Robert, I love your videos....I always learn something new. My question is that when using ladder bracing on an old L-0 style guitar construction, should the top thickness be thinner as with a classical, or within the parameters you mentioned for steel string. I am assuming that everyone in this video is making with an X bracing pattern (?) Thanks!!
My question about thicknessing comes from contrasting Stradivarius and Guarneri violins (thicknesses all over the place )compared to Amati --All very even and tidy all over . A very mysterious subject .
My experience is with violin making, not guitars. They seem to be two very different animals. Although the old graduations may appear to be all over the place, keep in mind how much these old tops have morphed....been regraduated, patched with new wood, etc. and also that our calipers are a little easier to use. I am sure that they especially relied on their fingers, flexing, and touch even more than we do.
I do not and I do not know of any list other than what a good set of plans calls for. There are so many variables that even when following a good set of plans my soundboards are never the same thickness as what the plans recommend.
I noticed on the steel city website that the minumum thickness of this sander is 1/4"... Did you mod the machine in anyway to archive these thicknesses?
In the video I am thicknessing a lot of sides so I had to run them all through once before adjusting the depth. However, when adjusting it is just with a slight adjustment each pass. Sometimes you can send it through two or three times without adjusting and still sand the surface.
At 3:37 you say to watch as you flop each top and listen to it. Obviously listening/tone has nothing to do with the judgment call of whether you keep sanding or stop. At least not in this video. It seems you're deciding based only on the floppiness and thickness. Am I missing something? Or you're doing the tone listening off-video? Thanks!
I do listen to the sound as I flop. I explain in greater detail in my acoustic guitar voicing course what I am listening for. It is like a sheet metal sound. As you thickness the top the sound get more and more musical until it just kind of stop and is not getting any better, That ii the point I stop. If you keep going you risk losing structural integrity.
@@OBrienGuitars OK, I just don't see how you are hearing it over the roar of that drum sander. Sorry I should have clarified that in my original comment.
Robert, I love your videos....I always learn something new. My question is that when using ladder bracing on an old L-0 style guitar construction, should the top thickness be thinner as with a classical, or within the parameters you mentioned for steel string. I am assuming that everyone in this video is making with an X bracing pattern (?) Thanks!!
Robert is the MAN!!!!
@dm7g I am using Steel City 26 inch dual drum sander.
I like the number 4 smoother or a 5 bench plane
thank you great info
My question about thicknessing comes from contrasting Stradivarius and Guarneri violins (thicknesses all over the place )compared to Amati --All very even and tidy all over . A very mysterious subject .
very interesting. Carved plates (violins and mandolins) and pressed plates (guitars) are different however. This would make a nice thesis for someone.
My experience is with violin making, not guitars. They seem to be two very different animals. Although the old graduations may appear to be all over the place, keep in mind how much these old tops have morphed....been regraduated, patched with new wood, etc. and also that our calipers are a little easier to use. I am sure that they especially relied on their fingers, flexing, and touch even more than we do.
I do not and I do not know of any list other than what a good set of plans calls for. There are so many variables that even when following a good set of plans my soundboards are never the same thickness as what the plans recommend.
No, I use the sander as it came from the factory.
may I ask what drum sander you are using? We are looking to buy one but we don't really know what to look for in a drum sander...
Nice video! I have a question..how many mm of thickness u recomend for mahogany top stell strings guitar ? Saludos desde peru!
Sorry, but I have no experience with mahogany as a soundboard material so I can't offer any advice. Saludos desde Colorado
do you have a web resource with recommended thicknesses for many tonewoods?
If you are using the sander as it came from the factory. How are you achieving the thinner thickness' with this machine?
I noticed on the steel city website that the minumum thickness of this sander is 1/4"... Did you mod the machine in anyway to archive these thicknesses?
Hi Robert, If I wanted to thickness my top all the way by hand (as you suggest is possible), which plane / planes would you recommend?
I don't see you dialing/adjusting the drum sander between sandings...does simply running it through multiple times continue to take off thousandths?
In the video I am thicknessing a lot of sides so I had to run them all through once before adjusting the depth. However, when adjusting it is just with a slight adjustment each pass. Sometimes you can send it through two or three times without adjusting and still sand the surface.
I’ve been looking at drumsanders and all there minimum thicknesses are 3mm
Do I just put a backing board to add thickness?
Sure, you can use a sled.
@@OBrienGuitars sweet thanks for the reply
So quickly
Hope things are well
At 3:37 you say to watch as you flop each top and listen to it. Obviously listening/tone has nothing to do with the judgment call of whether you keep sanding or stop. At least not in this video. It seems you're deciding based only on the floppiness and thickness. Am I missing something? Or you're doing the tone listening off-video? Thanks!
I do listen to the sound as I flop. I explain in greater detail in my acoustic guitar voicing course what I am listening for. It is like a sheet metal sound. As you thickness the top the sound get more and more musical until it just kind of stop and is not getting any better, That ii the point I stop. If you keep going you risk losing structural integrity.
@@OBrienGuitars OK, I just don't see how you are hearing it over the roar of that drum sander. Sorry I should have clarified that in my original comment.
Having a plate dead even thickness does not matter for good tone does it? Stradivarius instruments have uneven thicknesses all over the place .
depends on the instrument. My steel string guitars are uniform thickness and my classical tops are graduated.
Is there a way to know if your top is too thick on a guitar that is already built?
you should have a certain amount of flex in the top. If it is overbuilt this can be due to over-bracing as well as a top that is too thick.
OBrienGuitars
What do you mean by "flex," exactly?
51MontyPython Hard to explain here. Check out my online course where I explain it in detail.
OBrienGuitars
Where might I find that?
51MontyPython on my website at www.obrienguitars.com/courses
Mine goes all the way to zero.
That’s cheating. Do it by hand planes and scrapers … 🤘👍🤪🤓