Jason Johnson's Page

Thanks Jason, I'm all eyeball...

Wow Jason, an instructional vid of the wireup would be great. Many of us could benefit from it. Thanks a bunch.

I hand sand with coarse grit (80) until I can't stand it. A lot of the wood I get is pretty well taken down already. I've been getting about 3/16ths Spruce, Maple. Walnut, and Cedar. That I just start with 220 and go down to 400 with this thinned wood. I use these for soundboards except the Maple. It makes a nice back. Often I'll use a thicker wood for the back. I have a lot that is 1/4 inch or a little more for backs. The thick backs work good for electrics. For acoustic I'll stick with thin wood. I'll often start varnishing at 220 grit and keep sanding in between coats with finer and finer sandpaper. This seems to make a nice finish. I don't go for the high gloss or too perfect look. It would just frustrate me. None of my stuff is "perfect". Crude is closer to me.

Hi Jason, I usually use Black Walnut. Rosewood is getting hard to get and Walnut seems to work great. I've been getting guitar backs in Walnut that is too thick to use for a soundboard. It's usually about 3/8" thick and one half a back will make 4 fret boards. I've been using these for diddleys and lap steels. Fretted boards I get from Mike Orr through ebay. He uses Walnut and makes 1 1/2 inch wide fretboards. His work is excellent and cost about 20$ per board. 

Jason, I don't know what the brass thickness was, it was cut from a plate I bought at thrift shop. Maybe 2mm?

Will this help?   I just put the wire between the tail and the box, you could wrap it around a screw too....

Glad the info was helpful to you Jason, I love experimenting more than the building, I learn a lot of things doing that. I hope that you checked out my other experimenting videos, there is some interesting things there. I can't really play well at all, experimenting and building is much more up my alley. Your build is looking good.

Kevin

Here is a string through ground. the strings go through the copper strap.....

Hello Jason.  Not sure what yur askin but..... i do shield and ground my mag pickups and have also grounded the bridge, so yes. I have found it better to ground the strings though.