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Geniune Mahogany

Description from Gilmer, where I bought these neck blanks.

Swietenia macrophylla

Also called Acajou, Tropical American Mahogany, and Honduras Mahogany. This medium to large tree occurs throughout Central and South America. Related to Cuban Mahogany (Swietenia mahogani) and Pacific Coast Mahogany (Swietenia humilis). It produces one of the classic furniture and cabinetmaking woods. The heartwood varies from a light reddish-brown to a rich, dark red. Generally straight grained and exceptionally stable, it is easy to machine, hand plane, sand and finish. Occasional logs produce several figures, curly, quilted, and the rare plum pudding figure which looks like large drips running down the board. Used in fine furniture and joinery, boat building, and in the guitar industry for acoustic sets and necks.
Such a joy to plane! Easy even at 0.2mm!!!

Planing the neck face that that the FB will be glued to.

Yesterday, only planed the headstock prior to gluing scarf joint.

Guitar Repair #116 - Soundboard/Side Centreseam Split /End Block Loose - Yamaha CG-110 - Classical

9/11/21
I was going through my repair blog entries.
Many early guitars like this wasn't documented properly, if at all.
I wish I did.

Met Ashok from Parekh Exports in Singapore

After sending jy to work, I head down to meet Ashok, whom I bought the 10 Ebony fingerboards. Met him at his hotel in Asphodel Inn at Racecourse Rd, #413.

He showed me his woods from a huge black sporty bag, including Mountain Laurel us$200; Indian Laurel (cheaper than ML); Black Acacia us$250; Mahogany us$140; bone bridge pins, rosewood/ebony picks.

Discussed about plantation and wild growth - difference in grain per inch. 2000km in different directions to get his ML, rosewood and ebony.

Apparently he doesn't cut his own sets from logs that have to be bought from govt auction houses, but buy from sawmills that cut them nicely for him to resell.

He said to know Michael Gee, Christopher Dean, William Cumpiano, Jack Spira

He asked me if I have BRW, I said 2. He asked again if I had certificates for them, I said no. He said that one of his friend had 2 of his guitars confiscated at an Australian Airport worth us$14k!

Had lunch with him at Novena Ville chicken rice, then send him off to Excelsior Shopping Centere where he'll meet Hosen from Maestro and Guitar 77.

Rosewood sets us$110 x 2 (AAA) = us$220 (he claimed no runouts, knots, etc)
Ebony fingerboards us$14 x 4 = us$56
Rosewood
fingerboards us$
Headplates x 3 us$ (one free)
Bridge blanks (rosewood) x2 us$ (ebony one free)

Found one of his backs I bought are marked with AA, so I called him at 3pm. he explained that he only have A and AA, so for this show he brought a AAA set to showcase. AAA, mastergrade qualities are marked as AA to him. But then he sell me at us$110. AA is $85? umm.....

Guitar Repair #114 - Soundboard Crack - Juan Hernández Concierto - Classical

9/11/21
I was going through my repair blog entries.
Many early guitars like this wasn't documented properly, if at all.
I wish I did.

Guitar Repair #113 - Loose Bracing /Shellac Soundboard & Back - Paulino Bernabé Especial - Classical

Guitar issues:-
Back brace rattles
French polish for top n back (mould patches on back)

Guitar sound description:-
Box resonance at C.

Basses thumpy, not as singing as the trebles. Bass/trebles very balanced.

Bracing:-
Back only 2 traverse braces! No wonder the back seem very loose, not tight as others
Top has got 3 straight braces with two symmetrical slanted fans on both sides for a 5 symmetrical fan bracing. Simple design but a grand sound.

Top - 4-piece spruce

Mold - Lazar - Elevated Fingerboard

THE WEALTH OF YONG SENG HARDWARE PTE LTD IS LAID UP FOR NGOH THIAM MENG





Planned to buy the T & E-nuts from Yong Seng, then the bolts from the humble bolt uncle opposite shop. In the end, bought the whole deal from Yong Seng - $40!!!

Clockwise from topleft:-

1) M6 screws 2" x 2pcs (FOC) (upper mold tail)

2) M6 screws 3" x 24pcs $12.50 (spool clamps)

3) M8 bolt 2.5" x 10pcs $2.50 (upper mold)

4) M8 bolt 4" x 10pcs $5 (upper to base)

5) M8 washers (FOC; for (4))

6) M8 E-nuts 25pcs (needed 21) $10

7) M6 E-nuts 29pcs (needed 24) $7.50

8) M6 wingnuts + washers 24pcs $5 (spool clamps)



Asked for $40 instead of $42.50. Felt slightly better but a feeling too ex still. Felt a little sad for me and the other humble uncle.



