Guitar Making | Jonathan Hodgson | Activity https://guitarmaking.co.uk/members/jonhodgson/activity/ Activity feed for Jonathan Hodgson. Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:45:07 +0100 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-GB 30 hourly 2 85bd727f8fd5cae28be1951e8f1ee441 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Rattly truss rod" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/179177/ Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:47:04 +0100 @nsj Thanks, I thought it was probably either not an issue or recoverable, but needed a bit of assurance before I started removing more wood.As for the hairline glues lines at the fingerboard edge I’m less worried about them because…   Read more»

]]> a45cf468acad7ffbe0d7f824d2a160a0 Jonathan Hodgson posted a new topic "Rattly truss rod" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/178804/ Wed, 09 Jul 2025 23:27:57 +0100 So I finally got to glue the fingerboard on to my neck, and when I took the clamps off I found two problems (well three if you count the amount a glue I need to clean up, unfortunately I had…   Read more»

]]> 87e9b69e0ba542597b81983e544c397f Jonathan Hodgson posted a new topic "Stopping the truss rod from sliding in slot" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/177996/ Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:45:05 +0100 I was just in the process of prepping to fix the trussrod in and I noticed that I seem to have wound up in a situation where there is nothing to stop the truss rod from sliding backwards and forward…   Read more»

]]> 89e504271c391139baa5bae379f43589 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Trials, tribulations and a guitar build" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/177497/ Sun, 15 Jun 2025 22:52:04 +0100 Failure 2, somehow when I was trying to route the deeper part of the neck sides (longer than my cutter so I had to take the template off) I managed to set things so the collet wound up rubbing. I…   Read more»

]]> 606abb7a58f2e621185f4316f2f851c1 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Trials, tribulations and a guitar build" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/177496/ Sun, 15 Jun 2025 22:45:34 +0100 Not one, but two failures today. The first I can put down mostly to bad luck, though maybe better router technique would have avoided it, the second was 100% facepalm when I realised what had happened Failure 1, a piece…   Read more»

]]> de1d47ed539e2949129511d584882045 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Trials, tribulations and a guitar build" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/177345/ Thu, 12 Jun 2025 23:56:26 +0100 So now we get to the night I’m starting these posts, I went in to the hackspace thinking I would have a whole evening to myself to work on the guitar, no shop projects, no hackspace system admin, no inductions,…   Read more»

]]> 5227973ad789a60499ea3831a6b2cc7d Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Trials, tribulations and a guitar build" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/177344/ Thu, 12 Jun 2025 23:44:25 +0100

Attachment : headstock angle.webp

For a couple of reasons I took a slice off the top of the neck blank, then flattened it again using the planer. When it came to routing the headstock angle Mark’s Jig wouldn’t work because the reference face…   Read more»

]]> 671b6d4351371855d6ab1c315fbb6471 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Trials, tribulations and a guitar build" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/177343/ Thu, 12 Jun 2025 23:37:34 +0100

Attachment : templates.webp

So, in the Hackspace we have a large format laser cutter, so I used that to cut some templates.We also have a Denford CNC converted to LinuxCNC (guess which muggins got roped into getting that to work) which I…   Read more»

]]> b4090d897e7ae0e391821e076d73c0de Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Trials, tribulations and a guitar build" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/177342/ Thu, 12 Jun 2025 23:33:51 +0100

Attachment : Fretslots.webp

I think you may recognize the jig.This was the first day of the London Craft Festival, and I had spent the whole day talking to people trying to convince them to join the hackspace. I needed those beers! 
 

]]> 98109ef953fb67d69e132cd9e2853d41 Jonathan Hodgson posted a new topic "Trials, tribulations and a guitar build" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/177341/ Thu, 12 Jun 2025 23:30:11 +0100 So having joined the London Hackspace in the hope of using the faciities to build guitars and other cool things I somehow wound up first as a maintainer organizing the woodshop and then as a Trustee (director) and have spent…   Read more»

]]> 9700afa215eacd50dc87bc7b516a5c19 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "What would you like to see next?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/171338/ Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:54:55 +0100 How about an extension module to the electric guitar course… carving a top?https://www.baileyguitars.co.uk/product/bandsman-carve-top-special/

]]> fc9da6ea1b6f46faeca8a6b7ad292d86 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "3/4 Size Guitars" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/138754/ Sat, 13 Aug 2022 16:36:38 +0100 Mandolins manage 22 frets on a 14″ scale lengthThe very cool sounding Emerald Guitars Amicus (short scale 12 string) has 22 frets on an 18 inch scale length.
 

