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I would bet nearly anything that it has been used.
I often tell people; 'any innovation you think of has already been tried at some time in history'.
Why don't we know about it? Usually because it...

I agree wholeheartedly.
It is not uncommon for inexperienced builders to choose and use 'alternative' woods. It can work out fine, but then again, it can provide surprises.
The hardness and...

Yep, it has the look of a wall hanger to me for someone who appreciates the look of the finish, but not at that price!

Easiest thing to do is just replace it with something like...

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From my observations of similar mandolins, I think Gibson had some tops on hand from before the elevated fingerboard days. It looks like they cut top wood away until they could use an elevated 'board...

I hadn't seen that.
Looks mostly gimmicky at first glance, but I can imagine uses for the tool to save time on (especially) cheap electric guitars with a fret or two that could use some work, and in...

My "torture rack" is made from scrap plywood and scrap wood. I needed to align a rim so I just threw it together quickly and used it. It works so well that I have never bothered to replace it with a...

Most people (exceptions abound) prefer picks that have a smooth surface that wears to a smooth surface, and some amount of flex, with stiffness preference being individually variable. That leaves out...

No, too much risk of finish damage, and also not needed. Sometimes they have to be left in the torture rack until they respond, but usually they just push back reasonably well into place. With my...

Yes, the F-4 can most likely be "tortured" into submission.

I have the "torture rack" also. Often the back is shrunken (often when it is flatsawn) to the point where the side will no longer align exactly and I sort of 'split the difference', or distribute the...

Clark, my first test on scrap went pretty well, and I left plenty of material and proceeded slowly. It's one of those things where experience sure can really speed things up!

Just because I haven't posted anything here for a while, here's one of the things I'm working on.
The mahogany that this neck blank is made from is not wide enough for a peghead. This guitar is to...

A couple of pics:
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Back when Stewemac had people to answer telephones, and I knew many of the folks there, they sent me this tool (no charge) because I was trying to fix a tuner...

I still have the tool, but what I don't seem to have is the ability to remember to snap a couple of pictures when I'm in the shop! I'll keep trying.

Gibson's trademarks are not really the "issue" with lots of people, it is the companies' heavy handed tactics related to such.
C F Martin has trademarks too. The "rectangular" peghead being one of...

A lot like one that I used to shape a bunch of banjo necks too. Big ol' cutter head right up there in the air, 7 HP motor spinning it...

Is it bolted? (hardware joint)

With guitar builds I fret after gluing the board to the neck and setting the neck in the body, with mandolins I fret the 'board before gluing to the neck/extender.
I can't really give you a reason...

Just saw Wyatt perform Monday in Lexington at Woodsongs. Impressive young man, good music.

You might try asking the fiddlers to slow it down a little, explaining that you are a "relative newbie". As you gain experience speed will improve, but until then a little courtesy from others...

The OP said If it was an adjacent low fret there would almost certainly be at lest one more fret where the rocker rocks. I suspect it is one high fret, and if it won't drive down filing level is a...

Make that "don't over do it".
(I hate when spell check misses things like that.)

The goal is level frets. If the offending fret is high and can be driven down without undue force, then that is a good repair. IF the fret cannot be driven down without undue force don't hit it...

Dana is successful in making good sounding guitars, so his methods don't need to be called into question, but his explanations of what he is doing are based on conjecture rather than measurements,...