I went back to claim the 24th M6 3" screw and ask for a M8 wingnut - he asked for 20c!!!

Guitar Repair #112 - Setup - Yamaha G-228 - Classical


Yamaha G-228

Restored to her full potential, sound and appearance.
Polished whole guitar with swirl remover.

Before
High action. 12th fret, 6th string at 6.5/32". Set to 5.5/32"

Guitar Repair #111 - Fret Work - 2006 Matsumura.M Special - Classical


2006 Matsumura.M Special



Buzzing problem on the 2nd string. This guitar has a slight back bowed fingerboard. File a number of frets for a pseudo-relief - 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th fret, and becomes less of a problem!

Acrylic/Plexiglass

Yeo Soon Hin signcraft (Blk 633, Veerasamy Road/62949771)

Acrylic - 700mm x 360mm x 4mm $18

Roundover bit | Mr Wong SCA Global

Today, went with peace of Christ that I didn't seem to have even last night, to SCA global to buy the jigsaw, long and specific router bits, and to meet the boss himself, Mr Tony Wong.

He's white-haired, great complexion and very helpful to me. He's glad he met an artist 艺术家.
He chatted with me quite a bit, we talked about me as a guitar teacher, now maker. he said very difficult to make money!

But I felt peace talking to him, and I found one of the few items I was looking for, a rare bit (at least for me) - Round-over bit!!! even 3/16" as Lazar used!!! Praise Jesus!

He will have the jigsaw delivered to me tomorrow morning.

I drove off in slow traffic on PIE, but I was so peaceful.

Thank You Jesus for the peace to buy the jigsaw over the bandsaws and to find the rare router bits online and Mr Wong!

More peace to me, and grant me great success beyond human comprehension! Grant me great success, Lord in music line that nobody even dream possible in Jesus' name, amen!

Guitar Repair #110 - Setup - Armin Gropp - Classical


Armin Gropp #626
Buzzing on certain frets and reglued the rectangle 12 fret marker

Oval soundhole. I was thinking of doing this rosette after reading about it in Luth mag about period guitars! But in reality a little too simple for a classic guitar!

Rosette detail

Gropp's signature saddle. The saddles are extremely loose and they come with shims.

Heel with continuous side bindings



Dark Brazilian with sapwood in middle (impossible to photograph!)





Beautiful!

A fan of engraved head?

Crack on top that was repaired. Reinforced with little crafted cleats inside.

Guitar Repair #107 - Setup - Ryoji Matsuoka M18 - Classical


Ryoji Matsuoka M18

Already quite low yet the action is still on high side.

It was 7/32"+! Brought it down by more than 1/32".

Two screws missing on either sides

Laminated top, elaborate rosette. Sound was ok. Good highs for a laminated top.

Matthias' guitar "sold" and propose elevated fingerboard build

This morning, after a relax drive to send jy to work, and successfully locating & purchasing the alumininm sanding beam (3" x 1" U-beam. T-beam cheaper by almost 10 bucks is out of stock), went for my crowning appt.

Bad news - impression mould not clear enough, do again what we did 2 weeks ago!!!! Local anaesthesia n all!!!

After completing, I drove to Matthias', without warning them, and told them - "I have "completed" and "sold" the Classical guitar at full price to another buyer. But will build him one with an elevated fingerboard"!!!

A lie that gave a bit, not much, of a relief. Maybe it's a sin that's why. Though, they are other ways to buy time.

Jesus, thank You that all my sins are forgiven. Help me to build with grace and speed. Amen.

Guitar Repair #105 - Setup /Replace Machine Heads - Congress - Classical

9/11/21
I was going through my repair blog entries.
Many early guitars like this wasn't documented properly, if at all.
I wish I did.

Guitar Repair #104 - Setup - CG-80A - Classical

9/11/21
I was going through my repair blog entries.
Many early guitars like this wasn't documented properly, if at all.
I wish I did.

Guitar Repair #103 - Setup - Yamaha CG-110A - Classical

Fingerboard slightly cracked at certain pores from about 7th to 19th fret but ok as-is.

Fretboard is slightly upbowed, but not so bad when action lowered from almost 6/32" to 4+/32".

Fitted with D'addario EJ45.