Guitar Making | Steve Handley | Mentions https://guitarmaking.co.uk/members/steveh/activity/mentions/ Activity feed mentioning Steve Handley. Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:46:28 +0100 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-GB 30 hourly 2 a57dcf28a0524aa2927839c5d37d3d1b NSJ replied to the topic "Explorer (or maybe LP) with Floyd Rose" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/170072/ Fri, 28 Jun 2024 21:30:50 +0100 @steveh Trussrod fully tight and still bowing forward?   You could try adding a bit of physical pressure to pull the neck back and see if the trussrod will turn more.   Or, you could somehow pull down at both…   Read more»

]]> 85e663d44fc36ae9a58e1a216de134b7 Russ replied to the topic "Explorer (or maybe LP) with Floyd Rose" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/169963/ Sun, 23 Jun 2024 09:15:46 +0100 @steveh
Nice work Steve. Keep them coming. 
🙏🎸🎶🙂

 

]]> c2a83aaf0dfc5169ed953c7b15cd847a swepri replied to the topic "Explorer (or maybe LP) with Floyd Rose" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/166970/ Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:34:12 +0000 @steveh I usually go to p320 before applying finish. Before staining, I lightly moisture the surfaces and let it dry, to raise the grain. Then a light pass with p320 again.

]]> 38b96e9fb581014848e3edb58285ae95 NSJ replied to the topic "Explorer (or maybe LP) with Floyd Rose" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/164843/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 16:39:09 +0000 @steveh well I can blame it on age at least lol

]]> 86f908c7e3606eb8bfb1f5b5b87490bf NSJ replied to the topic "Explorer (or maybe LP) with Floyd Rose" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/164823/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 02:51:18 +0000 @steveh I place the claw against the back of the spring cavity and move it about until I’m happy it’s centred then go round in the holes with a pencil or that. Remove the claw and centre punch the centre…   Read more»

]]> 25e87bda5abb882007f0ca952f5014d2 Steve Handley replied to the topic "Explorer (or maybe LP) with Floyd Rose" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/158657/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 20:27:02 +0100 [quote data-userid=”49000″ data-postid=”24465″] @steveh musiclily do a decent routing template, only thing missing is the recess for the floyd but that’s not to hard to knock up.   I’d recommend grabbing a gotoh floyd, 150 ish but fantastic units. Even…   Read more»

]]> 9f3bd16cc76fb7a5cf09fc0537efc2a8 Steve Handley replied to the topic "Explorer (or maybe LP) with Floyd Rose" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/158656/ Tue, 11 Jul 2023 20:22:12 +0100 [quote data-userid=”34366″ data-postid=”24453″] @steveh Planning and drawing is a useful start. Maybe you could try out the necessary routing for the trem on a cheap piece of wood, to confirm. How is samba wood to work with? I have only…   Read more»

]]> 9d6940355a585218c90199eb65d04bec NSJ replied to the topic "Explorer (or maybe LP) with Floyd Rose" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/158621/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 22:48:47 +0100 @steveh musiclily do a decent routing template, only thing missing is the recess for the floyd but that’s not to hard to knock up.   I’d recommend grabbing a gotoh floyd, 150 ish but fantastic units. Even if you completely…   Read more»

]]> 199492cf382819a119f4a146337a8186 swepri replied to the topic "Explorer (or maybe LP) with Floyd Rose" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/158573/ Mon, 10 Jul 2023 13:48:16 +0100 @steveh Planning and drawing is a useful start. Maybe you could try out the necessary routing for the trem on a cheap piece of wood, to confirm. How is samba wood to work with? I have only used Bosse Cedar…   Read more»

]]> ff81d6736236abc84eb1c66d78d5ed08 Russ replied to the topic "Installing frets in loose fretboard" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/158533/ Sun, 09 Jul 2023 17:46:15 +0100 @steveh
Hi Steve, I’ve never done it but I have thought about it. Given that Stewmac sell their Fret Arbor Press with a picture of that very process suggests that it can be done
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-fretting/pressing/fret-arbor-press-system/ 
🎸🙂🎶🙏

]]> 529494eac7d0c900e5d90bc43b14ac70 NSJ replied to the topic "Ever get the feeling that a build is cursed?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/158061/ Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:43:08 +0100 @steveh I solved that issue with some 10mm acrylic sheets off ebay, now I can hold my router very flat while routing. Did it to both my palm routers.
 

