Guitar Making | mark bailey | Activity

mark bailey replied to the topic "Hello everyone, newbie member - Andy" -

Sat, 26 Jul 2025 13:54:32 +0100

Cheers All – welcome Andy!…FYI guys – we can do custom scale lengths like 24″ no problem – just order the nearest one then leave a note in the box at checkout or email us with your req…

mark bailey replied to the topic "Trials, tribulations and a guitar build" -

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 09:00:57 +0100

To avoid breakout I no longer route the headstock profile and use the method described by Brian here… I think I would try sanding/scraping the top face of the neck to remove the marks left by the collet. Just check… Read more»

mark bailey liked forum post "Trials, tribulations and a guitar build" -

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 08:53:16 +0100

mark bailey replied to the topic "Stopping the truss rod from sliding in slot" -

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 08:51:34 +0100

Hey Jonathan – That’s normal. We normally push it as far back as it will go (towards the body end). This way it cannot slide back any further so could only potentially move forwards but – it won’t move once… Read more»

mark bailey replied to the topic "Bolt on neck construction" -

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 13:06:51 +0000

I’d suggest making a side section drawing of the neck so you can see clearly what’s going on…if you do that and then take a photo of your drawing we can check it out. A couple of notes: Make sure… Read more»

mark bailey replied to the topic "New member with resin issues" -

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:47:28 +0000

It is not a method I’ve used or recommend for inlaying guitars (in my experience you cannot get a crisp outline like a ‘proper’ inlay) but it should work… sounds like they need to be polished maybe? Try sanding with… Read more»

mark bailey replied to the topic "Ran pickup wires through mounting holes. Why must ye mock me so, Lord?" -

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:38:52 +0000

Oooft! It happens to the best of us…. 🙄

mark bailey replied to the topic "X Brace and Upper Face Brace - How close is too close?" -

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 12:33:52 +0000

Hi Lena! Great question – The ends of the UFB and XB can be right next to each other, but if they are actually touching it will make it difficult to fit them as they will be glued on… Read more»

mark bailey replied to the topic "WHAT's THIS ? SOME SURPRISE WORKSHOP NEWS !" -

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 16:57:46 +0000

@liebe Hey Dan This is Carol now on Marks page 😉 NO offence taken at all – we know we have been absent, and it is shame indeed … BUT we are finally making our way back up to where… Read more»

mark bailey replied to the topic "WHAT's THIS ? SOME SURPRISE WORKSHOP NEWS !" -

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:53:47 +0000

@liebe hello to you and everyone who sees this – things have gone a bit astray here, mainly because of family illness after the pandemic – but we are trying to get back on track. There is some news… just… Read more»

mark bailey liked forum post "les Paul style" -

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 14:33:32 +0100

mark bailey replied to the topic "les Paul style" -

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 14:33:00 +0100

Love the neck join and the clean look of the natural finish – class!

mark bailey liked forum post "Thicknesser?" -

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 14:31:47 +0100

mark bailey replied to the topic "Build 2 Dubious showcase!" -

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 14:30:23 +0100

Thanks for sharing Stephen – looks beauteous 🙂 is that one of our Sycamore caps? Can’t wait to see it with the strings on!

mark bailey liked forum post "Build 2 Dubious showcase!" -

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 14:28:39 +0100

mark bailey liked forum post "Hello from Alabama" -

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 15:43:34 +0000

mark bailey replied to the topic "Robin's build #004" -

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:17:03 +0000

@robin Link works – guitar sounds great! Awesome job -thanks for posting!

mark bailey replied to the topic "Robin's build #004" -

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:55:37 +0000

@robin
Yep I remembered after I posted that so I edited my comment 🙂 Sorry my bad memory…

mark bailey liked forum post "Robin's build #004" -

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:54:02 +0000

mark bailey liked forum post "Robin's build #004" -

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 11:00:35 +0000

mark bailey replied to the topic "Robin's build #004" -

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:53:41 +0000

Great job @Robin – thanks for your kind words and for sharing the pics for us all to admire. Maybe you can upload the vid to youtube or elsewhere and just drop the link here so we can watch? Anyhow….. Read more»

mark bailey liked forum post "Robin's build #004" -

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 10:48:32 +0000

mark bailey liked forum post "Hello from Surrey" -

Sat, 10 Feb 2024 12:39:34 +0000

mark bailey liked forum post "Fingerboard moved during glue-up - can it be rescued?" -

