So many geometry variations, so many design philosophies, so many material choices. Yet so many companies and luthiers each following these different paths still all manage to produce wonderful, playa...

We’re really sorry to hear this news Mark. I hope she makes a speedy recovery and our thoughts are with you and your family. Darren & Dawn

Isn’t it amazing? 60 years old and still actually quite a playable instrument. Quirky I’ll grant you, but who knows how it really sounded when it was new. They go for quite big money these days with c...

I think he should be tested? This is not normal behaviour within this forum! Saying things like that could get him barred!!

Do you notice any difference in tone . Without wanting to blow my own trumpet too much, the first two laminated, steel string acoustics that I made are still the best sounding, best intonated and lou...

Hi Deej, Pleased to see that you have found no need to use the word ‘enough’ (is it even actually a word?!!) Darren

I think you have to look at the product in context. Reviewing a 50’s or 60’s plastic guitar in the 80’s or 90’s is probably unfair. It was designed to be a low cost, reasonably ok guitar made from mat...

Being ‘posh plywood’ they are less affected by changes in temperature and humidity and this was the aim of Mario Maccaferri when he first designed the guitar. I believe that his later company in the U...

Hey TV, are you sending letters to the national press under an alias? I think we should be told! Attachment : 75E70ED4-2B32-4C17-8D2A-4B43063E266A.jpeg

I love the drilled hole and dowel to act as the registration system. Very cool. It look like a great job. Looking forward to seeing the guitar. Cheers Darren

some sort of Birdseye (maple?) Yes, Birdseye maple. This is one big advantage of laminating with veneers. You can find absolutely amazingly stunning veneers far easier than you can the equivalent sol...

I would love to try and get a cutout on some veneer Hi Steve, Sorry, I missed this one, too many jokes and favorite songs! Email me your address and I'll send you some off cuts to play with. darren.k...

I take it you are going with an oil finish? I love oil finishes but I am just worried that the walnut has too many little surface deviations that would really benefit from a good dose of grain filler...

Ok, so here are the pics of the completed jig and the machining. I do love the little cordless Makita router. I wouldn’t try to machine full depth pick-up recesses with it but for operations that are ...

“enough”. Just looked this up in the guitar makers dictionary and there is no entry for the word! Are you sure you’re spelling it correctly?

Didn't realise that you were operating under a similar guitars=puppies deal. I made the mistake of mentioning it once and Dawn thought it was a VERY good idea!! In fact, she keeps encouraging me spen...

a motor just for the belt You get them down to about 350w so this would be pretty useful to drive the belt, better over powered than under. I have seen these motors listed at up to 1500w ie about 2hp...

otherwise a stepper motor and speed controller Industrial sewing machine motors are the future for home build machines. 1hp servo motor, controller and 'throttle' lever come in at around the £100 mar...

Do you recon you could make these @darrenking? I could certainly machine the plywood parts but I don't think I'd want to get involved in the assembly side of things. Manufacturing finished powered m...

Why wouldn't you use good old favourite Titebond? I was thinking of epoxy’s superior structural gap filling qualities but you have shamed me into fixing the gaps in the front by stick a bit on venee...