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]]> bf051c4433e0cfd15932cb8fb5a842c1 swepri replied to the topic "Ever get the feeling that a build is cursed?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/158057/ Thu, 29 Jun 2023 10:08:27 +0100 @steveh I always do that kind of (tempate) routing on the routing table, if possible. For me it is far too easy to wobble with a handheld router and tilt it a bit. On the other hand, the router table…   Read more»

]]> f8ebc436153c1c4d440207448d297075 NSJ replied to the topic "Ever get the feeling that a build is cursed?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/158038/ Thu, 29 Jun 2023 01:23:39 +0100 @steveh maybe you’re just pushing to hard against the neck?
 
I’ve never had the problem myself so not a 100% sure what’s happened.

]]> 6b2d52a8b986bc43fc71ffdcfcc62452 NSJ replied to the topic "Ever get the feeling that a build is cursed?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/158035/ Wed, 28 Jun 2023 23:32:07 +0100 @steveh are you sure the bearing isn’t a bit knackered?
 
Also what wood are you using? Bearing whouldn’t be leaving any marks like that unless it’s really soft wood.

]]> 4546bd276f8cd0a8067b732dda0e1c56 Rathius replied to the topic "Ever get the feeling that a build is cursed?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/157581/ Thu, 15 Jun 2023 13:17:48 +0100 @steveh I have a kit I bought 2 1/2 years ago I’ve still not finished for that very reason. First thing was dropping the body after spraying the final coat of clear 🤦🏻‍♂️😭 Cracked at a glue joint. Fixed that….   Read more»

]]> d18c0ec57d312ff610995bb5e478814d Steve Handley replied to the topic "Ever get the feeling that a build is cursed?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/157544/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 19:26:42 +0100 [quote data-userid=”14309″ data-postid=”24198″] @steveh  Any thoughts how I can make this ok, without it looking like a dog’s dinner? Or should I chalk it up to experience and start with another blank? I was thinking, reduce the top as @njs…   Read more»

]]> 3fb66930bca77d1747fe186b1b382e67 Robin replied to the topic "Ever get the feeling that a build is cursed?" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/157523/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 18:22:09 +0100 @steveh  Any thoughts how I can make this ok, without it looking like a dog’s dinner? Or should I chalk it up to experience and start with another blank? I was thinking, reduce the top as @njs says, then laminate…   Read more»

]]> 7b45ffc3bba962bd824c7de27a1b6b42 Boo replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/136551/ Fri, 15 Jul 2022 09:19:50 +0100 Posted by: @steveh There have been things that I got wrong first time and had to revisit, as well as things that I‘ve asked myself „What if I did this bit differently next time?“ @steveh Nice one Steve, it looks…   Read more»

]]> 1005c7f994ea31bb54a35bbf4a9f41b8 Koendb replied to the topic "Fret position marking" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/136535/ Fri, 15 Jul 2022 06:53:59 +0100 @Steveh Thanks for that. But there are easier ways:https://www.ekips.org/tools/guitar/fretfind2d/ or  Stewmacs fret calculator https://www.stewmac.com/fret-calculator/ TLC Guitargoods in Holland: https://tlcguitargoods.com/en/howto-fret-calculator I am sure there a lot of other online resources that can do the exact same thing.It’s nice to have…[Read more]

]]> 007825142f886d20a1c8724ca6467a66 Koendb replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/136534/ Fri, 15 Jul 2022 06:43:00 +0100 @steveh Really nice job! congrats. Up to the next build. Flying V’s are fun! Here’s my attempt 🙂

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]]> f99bbaab692d4014e5e53b6daaf7d689 Koendb replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/116752/ Tue, 11 Jan 2022 00:06:15 +0000 @steveh go go go! 😎 😀 👍🎸

]]> 91147f5d01d4331f3bc2b1f5560205d7 Steve Handley replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/116747/ Mon, 10 Jan 2022 23:49:24 +0000 Posted by: @markbailey @steveh Good call…I think that is the best course of action. Once you have the methods down you will be unstoppable 👍 Hi Mark,   So, I finally got round to re-drawing my plan  – the original…   Read more»

]]> f5ae4f747ab55d9aecc1cf0999d4c74f tv1 replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/115554/ Fri, 24 Dec 2021 10:56:14 +0000 Posted by: @steveh I won’t use the ugly scratchplate, I agree – generally – that sticking a bit of cheap black plastic on the front of a beautifully built and finished guitar is heresy.   But not all scratchplates have…   Read more»

