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They did indeed refund the money, and I thank them. It was looking pretty bad for a while there. I will say again, that Mike Marshall is a superb musician and a superb teacher.

Bob

Thanks, since they can apparently continue to charge at their own will. I have contacted them and they will not under any circumstances return fees or cancel collection. I have now blocked their...

A year ago I worked a bunch of overtime and bought it for a year. Used it for a month, Mike Marshall is great! I hit my learning curve and slowed down and then stopped, my fault entirely, but I...

We call gommalacca shellac. Great stuff, but unprotected it will blush white from sweat or breath. Some very fine craftsmen use shellac first and then they use an oil coating such as truoil.

As...

If you are in Egypt you may be able to identify the resin they are calling 'Sanderous' in this article titled, 'Traditional Varnishes and Acoustical Properties of Wooden Soundboards'.



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I'm glad to have been able to provide useful data. You have posted so many things that I have enjoyed and learned from!

Bob

Here is and example:
BWV552 Prelude [C] 6th-comma meantone, adapted by Anaguma

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXZAmSowXOU

I rather enjoy the sound of it.
If you want to try it here are...

The problem with working unknown wood is that it could warp crazy later after you have invested 100 hours or so of work and 100 dollars and up on materials. So free wood is no great assurance or...

The sound post and bass bar combination gives an interesting effect. If you observe this video you can see the the strings on a violin move in slow motion....

My simple jig is 2 part. First a flat fairly wide block for each stone height that is a bit longer than the longest stone. Second a block with an angle on it that is the same length as the flat...

Speculation here. Spruce has a really nice high speed of sound. This means it is low mass with high shear and compressive moduli combined with great stiffness and strength for weight. So it move...

I use that method for ebonizing wood. The steel wool in vinegar can make woods with tannins develop a jet black finish with the grain still visible. If you get enough tannin into just about any...

If you stick a few gears on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFCuE5rHbPA

Victorian age technically ended in 1901 the F model mandolin design probably dates from 1894 and definitely dates...

I love the video! Thank you for sharing!

It is possible that the glue was made with air bladders, that would explain why it might be so hard to tune a ghoti. It might have been tunable if the fish glue had been made with scales.

Then...

I tried using some on a broken fish, but doesn't seem to hold up in water very well. Sad about the fish. Then again that fish was very hard to tune.

Bob

For those who are impatient, here are the steps of his process.

1. Soak the wooden binding in household ammonia for 30 minutes.
2. Wraps the wood in aluminum foil, two layers.
3. Use a heat...

I have studied your methods quite intensively, Peter. While I will continue to differ with you on the subject of Titebond, I have the highest respect for your work. If anyone can manage to overcome...

Here lies the problem. When a craftsman and an artist takes select and often rare materials and transforms them into an instrument, it seems quite sad when the methods used will ultimately shorten...

Bob Smalser is a fairly brilliant woodworker. Here is an article of his comparing glue strength when you want to repair a glue job.

It is quite clear that tightbond is poor stuff if you ever...

I have had major projects totally ruined because I used Tightbond 2 or 3. One of them needed to be waterproof, the other did not. It was the use of Tightbond 3 that taught me the value of hot hide...

Do it right! Look up how the makers of violins distress a new finish. A master maker such as Roger Hargrave will make a fabulous brand new instrument, polish it to perfection and then wear down...

Fine! :)
Thanks for asking!

Bob

Collets are not forever. They deform under stress and need to be replaced regularly. Lubrication and cleaning will help a collet last a bit longer.

When you are ready to replace, check out...

I like what you said here, but Antonio was probably not as primitive as everyone seems to think. Antonio Stradivari did indeed have access to acoustical science and the level of science he had was...