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 14:51:10 +0000

mark bailey liked forum post "Fingerboard moved during glue-up - can it be rescued?" -

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 14:51:03 +0000

mark bailey replied to the topic "Well, that’s that then!!" -

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 11:57:11 +0000

Great job Brian 👍 – Thanks for sharing the pics…and for your kind words…makes it all worthwhile!

mark bailey liked forum post "Well, that’s that then!!" -

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 11:53:46 +0000

mark bailey liked forum post "How to contact about order?" -

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 16:50:44 +0000

mark bailey replied to the topic "How to contact about order?" -

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:32:38 +0000

Hey @somethingnicer – THANKS for ordering the kit!! Carol is packing your parts – she will message you with an update today . Sorry about the contact form – we have contacted the webguys . Can you send a screen… Read more»

mark bailey replied to the topic "My first uke from offcuts" -

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 19:19:46 +0000

Absolutely gorgeous – great plan! You’ll probably find guitars much easier now after that – I did anyway. I found ukes to be a lesson in humility myself as they are much smaller and very much fiddlier than I am… Read more»

mark bailey liked forum post "My first uke from offcuts" -

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 19:10:09 +0000

mark bailey liked forum post "Latest build and need some advice!" -

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 17:47:25 +0000

mark bailey replied to the topic "Vintage lipstick pickup question" -

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:19:15 +0000

Boom!

mark bailey liked forum post "Robin's build #004" -

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 17:19:59 +0000

mark bailey replied to the topic "Robin's build #004" -

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 15:04:18 +0000

If you are going to ‘tune’ any of the braces, plates, chambers make sure to offset your tuner by 1/4 note (A=431) The last thing you want is parts tuned to concert pitch. Until you have a few builds under… Read more»

mark bailey replied to the topic "Build #4 (formerly build #3 😂)" -

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:22:51 +0000

OK you convinced me… – it’s on the list…just need to convince Carol now!
Seriously though – do you have any Laser cutter/engraver recommendations for anyone who might be interested?

mark bailey replied to the topic "Latest build and need some advice!" -

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 14:18:35 +0000

If in doubt: Mount your bridge into a lump of scrap wood to simulate the body then you can work out exactly where the take off point of the string will be – always a good idea to test your… Read more»

mark bailey liked forum post "Latest build and need some advice!" -

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 13:37:58 +0000

mark bailey replied to the topic "Build #4 (formerly build #3 😂)" -

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 17:26:21 +0000

Cheers for that! Awesome work…I’ll track down that post and check it out when I get a chance….Laser Engraver eh? Flash bastad 🙂

mark bailey liked forum post "New member - third build - still a novice" -

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 17:22:21 +0000

mark bailey replied to the topic "New member - third build - still a novice" -

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:02:24 +0000

@cafebrouge What problems are you having with soldering? – maybe we can help make it FUN! top tip: Keep your tip clean and shiny and tip top. top tip 2: Use quality ’60/40 solder’ not the usual modern cheap lead… Read more»

mark bailey replied to the topic "Build #4 (formerly build #3 😂)" -

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:49:34 +0000

Hey man that signature inlay looks cool as F*** how you do that? Did I miss something?

mark bailey replied to the topic "Looking for a fret spacing ruler" -

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 13:04:37 +0000

I have a nearly new Ibex fretscale ruler you could have for £10 plus postage – but – it doesn’t have any of the common fretscales on it which is why I have never used it: Steel String: 25 11/32″… Read more»

mark bailey liked forum post "Bench build" -

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 13:51:58 +0000

mark bailey liked forum post "Bench build" -

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 13:50:59 +0000

mark bailey liked forum post "Shielding Paint" -

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 14:37:37 +0000

mark bailey replied to the topic "Member cancellation and contact form not working." -

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 11:34:15 +0000

Hi @nortski – am responding here just in case – I cannot find any mails or contact forms (will get the web guys to look into this) but I can see that you did pause your membership but somehow it… Read more»

mark bailey replied to the topic "Member cancellation and contact form not working." -

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 11:22:13 +0000

@nortski HI there – this is Carol on Marks account ;)- really sorry to hear this – we get messages most days and reply asap – today we got the notification of this message … apologies also for FB messages…… Read more»

mark bailey liked forum post "Had an amazing thing happen" -

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:01:48 +0100

mark bailey liked forum post "Hello from Surrey" -

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 14:01:21 +0100