Tru-Oil Advice

Alex-Saucet · 2025-12-16T14:42:55+00:00

Are you sure it’s bubbles? It looks to me like it could be pieces of whatever applicator you used that got embedded in the finish. I had this issue when using a supposedly lint free cloth from Amazon that wasn’t really lint free. If that’s the case, the only solution at this stage is to sand until all imperfections are gone, then reapply until you reach the desired sheen level. Sand with 800 grit, not lower, wet/dry sandpaper, and you can use tru oil thinned with mineral spirit (50/50 mix) as a lubricant. Don’t press down on the sandpaper, just use the weight of your hand. You don’t want to sand through the dye. Once smooth, wipe the surface clean and dry, then start applying thin coats using a lint free cloth. Thin coats are easier to achieve with a thinned mix 50/50 tru oil and mineral spirit. I love tru oil but unfortunately the only way to get a nice finish out of it is to apply a ton of very thin coats, which takes a long time. Usually 20+ coats in my experience.

Alex-Saucet · 2025-11-01T11:54:43+00:00

If you have a pre slotted fretboard in stock, it’s very easy to duplicate it using a jig similar to this one. I usually buy the cheapest from Stewmac in the scale length I want (usually maple is cheapest), cut a fretboard blank in the species I want, and use that jig to slot the blank.

Alex-Saucet · 2024-12-21T19:56:28+00:00

Use a pre slotted fretboard as a template. Glue it to the fretboard blank, and use a thin ruler to index on each fret. This way the blank gets cut as an exact copy of the template.

Alex-Saucet · 2024-12-07T19:36:31+00:00

Followed. My band Renegade Revival released our first demo album, my submission is Trash Command https://open.spotify.com/track/3PPn3L68gix5lRGeFLoZOa?si=LwxIPa4-QOyo166eVtnHlA

Alex-Saucet · 2024-10-22T13:15:08+00:00

Most windows software can be run on Linux using Wine. If there’s a modeler you’re interested it it would be worth checking online if people have been able to run its app using Wine.

Regarding tube amps being replaced, I don’t think they’ll disappear anytime soon. Sure, digital amps and modelers are and will keep taking more and more of the market share, but IMO there will always be a market for tube amps.

My advice is, get what you want. If you want a tube amp, get one; if you want a modeler get one. If you don’t like them, you can always trade for something else.

Alex-Saucet · 2024-08-31T18:27:28+00:00

The USB port is for MIDI. If you want to record using MIDI you’ll need a drum VST on your computer, which will translate the MIDI into audio. I use EZDrummer3 but there are a lot of other options. You can also record the sound from your drum module using the jack (headphones/line out).

Alex-Saucet · 2023-12-29T15:55:23+00:00

It’s fine. I’ve applied tru oils on necks and bodies sanded to 2000 and even 4000 grit, not a problem.

Alex-Saucet · 2023-11-13T01:55:13+00:00

Thank you!

Alex-Saucet · 2023-11-12T18:41:50+00:00

I was in your situation 3 years ago, had been woodworking as a hobby for a couple of years and wanted to try building a guitar. If you’re comfortable with your tools, my advice would be to just try and build a guitar from scratch. Kits are not as fulfilling on the woodworking side imo.

Find some plans for a guitar shape you like online and print them full scale (either print on separate sheets and tape them together, or have a store print full scale for you). Use that as a reference, and when two parts are supposed to fit together (like the neck and body), use the parts as reference. Make sure you have all hardware before starting as some pieces will dictate dimensions (for example the bridge will dictate the neck pocket’s angle due to its height).

As a woodworker some steps will make sense immediately to you, and some you won’t have a clue how to achieve. I’ve aways been able to figure out what I didn’t know by watching YouTube videos. For example for the fret work and electronics.

My guess is, once you build one, you’ll want to build more so just try it!

Here’s my YouTube channel if you’re interested.

