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Free information   Wiring diagrams, how-to articles and tool instructions
 

Archtop guitar categories

»  Binding
»  Bridges
»  Building, general
»  Electronics
»  Finishing
»  Fretting
»  Hardware installation
»  Inlay, engraving
»  Jigs
»  Neck relief, building and repair
»  Nuts, saddles
»  Pickguards
»  Reference
»  Repair tools, specialized
»  Resources
»  Routing
»  String action and setup
»  Truss rods
»  Tuning machines


Information resources

»   Calculators
»   Finishing schedules
»   Lutherie Schools List
»   Product FAQ's
»   Customer Service FAQ's



Free information and resources sorted by

Instrument: Archtop guitar




Binding
»  Binding Laminator
i-4200 Press multiple layers of binding material together
»  Binding a mandolin pickguard
Instructions
»  How much purfling?
Charts showing how much purfling is needed for Dreadnought and 000 guitars
»  How to Install Bindings
An introduction to bindings and purflings
»  How to sharpen a scraper
i-3416 Scraper Burnisher
»  Precision Router Base and Edge Guide
i-5260 Assembly and use
»  Routing for binding using the Binding Router Bit Set
i-1298 Instructions for routing
»  TrueChannel Routing Jig
i-5653 Assembly instructions
»  Using Ball-bearing Cutter Bits for Guitar Routing
i-0583 Directions for use

Bridges
»  Bridge Saddle Routing Jig
i-4043 Set up
»  Bridge fitting for archtops
i-5046 Bridge Fitting Jig for archtops and mandolins
»  Quick Cauls
This technique's a classic! Styrofoam or Friendly Plastic are two materials that make great imprint patterns for creating protective cauls.
»  Rough up surfaces before gluing
i-4872 Using the Toothing Iron
»  Tune-o-Matic installation and set up tips
i-4557 Tune-o-Medic bridge and tailpiece tools

Building, general
»  Bending Sides With a Bending Iron
i-0689 Side bending instructions
»  Using the Safe-T-Planer for Instrument Building
i-0485 Setup, operation, neck making & more

Electronics
»  3-way Toggle Switch
i-1217 Wiring for Les Paul, LP Junior, SG, JPLP & two-pickup guitars
»  Battery Box for Acoustic or Solidbody
i-3578 Instructions
»  Benedetto Humbucking Pickups
Color codes
»  How a tone control works
Instructions
»  Mounting a Kent Armstrong Suspended Jazz Pickup
i-5068 Installation instructions
»  Pickup winder from Down Under
With Kevin O'Brien of Victoria, Australia
»  Soldering
Do's and don'ts for successful wiring
»  WD/Kent Armstrong Humbucking Pickups
Color codes
»  Which control pot to choose
Information on selecting pot values

Finishing
»  Behlen Lacquer Stick Kit
i-0865 Burning-in procedure
»  Buffing Arbor System
i-5385 Installation and safety
»  ColorTone Aerosol Guitar Lacquers
i-3881 Application instructions
»  ColorTone Concentrated Liquid Stains
i-5032 Directions for use
»  ColorTone Essential Finishing Kit
i-5241 Introduction to finishing
»  ColorTone Fretboard Finishing Oil
i-3863 Directions for use
»  ColorTone Liquid Pigments for Lacquer
i-5230 Directions for use
»  ColorTone Liquid Pigments for Waterbase Lacquer
i-5360 Directions for use
»  ColorTone Polishing Compounds
i-1201 Polishing Compound and Swirl Remover Directions
»  ColorTone Shellac
i-1315 Directions for use
»  ColorTone Tinted Aerosol Guitar Lacquers
i-5880 Instructions
»  ColorTone Waterbase Brushing Varnish
i-5566 Application instructions
»  ColorTone Waterbase Grain Filler
i-5576 Application instructions
»  ColorTone Waterbase Lacquer
i-5570 Directions for use
»  ColorTone Waterbase Retarder
i-5575 Directions for use
»  ColorTone Waterbase Sanding Sealer
i-5573 Directions for use
»  Don't mix buffing compound
i-3161 Instructions
»  Finishing a Blue Guitar
Spray finishing a gutiar with aerosol lacquer: getting a glossy PRS-style finish in deep blue
»  How and why to mix fresh shellac
Dan Erlewine shares his experience with shellac
»  How to hold your spray gun
And why: wrong angle = an uneven coat
»  Micro Finishing Papers
i-5561 Instructions
»  Nitrocellulose Finishing Schedule
Standard process for finishing an instrument with nitrocellullose lacquer
»  Spray Guns: Getting Started
i-5436 Equipment use, care, and troubleshooting
»  Waterbase Finishing Schedule
Standard process for finishing an instrument with waterbase lacquer
»  Wet-sand before buffing
Instructions

Fretting
»  Dual Fret Scale Templates
i-4915 Instructions
»  Fret Barber
i-4363 Instructions
»  Fret Beveling Files
i-3760 Instructions
»  Fret Scale Rule
i-3411 Instructions
»  Fret Slotting Miter Box
i-4730 Instructions
»  FretBender
i-0345 Instructions
»  Fretting Arbor Press
i-4478 Instructions
»  How do I calculate a fret scale?
Fret calculator
»  How to hammer frets
The Basics
»  Jaws Handheld Fret Press
i-4380 Instructions
»  Jaws2 Fret Press
i-4266 Instructions
»  Jaws3 Fret Press
i-4272 Instructions
»  Radius Block Basics
Instructions

