Posted on January 19, 2010September 11, 2025 by Dale Phillips It Worked for Me: Hardanger Fiddle Pegs It Worked for Me: Hardanger Fiddle Pegs by David Golber Originally published in American Lutherie #83, 2005 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Seven, 2015 I do a lot of work on Hardanger fiddles. One way in which these instruments differ from violins is the pegs. In the violin world, pegs are disposable. When they wear out, you replace them and throw away the old ones. But in a fine Hardanger fiddle, the pegs are decorated work of the maker of the instrument, and must not be thrown away. But what do you do when the old decorated pegs are severely worn? There must be other instruments and circumstances with similar problems, so maybe the question is interesting to more than the tiny circle of Hardanger fiddle aficionados. Here’s one method for putting new ebony shafts on old decorated pegs. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on January 19, 2010September 10, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Adjustable Truss Rods Questions: Adjustable Truss Rods by John Calkin Originally published in American Lutherie #74, 2003 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Seven, 2015 Steven D’Antonio of Bellingham, Massachusetts asks: I have been using the Hot Rod 2-way Adjustable Truss Rods made by Stewart MacDonald for several years with good results. I have been placing them dead center in the neck without any problems that I am aware of. But recently I read something by John Calkin in AL stating that since the treble strings are under more tension than the bass, some luthiers offset their truss rods toward the treble to compensate for the imbalance in tensions. I asked Stew-Mac and also LMII for their advice, and they both suggested dead center placement for the truss rod. If you suggest offsetting towards the treble, how much is enough? John Calkin of Greenville, Virginia answers: It’s pretty common to find that when the neck of a guitar with some age on it is adjusted, the treble side still has a slight bow after the bass side of the fingerboard is flat. Pulling out the bow on the treble side will often fret out some of the bass notes nearest the nut. Usually this is a minor affair, but occasionally the only fix is some fret filing or even a refret after the fretboard has been trued. I tend to think of this as an electric guitar problem, but that may only be because electric guitarists are more obsessive about having the lowest possible action. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on January 19, 2010September 10, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Digital Photography Questions: Digital Photography by Byron Will, and R.M. Mottola Originally published in American Lutherie #81, 2005 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Seven, 2015 James from Cincinnati, Ohio asks: I’m switching from film to digital photography. I’d like to take photos to send to clients during construction and post on my website. I’d also like to take really good studio shots for my portfolio. I know this can’t be answered comprehensively in the Questions column. Right now I’m looking for tips and/or directions to pursue. Byron Will of Portland, Oregon answers: My experience taking photos of my harpsichords and other instruments and teaching digital photography at the community college here might be of use. You don’t mention if you’ve already purchased your digital camera. If not, I recommend you check out these websites that I’ve found very helpful for determining what to buy: www.dpreview.com and www.steves-digicams.com. Bear in mind that the quality of the optics is as important as the number of megapixels. Become A Member to Continue Reading This Article This article is part of the Articles Online featured on our website for Guild members. To view this and other web articles, join the Guild of American Luthiers. For details, visit the membership page. MEMBERS: login for access or contact us to setup your account.
Posted on January 19, 2010September 9, 2025 by Dale Phillips Mirror with Penlight Mirror with Penlight by Tim Olsen Originally published in Guild of American Luthiers Data Sheet #22, 1976 and Lutherie Tools, 1990 Simply tape a penlight flashlight (Eveready Heavy duty will do), to a dentist-style 1" round mirror with a 6" or so handle. Position the light to get a 1" spot of light and so that the beam is entirely reflected into the instrument to be inspected. Sight down the barrel of the penlight. The area you see in the mirror will always be full illuminated. This was Dale Kormo’s idea. ◆
Posted on January 19, 2010September 10, 2025 by Dale Phillips Questions: Lutherie Related Skin Rash Questions: Lutherie Related Skin Rash by Udi Vachterman Originally published in American Lutherie #80, 2004 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie Volume Seven, 2015 Udi Vachterman from Rehovot, Israel writes: Way back in American Lutherie #58 there was a question from Henry Kingery of Pittsfield, IL. He wrote about a severe itchy skin rash presumably brought on by woods or chemicals in glues. He was taking a synthetic steroid to keep it in check. I know it has been a long time, but I would still like to tell him and others of my experience with a similar problem. A few years ago, just a few days after being exposed to a lot of chemicals and wood dust (an Argentinian wood called “algarrobbo,” which I believe to be “carob tree”), I noticed that small extremely itchy liquid-filled bumps started appearing on the backs of my hands, especially around the joints. With time the bumps developed into shallow wounds and spread toward my wrists. Similar symptoms appeared on my elbows and the upper part of my feet. I went to see four doctors who each had a different diagnosis of my problem. However, they all advised the same treatment, cortisone creams. Yet, they all told me that the cortisone is unlikely to cure the disease, just help manage its symptoms. However this did not make much sense to me. If I am sick, then I want to know what it is and not have four opinions of what it might be. So I went to seek advice of the local pharmacist. To my surprise, she told me that her son has, or had, to be correct, the same problem. It’s a type of psoriasis, a skin disease that is often the body’s response to a trauma caused to the skin (skin injury, skin infections, reaction to certain chemicals). Her treatment was as follows: 1. Extensive use of natural hypo-allergic moisturizing cream. 2. Fish oil (omega 3 essential fatty acids); 3 capsules daily, 1000 MG each, taken with food. 3. Tea tree essential oil used topically for itchiness. After a few months all my symptoms disappeared. My hands were almost like new and I have since built a guitar, inlaid it, and finished it without any of the above mentioned symptoms. And I can once again play my guitars without bleeding while bending strings! If anyone tries this and it helps them, I’d love to hear from them: vachterm@hotmail.com.
