Comment

Comment by Dave Lynas on August 27, 2013 at 3:34pm

Hop? You mean the string pops out of the nut slot behind the zero fret? Just needs a deeper slot in the guide nut. I like the bolt threads for holding the string too, but you get that with nut slots too. Try that plastic nut and see what happens. I get my bone from Petco. They are nice white clean dog bones from happy cows. Plastic wrapped even. I got my first batch of bones from a friend who was cleaning out her yard after winter and came up with nice clean dog chewed relics. Hope i'm not sounding "pushy" with this thing. Just trying to help. Any day you get to it is a good day. .... Dave

Comment by Uncle John on August 27, 2013 at 2:00pm

You are right, Dave.   I mostly have good luck with bolt nuts. but that part is tricky.  I do like the way they hold the strings in place.  I have done zero frets too, but had trouble on some with string hop.   The zero frets are good for low action.

 

Dave, you almost have me inspired to slip in a (fake) bone nut that I have on hand.   Too many irons in the fire this week.  

Comment by Dave Lynas on August 27, 2013 at 1:32pm

You won't junk it. It was junk. That's the thing i don't like about bolt nuts. Getting the string to leave the nut cleanly at the right spot is the trick. I like a dog bone nut. It's easy to work the bone yet it's strong. Angling the string slots back to the headstock so the string leaves the nut right at the edge closest to the first fret. I've had the string leave the nut at the headstock side of the nut so the intonation was off by quite a bit. Zero frets are great too. They eliminate the nut problem and as it's just one more fret to add it takes the guesswork out of placement and gives you the lowest action you could have. I've only experienced zero frets on MIJ guitars. Zenons and Tulips often have zero frets. I find they are the easiest guitars to play of all of my collection.

Comment by Uncle John on August 27, 2013 at 12:53pm

Well said, Dave.  The intonation problem on the 18 inch scale git  (not the Elmar)   is likely from too short a distance from the screw type nut to the first fret.   It is meant for finger chording, so the first fret being off is quite significant.   Yup.  Maddog spotted this.  It is put aside for now, but at some point, I will fix it - or if I fail to fix it, I will junk it.

 

Elmar saw the vid of Maddog playing this git.   :)

Comment by Dave Lynas on August 27, 2013 at 3:58am

Did Maddog help on the intonation issue? I think a "set up" clup would be a good thing. Intonation is easy and very hard at the same time. If it's just the bridge, it's easy. If it's a bowed neck or trouble at the nut, it can be very tricky. Fret filing, lowering the string into the nut till it's just right. That's the part that took me a long time to get right.

Comment by Dave Lynas on August 27, 2013 at 3:53am

I hope Elmar is seeing this endorsement. I'll bet he will. Getting a flat pickup is a handy thing. It fits on the shallow boxes so easy without cutting a well. No holes in the soundboard except screws and a wire hole. Then the sound tops it off. I like my Vienna Art Deco model (brass clad with big green pole covers and other holes to see the winding). Less hum as it's shielded from the coil. I've got that Elmar on a Silvertone arch top. It fits just right and looks sharp and sounds great....

Comment by Uncle John on August 26, 2013 at 3:00pm

Thanks, Pat.  I enjoyed the visit and loved listening to you play Elmar!

Comment by Maddog on August 26, 2013 at 2:48pm

I made it home safe and sound John, riding into the sun was a little tough but not too terrible bad. 

John is 100% correct, I am now an Elmar believer. John did a really nice job on this build, it plays so easy. From the time I picked it up to the time I put it down (which was 2 or 3 hours) it was just a natural git to play.  Had a great time today John!

Comment by Uncle John on August 26, 2013 at 12:30pm

Maddog rode over today on his Harley and tried this guitar at length.  I think he wants a flatpup now.

Comment by Dave Lynas on August 26, 2013 at 7:26am

I've managed to kill a pup. It was a beautiful JUJU single pole pup on my best didley bow build. I was using a light stick to hit the string and whacked the pup and down she went. JUJU fixed it by a rewind and i'm back in business. I was playing the didley acoustic when i did it in. Elmar's flat pups look a bit fragile, but so far great luck with 3 of Elmars pups. I have one of his in a nice brass enclosure that is more protected. I love the sound of a flatpup.

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