]]> d00ffadee7b3523875b1d56bd215b8d4 Jonathan Hodgson posted a new topic "Telecaster Bridge Position" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/138753/ Sat, 13 Aug 2022 16:20:23 +0100 Hi Guys,I’m trying to CAD up the design for a Telecasterish guitar (it has certain differences, 24 frets. marginally smaller body, etc)The problem is where to locate the bridge plate (Gotoh GT201, 6 saddle, 4 screw mounting, seems to be…   Read more»

]]> e159098353912865898e465dd292cb54 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "**PINK FLAKE STRAT**" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/99259/ Wed, 28 Jul 2021 16:23:16 +0100 it is for a little girl after all. @boo, it may be for a little girl, but It’s not twee, it’s just a touch glam! I could play that at my regular Rock Jam (well I could if it was…   Read more»

]]> 6a858831dfbb75fb3b7b3c7ef39ee4e2 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "New Electric BUild" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/98139/ Thu, 15 Jul 2021 20:35:46 +0100 @darrenking Thought it would be something like that.The diagrams assume the person doing the soldering is familiar with the common practice in guitar wiring of soldering the terminal directly to the body to earth it, but as a result the…   Read more»

]]> f7ab919dfae37dd516c3aba465bf07eb Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "New Electric BUild" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/98103/ Thu, 15 Jul 2021 15:13:11 +0100 @darrenking, I can see only two ways that the volume control in that circuit would not turn the sound right down to zero 1) It’s a dodgy pot, and the minimum setting is not 0 ohms between the middle tab…   Read more»

]]> b21a6a5452214d2e8b0e979bea8bc910 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Mirka Deros" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/98101/ Thu, 15 Jul 2021 13:19:36 +0100 I’ve so far managed to resist the GAS directive to buy a Mirka, I don’t know how long that will last.But I will say that even if you don’t buy the Mirka sander, I can highly recommend the Mirka Abranet…   Read more»

]]> 53f489ce3021b527d2b90a1eee734871 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Custom Logos!" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/97909/ Tue, 13 Jul 2021 10:32:53 +0100 @Tej, I thought about laser cutting a template for paint, but the problem with that is you need a design with no holes in it, but it might be a good solution if your design works in that respect.I’m looking…   Read more»

]]> d6c1497e617952d0eb26738c43c0b59c Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Custom Logos!" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/97852/ Mon, 12 Jul 2021 23:59:38 +0100 It is a bit much for a one off.People seem to have quite a bit of success with DIY transfers on YouTube. I also wonder about screenprinting something. But I’ve just remembered that there is a little CNC sitting in our…   Read more»

]]> 5b6b64662742bea4c6d66e072c0d3842 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Source for quality plywood" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/97770/ Mon, 12 Jul 2021 16:10:01 +0100 @darrenking what’s the best way to message you?

]]> 4e38e404852541dec6bd760b17bbada7 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Installing frets" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/97733/ Mon, 12 Jul 2021 12:48:51 +0100 @tej The labelling isn’t 100% consistent between manufacturers, but superglue goes from a thick gel like consistency down to the super-thin which is like water in a hurry (it will wick into tiny gaps through capillary action, which is great…   Read more»

]]> a85f8606fa3427a47d2f1ff7f4bb5374 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "**PINK FLAKE STRAT**" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/97007/ Thu, 08 Jul 2021 14:08:29 +0100 Culture Hustle may have the pinkest pink, but I think Boo may have the sparkliest pink.

]]> 249b8e7039f3d1257f63192640a11c3a Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "What is an oily rag and where can you get one?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/96424/ Tue, 06 Jul 2021 02:32:09 +0100 There’s no fish oil in it, that’s an urban myth that’s actually mentioned on their website “Myths and Fun Facts” page.The exact formula is a secret, but between the information they have to provide on safety sheets and a mass…   Read more»

]]> 2953372b1415e633e939fb06687af9f2 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "What is an oily rag and where can you get one?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/96147/ Mon, 05 Jul 2021 13:33:39 +0100 @boo considering how much money people will pay for a reliced guitar maybe there’s a business opportunity here for a whole new class of buggered finish?

]]> 110a526a2eea0f5da8f617e0474d7a8c Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Any recommendations on places to get a body finished" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/96146/ Mon, 05 Jul 2021 13:30:34 +0100 @boo Thanks, I’ve pointed him in the direction of your instagram and made positive comments about what I’ve seen of your work. I think he’s considering his options while he gets stuck into removing the old finish.