Hardware installation
»  Benedetto Archtop Tailpiece
i-5270 Instructions
»  Benedetto Fingerrest
i-4173 Instructions
»  Slotted Peghead Drill Jig
i-3898 Instructions
»  Tuner Bushing Press
i-0460 All in one bushing installer and remover
»  Tuning Machine Drill Jig for Unslotted Pegheads
i-4845 Drilling instructions

Inlay, engraving
»  Essential Engraving Kit
i-1675 Introduction to engraving
»  How much purfling?
Charts showing how much purfling is needed for Dreadnought and 000 guitars
»  Laskin's Engraving Filler
i-4406 Instructions

Jigs
»  Bridge Saddle Routing Jig
i-4043 Set up
»  Bridge fitting for archtops
i-5046 Bridge Fitting Jig for archtops and mandolins
»  Slotted Peghead Drill Jig
i-3898 Instructions
»  TrueChannel Routing Jig
i-5653 Assembly instructions
»  Tuning Machine Drill Jig for Unslotted Pegheads
i-4845 Drilling instructions

Neck relief, building and repair
»  ColorTone Fretboard Finishing Oil
i-3863 Directions for use
»  Erlewine Neck Jig
i-5252 Assembly and use
»  Guitar Neck Removal
i-4737 Jig instructions
»  How the stars set up their guitars
From Dan Erlewine's book, How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!
»  Neck Construction Tips and Techniques
i-5200 Instructions
»  Neck Relief Gauge
i-2004 Instructions
»  Radius Block Basics
Instructions
»  Relief Gauge
i-5253 Instructions
»  String Action Gauge
i-0670 Instructions
»  Using Feeler Gauges to Control Nut Slot Depth
i-1811 Feeler Gauges
»  Using the Safe-T-Planer for Instrument Building
i-0485 Setup, operation, neck making & more

Nuts, saddles
»  Making a Nut, Step-by-Step
Instructions
»  Nut Making and Setup
i-5350 Instructions
»  Nut Slotting Gauge
i-2003 Instructions
»  String Spacing Rule
i-0673 Instructions
»  Using Feeler Gauges to Control Nut Slot Depth
i-1811 Feeler Gauges

Pickguards
»  Benedetto Fingerrest
i-4173 Instructions
»  Binding a mandolin pickguard
Instructions
»  Cutting Custom Pickuards with the Pickguard Bevel Cutter
i-5243 Directions for use
»  Tortoise Pickguard Material
i-4414 Instructions

Reference
»  About Dan Erlewine's New Repair Videos
Instructions
»  About Don MacRostie
Instructions
»  How do I calculate a fret scale?
Fret calculator
»  How do I convert measurements?
Measurement converter
»  Lutherie Schools List
i-8010 Instructions

Repair tools, specialized
»  Bending Sides With a Bending Iron
i-0689 Side bending instructions
»  Crack Repair
i-5359 PowerKnife
»  Erlewine Neck Jig
i-5252 Assembly and use
»  Erlewine ShopStand
i-5390 Instructions
»  Friendly Plastic
i-1158 Instructions
»  Guitar Neck Removal
i-4737 Jig instructions
»  Guitar Repair Vise
i-1813 Set up
»  How to sharpen a scraper
i-3416 Scraper Burnisher
»  Inside Story on Instant Adhesives
Luthier finds answers to his super glue questions
»  Quick Cauls
This technique's a classic! Styrofoam or Friendly Plastic are two materials that make great imprint patterns for creating protective cauls.
»  Repair work using magnets
i-4628 Guitar Repair Magnets
»  Rough up surfaces before gluing
i-4872 Using the Toothing Iron
»  Stewart-MacDonald Super Glues
i-5180 Characteristics and use
»  Truss Rod Rescue Kit
i-5680 Instructions
»  Tune-o-Matic installation and set up tips
i-4557 Tune-o-Medic bridge and tailpiece tools
»  Tuner Bushing Press
i-0460 All in one bushing installer and remover

Resources
»  Finishing a Blue Guitar
Spray finishing a gutiar with aerosol lacquer: getting a glossy PRS-style finish in deep blue
»  Nitrocellulose Finishing Schedule
Standard process for finishing an instrument with nitrocellullose lacquer

Routing
»  Bridge Saddle Routing Jig
i-4043 Set up
»  Precision Router Base and Edge Guide
i-5260 Assembly and use
»  Routing for binding using the Binding Router Bit Set
i-1298 Instructions for routing
»  TrueChannel Routing Jig
i-5653 Assembly instructions
»  Using Ball-bearing Cutter Bits for Guitar Routing
i-0583 Directions for use

String action and setup
»  Basic Set-up Instructions
i-3910 Instructions
»  How the stars set up their guitars
From Dan Erlewine's book, How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great!
»  Nut Slotting Gauge
i-2003 Instructions
»  Relief Gauge
i-5253 Instructions
»  String Action Gauge
i-0670 Instructions
»  String Spacing Rule
i-0673 Instructions
»  Using Feeler Gauges to Control Nut Slot Depth
i-1811 Feeler Gauges

Truss rods
»  Hot Rod Adjustable Truss Rods
i-0975 Instructions
»  Truss Rod Installation
i-1177 Instructions
»  Truss Rod Rescue Kit
i-5680 Instructions
»  Working with Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Materials
i-4007 Instructions

Tuning machines
»  Slotted Peghead Drill Jig
i-3898 Instructions
»  Tuner Bushing Press
i-0460 All in one bushing installer and remover
»  Tuning Machine Drill Jig for Unslotted Pegheads
i-4845 Drilling instructions
»  Vintage Tuner Knobs
i-4004 Instructions



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