]]> a987e32888391986f65a0c56584e097b Tej replied to the topic "Hi from Wuppertal, Germany" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/115072/ Sun, 19 Dec 2021 07:30:23 +0000 Posted by: @steveh do find that I get sawdust pretty much everywhere in the garage, so I either need to do something about dust extraction Get yourself an M class dust extractor for the sake of your lungs and so…   Read more»

]]> 689f81d8824d30b7fca11a8921492648 mark bailey replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114991/ Sat, 18 Dec 2021 09:06:46 +0000 @steveh Good call…I think that is the best course of action. Once you have the methods down you will be unstoppable 👍

]]> 82836de47fcd9f7e1da1cb3b332cfec6 mark bailey replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114775/ Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:20:58 +0000 @steveh Ah OK cool… 🤔  Yes, you can do that but you might have to mix and match a bit. It is what I might call a hybrid. I checked your updated drawing – it is not a good design…   Read more»

]]> 90ff06f513438efe4bc2a33906f44c27 Steve Handley replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114579/ Tue, 14 Dec 2021 11:57:37 +0000 Posted by: @koendb @steveh Early in the 80’s, I must have been around 13 or 14 then,  I had an Aria Sunburst Strat copy. I remember swapping it with a cheaper knockoff because I wanted a black one cause that…   Read more»

]]> b264ef9374206c6d44fc520d5fb392cb Boo replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114555/ Tue, 14 Dec 2021 10:05:17 +0000 Posted by: @steveh So, for my first project, I plan to build something along the same lines, using as much of the original hardware as I can. I won’t use the ugly scratchplate, and will probably also not finish it…   Read more»

]]> 35c3eea5137349cf5e5da3d8b515b9c1 Koendb replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114538/ Tue, 14 Dec 2021 00:23:40 +0000 @steveh Early in the 80’s, I must have been around 13 or 14 then,  I had an Aria Sunburst Strat copy. I remember swapping it with a cheaper knockoff because I wanted a black one cause that was more metal…   Read more»

]]> 4ed2379acd81a698ffc8c320b3cdcf76 mattbeels replied to the topic "Steveh and the Aria ET 240" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114500/ Mon, 13 Dec 2021 23:37:50 +0000 Welcome @steveh and best of luck with your build! The drawing looks good so far but don’t worry about slow progress because after all, you’ve taken your first step into a larger world…

]]> 8b9140c7f28dcbe2d90177c210c0a3f9 Robin replied to the topic "Hi from Wuppertal, Germany" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114336/ Thu, 09 Dec 2021 10:02:25 +0000 @steveh  It’s not just the bike I’m trying to protect. At the moment, there’s a thin layer of sawdust over pretty much everything (my garage tools, for example) in the garage and I’d rather there wasn’t. Welcome to the group…   Read more»

]]> a6d20dd1f9f6204f23058d58d5796008 Rocknroller912 replied to the topic "Hi from Wuppertal, Germany" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114318/ Thu, 09 Dec 2021 01:55:37 +0000 @steveh
Have to admit that I don’t do much power sanding these days after finding out what a mess it makes. I use mostly hand planes and scrapers. If I have to power sand I do it outside.

]]> 88722093f89f91319281c364898ff38e Steve Handley replied to the topic "Hi from Wuppertal, Germany" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114305/ Wed, 08 Dec 2021 21:24:34 +0000 Posted by: @rocknroller912 @boo @steveh Ive had a bike in my garage for 25 years and never found it to be a problem with woodwork. Bike gets cleaned in the driveway and only sits there, so why solve a problem…   Read more»

]]> 7869520be859d5dcccd59b7a7baecd7b Rocknroller912 replied to the topic "Hi from Wuppertal, Germany" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114295/ Wed, 08 Dec 2021 13:54:23 +0000 @boo @steveh Ive had a bike in my garage for 25 years and never found it to be a problem with woodwork. Bike gets cleaned in the driveway and only sits there, so why solve a problem that doesn’t exist….   Read more»

]]> c2cdffd7dc17f42bee607139bf59a80c Rocknroller912 replied to the topic "Hi from Wuppertal, Germany" - https://guitarmaking.co.uk/activity/p/114269/ Wed, 08 Dec 2021 01:24:42 +0000 @steveh
Welcome to the group. I also build in my garage with a motorbike in the space and it’s not too hard, just throw a big dust sheet over the whole bike including the chain. Sawdust will stick to it badly. 

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