Luthiers News

New! Neck scarf joint jig.

Wed, 07 May 2025 13:19:08 GMT

NECK SCARF JOINT JIG

This is fairly simple to use. After the neck is planed and preped, all measured at least twice and marked, you can use the angle on the jig to pencil out where you need to cut the joint.

The jig is width adjustable with one fence side fixed while other will slide in and out. Approx range 50 to 140mm. The jig will clamp the neck blank, but other forms of securing the blank should be used. As you can see from this photo, I used the double-sided tape.

The next step was to check the result, which I was happy with after first attempt. As you are aware, routing will leave marks and the surface won't be 100% smooth. Flat sanding block should be used to smooth out the joint before glueing it. Since the jig is width adjustable, I couldn't produce the sanding block to go with the jig, but this shouldn't be an issue for most.

After a long time, we have a new jig. This is only because I needed one for my bog oak 0-28 that I am building at the moment. It was a fun project making this and then testing it. Like with all jigs, the most exciting part is the actual test.

After I marked the angle, I used a bandsaw to make a 10 degree cut in this sacrificial piece of ash.

This can be done using a handsaw, tablesaw etc and it doesn't have to be 100% precise as the scarf jig will correct the angle.

After securing everything in place, the next step was to use the router fixed on an extra wide plate as the standard router plates, wouldn't be wide enough. The jig will be offered with an acrylic base with pre-drilled holes for common routers, of course you can copy your router and drill additional holes if needed.

Since this was a scrap piece of timber, I only used x2 quick release clamps for this joint and the result was great, solid joint.

That's basically all. I hope all this makes sense, if not, feel free to ask any questions.

Pyramid Bridge

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 12:09:53 GMT

NEW Vintage Pyramid Bridge

In addition to our traditional belly bridge and Radius Dish design bridge, I am please to add a new product.

This traditional pyramid bridge is based on a vintage Martin 1930s design and specs.

The bridge has a radiused top. The bridge holes follow the angle of the saddle and this bridge looks super cool.

Standard specs that the bridge will be offered in are:

String spacing - 58.7mm

Saddle length - 73mm

Saddle width - 3.2mm

Dimensions - 6x1"

Height - 8.5 and 9mm

Some of these specs will be customisable eg. length and width of the saddle, string spacing and also the bridge holes can be made flat if needed.

I am sure this bridge will make life easier for some guitar repairers and also a luthiers who want to save some time and use this accurately read-made pyramid bridge.

Indian rosewood grading

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 16:13:06 GMT

Indian rosewood grading and dimensions explained

Dalbergia latifolia imported from a partner business from India which was responsibly sourced through the government auctions.

Expertly prepared and seasoned.

Dimensions for guitar fretboards:

These are standard size and will fit western, classical or electric guitar.

530x70x9mm

Dimensions for bass fretboards:

4 string - 720 x 75 x 9 mm

5 string - 720 x 85 x 9 mm

6 string - 720 x 95 x 9 mm

Dimensions for back and sides CLASSICAL:

Back - 550x200mm

Sides - 800x110mm

Dimensions for back and sides WESTERN:

Back - 550x220mm

Sides - 850x120mm

Dimensions for headplate:

220x90-95x3.5mm

Dimensions for bridge blanks:

200x52x15mm

These will fit standard classical and western size bridges.

Indian rosewood grading explained.

Indian rosewood is one of the most stunning and desirable materials used for musical instruments fretboards and this is due to its density and appearance. The fretboard along with the neck, plays an important part in structural integrity of the instrument and also important factor in how the instrument will respond tonally.

We are grading our fretboards taking into account those two factors.

Colour range and intensity and general appearance. Higher grades will have a range of dark brown, and/or black and/or purple colours across the blank. Those fretboards will be more pleasing to look at and they will have a higher ‘wow’ factor.

Grain straightness and cut. Higher grades Indian rosewood fretboards will be quartersawn or nearly quartersawn with the grain orientation being 80-90 degrees with the face of the blank and running straight and uninterrupted across the board.

A grade - not perfectly quartersawn. The grain might be curved and wide and not running perfectly straight across the fretboard. For example one end of the fretboard might be quartersawn and the grain might be ending slab sawn on the other end. These fretboards might have a knot. It will have a lesser amount of the colour range and intensity.

AA grade - these fretboards will be quartersawn or near with the grain running across the board and covering the most of the material. The grain will be wider than AAA and might be slightly curved. These fretboards might be a downgraded AAA features due to a knot. The AA grade fretboards will have an excellent range of colours and intensity and will have a great ‘wow’ factor.

AAA grade - the AAA grade will be the most scarce and the most difficult to yield from a log. I reckon 20-30% of the log will be suitable for this grade. These fretboards will be quartersawn 80-90 degrees and will have the grain running straight across the whole board. The grain will be narrower than the AA grade. The AAA grades will have an excellent ‘wow’ factor. The colour range and intensity of these fretboards will be the most stunning.

Pinholes/defects - the fretboards with pinholes and defects won’t be sold under these 3 grades and if sold, they will be advertised as such.

B grade - these fretboards will be something that perhaps shouldn't be used on guitars and they will likely be used to make a bookmatched headplates as they might have a unique grain pattern when resawed and bookmatched.

If offered for sale, the B grade will be heavily discounted.

Pinholes/defects - the fretboards with pinholes and defects won’t be sold under these 3 grades and if sold, they will be advertised as such.

Mastergrade - when dealing with large amount of Indian rosewood fretboards, we will come across some superb materials. These will be very rare and the most unique and will be advertised as Mastergrade. - when dealing with large amount of Indian rosewood fretboards, we will come across some superb materials. These will be very rare and the most unique and will be advertised as Mastergrade.