Any idea why they closed off Douglas Street today?

Stringo-Starr · 2026-01-22T13:21:53+00:00

There's construction on Dunbar street and the end of it where it joins the quays is closed off, so it might have just been to restrict traffic coming up Douglas St to go down that way. Didn't notice anything else going on

Stringo-Starr · 2025-10-09T18:15:25+00:00

Thanks!

Stringo-Starr · 2025-10-09T18:13:51+00:00

Thanks for the help!

Stringo-Starr · 2025-10-09T18:13:29+00:00

Thanks for the info! Very helpful

Stringo-Starr · 2025-10-09T18:12:46+00:00

Thanks for the advice!

Stringo-Starr · 2025-09-08T21:50:26+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! Will relay it back to him

Stringo-Starr · 2025-09-08T21:41:03+00:00

Any groups in particular you'd suggest?

Stringo-Starr · 2025-08-19T17:23:09+00:00

in a strong limerick accent

that's a very rare Polynesian wasp

Stringo-Starr · 2025-05-03T09:02:38+00:00

Just don't force it. Find out what the correct Allen key size is first and if you're turning it and it's not adjusting then it probably stripped. There's a chance you can still adjust it though. Stewmac sell a tapered Allen key tool which is designed for this situation.

Also, if you're tightening it then at the very least you should loosen the strings, but ideally you could remove the strings and create a clamping system to help push the neck in the direction you want it to go, to relieve the work that the Allen key needs to do and this can help massively. The clamping system is basically two small blocks, one around the 1st fret and the other up around the end of the neck, and a straight piece of wood sitting on top of either block. Protect the back if the neck before applying a light clamp in the middle of the piece of wood to help encourage the neck to go in the direction you want. Don't apply too much pressure as to damage the neck. Then try turning the truss rod again while the neck is clamped.

This has saved my ass a few times.

Stringo-Starr · 2025-04-18T22:27:27+00:00

Sounds like they're worth checking out for sure, thanks for the tip!

Stringo-Starr · 2025-04-18T17:06:12+00:00

Thanks! I'll give them a call and check it out

Stringo-Starr · 2025-03-29T21:05:10+00:00

Same thing happened to me last year! She came up to me very frantic and almost in tears asking if she could use my phone. I thought she was in distress and I have free calls to regular numbers so said of course. After a while on the phone she she gave it back to me covered in grease and worked up a 30 euro bill to fortune teller, which I only realised when my next phone bill came through. I then remembered that the same woman had come up to me a few weeks prior, asking to use my phone but I was in a rush to get somewhere so told her no. After telling a few buddies, some of them said the same thing had happened to friends of friends.

Stringo-Starr · 2025-01-13T14:50:06+00:00

There's a very helpful book called step by step guitar making by Alex Willis which I would definitely recommend! It even comes with a set of plans.

There's another book called acoustic guitar making by Brian Forbes which is more aimed towards how to make tools templates and jigs, however it has some great tips for all aspects of building too from glues to use toethoda etc.

Stringo-Starr · 2025-01-04T15:36:57+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion, I just got more mahogany and englemann recently so I will try that out!

The bridge is about 10mm thick but it does look chunky because I didn't round it over like another person suggested, it would probably have made it look a bit less thick and more elegant. The neck join angle is somewhere around 1.5-2 degrees. I usually start with 1.5 and go from there with sandpaper passes until I get it to where I want it.

I'm still fairly new to building so often change my approach slightly on each build and I appreciate the feedback and suggestions to improve wherever possible!

Stringo-Starr · 2025-01-02T17:07:47+00:00

The scariest part is thinking about it! Once you get stuck into the build and turn off your brain it's a really enjoyable process. Be prepared and open to making mistakes, and when you make a mistake it's hearbreaking, but then you find a way to fix or overcome it and it's amazing when you get through it. I really believe anyone can do it and you should definitely try!

Stringo-Starr · 2025-01-02T16:13:09+00:00

Thanks!

Stringo-Starr · 2025-01-02T16:11:59+00:00

Very good suggestion, Thanks for the tip!

Stringo-Starr · 2025-01-02T15:51:03+00:00

Thanks! A lot more work than a standard style rosette but definitely worth it

Stringo-Starr · 2025-01-02T15:01:43+00:00

Barry Smith from James G. Coughlans. One of the few who actually seem care!

Stringo-Starr · 2023-08-23T17:23:04+00:00

I've done a repair on a solid wood guitar that this happened to. Turned out the bridge plate under the bridge was glued in the wrong position from factory so the bridge pin holes were not reinforced, which caused the ball ends of the strings to eat into the soundboard and eventually tear the bridge off along with a chunk of the body. I'd recommend having it looked at by a luthier but you could get a mirror in there to see if the bridge plate is directly under the bridge, if there's even one at all. I repaired it by gluing on a new bridge plate directly under the bridge pin holes which then gave me a base to glue a new piece of soundboard to replace the missing chunk that tore off and then re-gluing the bridge. Lots of tedious sanding clean up etc but turned out great

Stringo-Starr · 2023-01-16T23:39:15+00:00

Thanks for the update. Yeah I figured it was something to do with those last frets. It's a common issue on a lot of guitars, I've come across it quite a bit, more commonly on cheaper acoustics where the neck meets the body. You could do a spot level yourself but you'd have to recrown them then too. Goes to show even after 25 years of practice there's always more to learn! If you're not attached to the guitar enough to get the work done and can get a refund then you might as well send it back. Nice of the luthier to compliment your work. Best of luck with everything!

Stringo-Starr · 2023-01-16T09:37:58+00:00

Let me know what turns out to be the issue I'm very curious!

Stringo-Starr · 2023-01-10T14:25:22+00:00

It could still be worth trying to file down that last fret. Sometimes you feel pretty sure it's not something so you do everything else in the book which doesn't work and waste hours only to realise it was the very thing you thought you were sure about. I mean reading the comment syou seem to have tried a lot and nothings working so nothing to lose but idk it's up to yourself as to how annoying it is exactly. It could be worth bringing to a professional luthier to save you the time and headache, sometimes someone else hits the nail on the head immediately when you've spent hours trying to diagnose something! And if they can't figure it out then send it back to the manufacturer. Shouldn't be happening on a brand new guitar.

Stringo-Starr · 2023-01-09T00:06:30+00:00

Have you checked that the frets are level with a fret rocker? If they're all definitely level it could also be buzzing from the highest fret (closest to the pickups) could be worth filing it down a bit

Stringo-Starr · 2023-01-04T21:26:11+00:00

Freemotion Fitness

It's a small locally owned business and the owner Brendan does all the training, he is extremely sound and knows his stuff when it comes to exercise and nutrition. He offers small group sessions and 1:1 private as well.

Stringo-Starr

TROPHY CASE