]]> 578d78d45621f62a4d35a7312cee9973 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "What is an oily rag and where can you get one?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/96055/ Mon, 05 Jul 2021 09:04:33 +0100 Don’t use a WD40 rag when you should be using an oily rag, the pros will know you’re an amateur because you’re confusing WD40 with oil and either sneer or laugh.. or both at the same time (would that be…   Read more»

]]> 23ad36bbd08b98e4ae27623f0afcbfe5 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Any recommendations on places to get a body finished" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/94153/ Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:48:13 +0100 @rocknroller912
 
I doubt very much he’d go for an oil finish.He just commented he might want to go for the same colour as his AC Cobra replica, which I can see working.

Attachment : steves_cobra.jpg
]]> 19fd17dacb5352b5ee5db62f1237adf8 Jonathan Hodgson posted a new topic "Any recommendations on places to get a body finished" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/94146/ Tue, 29 Jun 2021 12:40:24 +0100 Hi, This isn’t for me (I want to try my hand at finishing my own) but a friend of mine has a Fender Jaguar that is now looking a bit worn and he just asked me if I had any…   Read more»

]]> 7aee6e9ec6d092c286d47b4ba3465e80 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Natural - Satin finish" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/90970/ Sun, 20 Jun 2021 18:19:27 +0100 @ndakota there’s a video where Chris from Highline Guitars talks about how he handles oil soaked rags (or, more precisely, “handled” as he now uses alternative finishes when he wants the oil look). You may be able to find it.If…   Read more»

]]> 0078502fd160df207d14172f05ac1222 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Installing frets" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/90386/ Fri, 18 Jun 2021 13:34:31 +0100 @tejI suspect it’s a combination of1) fretboards are usually a tight grained wood 2) He wipes it off straight away Obviously try it for yourself on a piece of scrap first if you can, but I don’t think that Ben…   Read more»

]]> 866014e4c1bb54f5790ee413cf6205ec Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Installing frets" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/90381/ Fri, 18 Jun 2021 12:48:44 +0100 Wood glue is much easier to cleanup than superglue, so long as you do it as you’re going along, a damp rag will do it. That’s why Ben Crowe has abandoned the superglue approach, I’ve seen him do both the…   Read more»

]]> 29527f3aa19ed4034dda6b967c5c7294 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Natural - Satin finish" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/90163/ Thu, 17 Jun 2021 16:47:32 +0100 One warning with oil finishes is to be careful with your application cloth/paper disposal. The curing is pretty exothermal and apparently, it’s not unknown for things to catch fire if you just lob the rags in the bin.

]]> 77a4010919f06479f0e87543d818a32b Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Source for quality plywood" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/90158/ Thu, 17 Jun 2021 16:27:59 +0100 Thanks guys. @darrenking I’ll be in touch about that soon, need to chat with a couple of the other hackspace woodworkers about what we need. I’m also trying to get a bit of a guitar building group happening there.

]]> 37efdc2d9d3157745e0e0e9c27feaa3a Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "**PINK FLAKE STRAT**" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/89917/ Wed, 16 Jun 2021 19:01:23 +0100 I then would rather keep the black scratch plate with white pickups and accents or perhaps cream ones, @koendbI can see that working too. I just find that the black knobs and pickups on the black scratchplate lose all definition,…   Read more»

]]> 610b48bf9314f1152ac9eac732958725 Jonathan Hodgson posted a new topic "Source for quality plywood" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/89831/ Wed, 16 Jun 2021 12:39:39 +0100 Hi guys, I’ve got a bunch of jigs I need to make, some guitar related but also general woodworking ones for my local hackspace. 18mm ply is probably a good solution in most cases, but I’d like something decent quality…   Read more»

]]> b9f7c14cdc4becb70f349e3a51a1dc0a Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "**PINK FLAKE STRAT**" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/88888/ Sun, 13 Jun 2021 21:00:10 +0100 For me the all black doesn’t work. Black hardware and white scratchplate might, but otherwise the white and chrome plate.

]]> 16a16c2abdd6a7d02bb84f20528be585 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "**PINK FLAKE STRAT**" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/88790/ Sun, 13 Jun 2021 18:48:36 +0100 @boo Is every tool in your garage now tinted pink?

