Holding the Guitar - Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag
In this episode, luthier Robbie O’Brien shows a very simple, low-tech method for holding your guitar while doing finish repairs.
Video Transcription
[on-screen text reads: Luthier Tips du Jour Mailbag]
Mailbag question: How do you hold your guitar when doing repair work?
Robert O'Brien: Today's Tips du Jour Mailbag question comes to us all the way from Australia. "Robert, I need to do some repair work on a guitar and wonder how you hold the guitar. Can you offer some advice? Mike, in Australia."
Mike, great question. There are a lot of ways to hold guitars. I have anywhere from the very simple, basic bench vices all the way up to the super high-tech vacuum clamping systems from LMI, so there's several ways to hold the instrument. However, there are times when you need access all around the instrument. For example, when doing a finish. If the top is fresh, you can't put that on a vacuum clamp when you're working on the back or the sides. I learned a very simple technique from a luthier recently in India. His name is Arul Xavier, and I believe he learned this technique from Kenny Hill. Now, this is a classic example of luthiers sharing information and everyone benefits.
How to hold your guitar when doing finish repairs
Let me show it to you. Mike, here's a guitar that came in and it needed some French polish work done. I've already completed the top, however it's pretty fresh and I don't want to stick this to my vacuum clamp. I need to work on the back and sides. Here's the technique. Clamp a small block to the fretboard using a clamp. Then take this and clamp it into your vise. Just a simple bench vise will work. When clamping this into your vise, you can either clamp the block that you clamped onto your fretboard, or you can clamp the clamp itself. Doesn't matter, both work equally well. Now I have access to the back and to both sides, and even the neck while I'm doing the French polish without damaging what I've already done on the top. Very cool way of holding the guitar. Very simple, low tech. Thank you Arul Xavier in India for sharing this technique with me. And thank you Kenny Hill for showing it to Arul.
[on-screen text reads: More Luthier Tips and online courses available at www.obrienguitars.com. Private and small group guitar building and finishing instruction available.]
