Products by
category
(click on the category to
open it)
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Aerophones (winds)
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With keyboard
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Woodwinds
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Reeds
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Brasswinds
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Chordophones (stringed)
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With keyboard
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Bowed
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Plucked and Hammered
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Struck
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Electrophones
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Idiophones
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Membranophones
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Furniture
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Spares & Accesories
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Cork
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Finishing Kit
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Lids
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Music Desk
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Reeds
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Soundboard Painting Set
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Stands
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Strings & Wire
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Books
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Products, alphabetically
(click on the dots to open
the list)
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A
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B
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C
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D
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E
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F
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G
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H
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I
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J
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K
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L
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M
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N
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O
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P
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Q
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R
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S
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T
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U
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V
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W
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X
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Y
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Z
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Frequent Questions and Subjects of general
interest |
What
instrument is this?
Musical instrument classification
Making an instrument
The First Time
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Why should I build musical instruments?
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I want to build a
perfect musical instrument even though I have
no experience as a woodworker or instrument maker.
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When I should
start?
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Can I build it
cheaper myself?
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Can an instrument built from a kit be good enough for musical
purposes or be as good as a professionally made by an expert instrument maker?
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Can an occasionally builder get the same quality that a
professional builder gets?
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Can an occasionally builder at home, with the same kit, get the
same quality that an experienced builder with a well equipped workshop?
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I have
decided that building instruments is
what I want to do for a living. What's the best way to get started?
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Can I take on a
particularly challenging project like an spinet, hurdy-gurdy or a guitar as my
first instrument?
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Should I build my
first instrument from scratch, or should I buy a kit?
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Which kit
provider do you recommend?
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Can I modify the kit
I buy to make it a different shape or size?
Woods
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What are the chances that woods can cause an allergic reaction to
me?
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What woods
should I use for my instrument?
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I'm getting
ready to build my first instrument and I don't want to ruin an
expensive piece of wood. Can I use MDF (medium density fiberboard)?
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I'm getting
ready to build my first instrument, and I have access to some timber locally. I don't want to ruin an expensive piece of wood on my
first instrument. Can I use cheap wood?
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My local
hardware store has lots of cheap pine/spruce/fir. Can I build my acoustic guitar
entirely from these woods?
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What is "quartersawn"
wood?
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Do I have to use
quartersawn wood for the back and sides of my acoustic guitar?
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The back/soundboard
wood I just bought for my acoustic guitar has cupped. Can I still use it?
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Should I use
flatsawn or quartersawn wood for my guitar neck?
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I don't have
any quartersawn spruce for bracing my acoustic guitar soundboard, but I have
plenty of other scrap wood on hand. Can I use it as soundboard bracing?
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I bought wood
from a lumberyard/hardwood yard, and the instrument I made from it appears to be
cracking. What did I do wrong?
Tools
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What are the minimum
essential tools to build a instrument?
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Does it take a
fully-equipped woodworking shop to build stringed instruments? I don't have that
much money to spend on expensive power tools.
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I'm putting together
my first real shop and am planning on a dust collection system. Do I have to
ground it?
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Can I use a
hand-held power planer for flattening or jointing plates?
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I can't afford a
drill press. Are those portable drill guides any good?
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I need a bandsaw but
can't afford a 14" model. Can you recommend a good bandsaw that's smaller and
cheaper?
Glues and adhesives
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I've read that you
should wipe the surface of rosewoods and other oily tropical woods with acetone
or naptha right before you glue them. Should I prepare the joint this way before
gluing?
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Do I have to use
epoxy to glue rosewood and other oily tropical woods?
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What's the best
glue?
Varnishing and Finishing
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How can I finish my
musical instrument quickly and easily, with a minimum of preparation?
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I don't have any
spray equipment. Do I *have* to use nitrocellulose lacquer on my instrument?
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I don't have a spray
booth. Can I spray my instrument with nitrocellulose lacquer outside or in an
unheated garage, then bring it into the house to dry?
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I finished my
instrument weeks ago. Why won't the finish dry?
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Can I leave my
instrument, or just the neck, unfinished?
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Can I stain/dye my
instrument with clothing dye/food dye/any other kind of stain or dye not
originally intended for use on wood?
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I have a
vintage/collectible instrument. I want to refinish it, what should I do?
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I have an
average/low-value/worthless instrument. I want to refinish it, what should I do?
Bending wood
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I've read about
steam bending, and it sounds like it would be easier to build a steam box than
build and learn to use any kind of bender. Can I steam bend the sides?
Customization
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I'm building my
first instrument, a guitar, and I don't want it to look and sound like everyone
else's. What can I do with shape or materials or bracing patterns to make it
unique?
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Can I make a
change in the design?
Repairs
Carrying Cases
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Can I build my own
case? Where can I find plans?
Stringed Instruments
Scale length and Compensation
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What is scale
length?
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What is
compensation?
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How do I
determine in advance how much compensation I need?
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