original bridge with the notches centred? P. Yeah I guess I could have.. or just got another bridge.... But I am at a point where im really trying not to spend any more money that I don't have... And I have found when ordering parts theres always something that's the wrong spec and I dont want to order wrong stuff.. and ohh I don't know... I have had a look online and most of them are just like the ones I have slightly off centred or didn't look quite right (just cheap 3rd part stuff)...... Lol as I say I got very frustrated with it all last week and probably wasn't thinking about it all quite straight... As you say though.. Its done now.. and it all gives me more experience in re-finishing and stuff... which I obviously need :) And that's why ive been experimenting with different types of hardware.. so I learn all of these little issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Why didn't you just cut new slots in the saddles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Why didn't you just cut new slots in the saddles? Cos if you look.. The current slots go almost to the centre so if I tried to make centre slots they would possibly overlap and end up massive. I think it would have got very messy.. It would certainly have been REALLY close Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Scales Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH!!!!! I feel your frustration Rabs - that's about how most of my attempted 'handyman' jobs go working round the house... or car, or... :angry: Talk about the devil in the datail. I have a friend who builds c1600.00 GBP guitars and reckons on about minimum wage if he ever calculated profit by the hour worked - there clearly are no shortcuts and everything needs to be considered of itself and in the function and in the bigger picture. I guess you bulid a checklist over time and then refer to it time and time again. At least you have something tangible to be proud of at the end and hopefully for years to come - not all that many jobs where you can claim that these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 AAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHH!!!!! I feel your frustration Rabs - that's about how most of my attempted 'handyman' jobs go working round the house... or car, or... :angry: Talk about the devil in the datail. I have a friend who builds c1600.00 GBP guitars and reckons on about minimum wage if he ever calculated profit by the hour worked - there clearly are no shortcuts and everything needs to be considered of itself and in the function and in the bigger picture. I guess you bulid a checklist over time and then refer to it time and time again. At least you have something tangible to be proud of at the end and hopefully for years to come - not all that many jobs where you can claim that these days. Yes well im trying :) And yes the frustration wasn't just over that one silly mistake... Its like each time I think im about to get to a point where I can publicly show my guitars off these sort of things keep happening.. So its just a case of more and more time... and ive been at this lets say one and a half years now... It does just go to show that the skills needed have to be learned properly over time and theres no real short cut for it... I actually looked into going to college and learning on a proper certified course on instrument making (at one of the oldest places in London to learn such things) but that still would have taken at least three years (and goes up to five years) and its EXTREAMLY expensive.. I couldn't do it that way.. so resorted to doing it my own way which means I have to go through this and make all these mistakes... all path of the course I guess :) (I do wonder sometimes just how much of this sort of info on my learning I should share publicly :unsure: :)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pin Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 (I do wonder sometimes just how much of this sort of info on my learning I should share publicly :unsure: :)) Well, that's a legitimate question Rabs and only you can answer it. However, speaking for myself I am glad you do share your trials and tribulations. For every mistake you make, I'd make a dozen more so please don't despair but keep at it and you WILL get there. Any kind of carpentry (and guitar building is, as you've found, so much more than just carpentry) is a real skill which purchasers of products only (generally) appreciate in terms of the finished product. But you are showing us the warts and all of guitar building and that is a lesson for all of us. Keep at it and the best of British for the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Well, that's a legitimate question Rabs and only you can answer it. However, speaking for myself I am glad you do share your trials and tribulations. For every mistake you make, I'd make a dozen more so please don't despair but keep at it and you WILL get there. Any kind of carpentry (and guitar building is, as you've found, so much more than just carpentry) is a real skill which purchasers of products only (generally) appreciate in terms of the finished product. But you are showing us the warts and all of guitar building and that is a lesson for all of us. Keep at it and the best of British for the future. Thanks man... As always that's appreciated.... I guess I always knew it wouldn't be so easy.. But if you are gonna do something, do it right... Im sure its just like learning to play a guitar.. You struggle through that initial learning curve, but you do it as you know (or hope :)) that by the end of it, it will all be worth the effort... which it usually is... In saying all that.. even when I get there, running a successful business doing this is a whole other ball game, with a whole new learning curve :unsure: But im gonna go for it. I would regret it if I didn't that's one thing I am sure of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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