]]> cac45e03a3c0ece9df1fd0bd9af88bf4 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Water based 2K" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/82863/ Sat, 22 May 2021 22:29:45 +0100 @poco7I shared this mostly because the type of finish (water based 2K) seems to be a new thing and is potentially interesting because normal 2K produces a very durable finish but is really nasty stuff. If you need advice on…   Read more»

]]> 64510a33c60590fab9cd6c8f9f614c0d Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Sharpening sled. Worth £60?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/82806/ Sat, 22 May 2021 20:29:22 +0100 @tv1, the nice thing about picking up a vintage one is that if you don’t get on with it you can probably sell it on for much what you bought it for.And you get a bit of history.
 

]]> f684ada41b9cab3a426b7946a4f5cdea Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Sharpening sled. Worth £60?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/82800/ Sat, 22 May 2021 20:00:15 +0100 I guess the upside is that you’re not running the guide on top of the stone, so there’s no wear to the stone @tv101 – you’re dragging a hardened steel edge over the stone, I doubt you need to worry…   Read more»

]]> 32da08a1ce97d3de3857c5e6375d5476 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Sharpening sled. Worth £60?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/82797/ Sat, 22 May 2021 19:46:13 +0100 there is no magic bullet that’s suddenly going to work. @rocknroller912 I’m not suggesting there’s a magic bullet, I don’t even know if this jig is an effective bullet, my point is that with a job that we should be…   Read more»

]]> 3e8ea63b2e21353372dbfbeb24fd9bd0 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Sharpening sled. Worth £60?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/82757/ Sat, 22 May 2021 12:54:05 +0100 I think the only important question is, does it work?Sharpening is something we should be doing regularly, “getting quite blunt” should be synonymous with “no longer usable for shaving” rather than “I don’t have a mallet big enough to get…   Read more»

]]> eabc600ee0d1a29e06841c3eb637428b Jonathan Hodgson posted a new topic "Water based 2K" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/82615/ Fri, 21 May 2021 22:32:44 +0100 I think @boo in particular might find this interesting, but I’m going to predict we can’t get it on this side of the pond.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvV3kphpskg

]]> 1a64724499a363fba8b96515ac82edbf Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Telecaster build Progress" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/81614/ Tue, 18 May 2021 16:12:56 +0100 The best way to do sanding is to find somebody who enjoys it and give the job to them.This helps not only you and them but probably keeps society safer. Who knows what that sort of psychopath might get up…   Read more»

]]> 619019922f5b4477e9adeb5100acad41 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "BYOEG Black Stealth" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/81573/ Tue, 18 May 2021 13:03:05 +0100

I’ve accidentally sanded one side of the fretboard too much.

Don’t you mean you’ve carefully crafted an ergonomic radius offset?

]]> 5fbc98003608a50c1c65103f150a7a43 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "First New Electric for a While" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/81452/ Tue, 18 May 2021 00:49:26 +0100 Being a tool junkie I bought a very nice carbide scraper burnisher from Workshop Heaven, but it seems you can use pretty much anything that’s hard enough.https://paulsellers.com/2015/02/scraper-burnishers-that-work/

]]> 82e61e0837a37a4917c3dd345b70bb8a Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Guitar build #2. Smaller size." - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/81223/ Mon, 17 May 2021 13:34:26 +0100 It might just be a trick of the light (the difference is subtle either way) but to me the wood in the cutaway looks like more of a match to the body wood than the neck wood, hance my thinking…   Read more»

]]> 84cdc98dad0abe5ca1f9855df830fcb2 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Why does Mark sell these?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/80614/ Sat, 15 May 2021 17:16:51 +0100 @rockpile99 Anything can be used for jazz, you just have to declare yourself “experimental” and/or “free”.It takes commitment though, you have to repeat the motif (no matter how painful) until somebody in the audience (ideally wearing a poloneck) nods knowingly.

]]> ef00dd8b3fa03969d36115f054be4c01 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "BYOEG Black Stealth" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/80589/ Sat, 15 May 2021 16:24:29 +0100 @tej

]]> 11ef0b54e9aad0fb16e0a21c191f70d7 Jonathan Hodgson replied to the topic "Guitar build #2. Smaller size." - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/79830/ Thu, 13 May 2021 13:47:49 +0100 @poco7 That looks rather nice.The partial cutaway Darren posted looks like a solid piece carved to shape, but that one looks in the picture like it’s the same material as the sides that has been curved to shape, is that…   Read more»

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