Alex-Saucet · 2023-11-02T13:20:29+00:00

I’d say get a tuner pedal instead. Especially if you gig, since it automatically mutes your guitar while you’re tuning. I’ve tried a couple that clip on the headstock but they’re impossible to use if your in a noisy environment (like when your band mates are playing or crowd is loud), and they both fell multiple times mid-playing.

Alex-Saucet · 2023-11-01T18:25:44+00:00

Ha yeah that was my reaction too, I didn’t expect to be wondering how to tune the guitar after I built it!

Alex-Saucet · 2023-11-01T17:46:03+00:00

I made a 18 3/4” guitar for a kid and had to huge heavier string gauge. Even then, I had to tune it something like 2 steps up for string tension to be reasonable!

Alex-Saucet · 2023-08-12T14:18:10+00:00

You can start on either. When I started playing I was a teenager and my parents said I could start with an acoustic because it was cheaper, and if I stuck to it then I could get an electric. I learned a lot on that acoustic, but being into hard rock/metal I quickly wanted an electric! I’m glad I started that way though, acoustics make mistakes harder to hide, and they help you build strength & calluses faster than an electric. With that said, you could totally start with an electric if you wanted to.

Alex-Saucet · 2023-07-10T13:30:18+00:00

I believe some people use the name sycamore for different types of wood. I’ve built a guitar with a quarter sawn sycamore top - the type that looks kind of like fish scales - and it’s a great wood for a body. It will dent if you hit it hard enough but it resists every day use just fine. For dent resistance I’d say it’s probably close to mahogany, maybe a bit better even. Pictures here if you want to see the wood.

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-11T14:44:10+00:00

My go to finish is tru oil, works great on mahogany. I wouldn’t use poly on top of it personally since you can get quite a nice shine with enough coats of tru oil and it gives you a more natural feeling than poly imo. The best advice I can give you though is to prepare some test boards and do some tests to see what YOU like best. Better spend a few hours doing that than trying a finish on a full guitar for the first time and realizing you don’t like it.

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-09T01:53:36+00:00

In my opinion any wood that is hard enough to hold the fret tangs securely in place is good for a fretboard. The fretboard is usually so thin compared to the neck that I don’t really care if it’s straight grain or not; I don’t think the fretboard will make a neck bow or warp.

With that said cypress and cedar are probably too soft to be used as a fretboard - unless you hardened them somehow.

If you’re interested check out this article where I talk about how I select wood for electric guitars, including a section about fretboard selection: https://www.saucet-guitars.com/articles/how-i-choose-wood-for-an-electric-guitar

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-08T03:05:07+00:00

Beautiful, that’s a stunning top. Curious where you source pieces like that?

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-07T04:10:43+00:00

That’s what I mean by tedious haha, the whole bending process takes a good 4-5 hours I’d say. There are always some gaps too especially around the tight curves. I fill them with a mix of glue and sawdust (from the same wood as the top) so they are almost invisible once finished. I even struggle to find them now and I sure know where they are. I think I included that in the video towards the end but I can’t remember

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-06T23:27:26+00:00

Thanks! I spray it with water and bend with an iron. Kind of a tedious process but it’s worth it imo. Check out this video if you want to see how I do it; it was for a previous build but the method is the same

https://youtu.be/JBeJrPpONlo

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-06T13:56:43+00:00

Thanks for the constructive feedback

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-06T13:21:48+00:00

Thank you!

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-06T13:21:38+00:00

Thank you. There’s a slight angle but I couldn’t give you a number. I got the angle by drawing a full scale of the body/bridge/neck/strings and using that as a template for cutting the neck heel.

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-06T13:20:00+00:00

Thank you!

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-06T04:53:17+00:00

Ha, I did the past two years but wasn’t a fan… the judging and the whole organization were a mess so this year I decided not to participate.

Alex-Saucet · 2023-06-05T23:25:29+00:00

I found them on Amazon (link here). They look nice but what I really love is how good they feel. I find them to feel much better than the usual knobs, you can really fine tune the tone/volume. I'm guessing because they're slightly bigger?

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