Video

Glad you are enjoying it!

I'm trying to understand your point. Do you mean you think it will come apart? Are you familiar with how they segment it?

@@expatluthierinthephilippin6441 yes because the board is just like a puzzle they put it in piece by piece, im wondering how it will holds over time..

In the perfect world a heavier gauge string sounds better. But in my experience it is only a little bit better and the improvement in playability and feel of lighter gauge feel outweighs that IMO. In fact recently I experimenting with an 8-38 round core Curt Mangan set on my Tele and love them. Easy to play and bend and the tonal differences are small.

Coincidentally I have the HG-4 and many many years ago had the Veritas honing guide which was OK. I haven't had the lock up problem you describe but the brass roller is a bit worn. The HG-4 has some clever features that I like but it can still be a PITA to use. Any way I look at it honing is a challenge and not a lot of fun. Which reminds me - it's time to hone :(

Glad it was helpful!

I do play it a little bit at about 11:00 but this was not a playing video but a quick overview of the instrument, process, what you get, etc. Alama has a FB page with many playing videos, so my idea what to talk about the process and what he can do and what you get.

Some kind of anodized aluminum.

@@dweisbord thank you for the quick reply. I appreciate it.

You are right that adding walnut oil to your shellac is great as a hardening agent but that isn't what the seal coat is. At first I used to just use a light coat of shellac as the seal coat but was taught later that a slurp of olive oil helped - I will use olive oil later in the pore filling phase. The purpose here is to seal the wood, not adding a hardening agent, so that's my reasoning. Like I say you can easily do the same sealing with just shellac and no added oil at all but I like a drop of oil added. I also do not use walnut oil in the filling process - the walnut oil comes later when I am bodying the polish.

Mine are sold by LMI (Luthiers Mercantile) but there are many others that are effective. These are not cheap - at least good ones aren't - but will last for many years.

You are right that a bowl Ovation does not have some of the problems an all wood guitar might have but it does have a wooden neck. I would feel comfortable if kept in a case and preferably in an aircon room.

@@dweisbord Awesome. Thank you.

Yes it can be done but as you discovered it is difficult. There is a Facebook French Polishing Group. I would suggest asking there and seeing what kind of tips you get.

Alama guitars start at 20k and go up from there. If you go to his FB page you can find a sheet of prices for extra features.

The "polish" is shellac with a little walnut oil mixed in.

Thanks!

On Alama's FB page he has a list of his prices.

If you want a good set-up better reach 25k

Cool - glad you liked!

The problem with electrics is different. It's the electronics. The pots, jacks and switches can rust. They can do that anywhere of course but you have to be careful here. Solutions? A good case, clean the electronics regularly, light oil or wax. And yes, once in a while you may have to replace a pot or jack. I do those replacements often in my shop.

@@expatluthierinthephilippin6441 Oh. Great thanks! I could live with the ocean air corrosion. I am so relieved to hear that. Acoustic guitars are so much part of the culture there. I suppose there is a "workaround" for their problems as well. Maybe not growing attached to any one guitar is required.

Alama's FB page has a list of their options and prices.

The one thing I would add after a few more years running a repair shop here is that when it comes to an acoustic guitar you must have decent case and preferably something to control the climate in your home such as an aircon. Many of the broken acoustics that some to my shop either have no cases or no climate control. If you have neither bad things can happen.

@@expatluthierinthephilippin6441 Even guitars made in the Philippines? It seems like high end guitars do not make sense. So many nylon string guitars are heard on Philippine tv shows. I guess the common man buys a humble guitar and then replaces it in two or three years.

Thanks. I will definitely be doing another playing video and an update on the guitar.

Sorry you didn't like. This isn't a professional channel. I gave my impressions only. IMO sound comparison videos are worthless because a good or even bad guitarist can make a guitar or strings sound nearly any way he wants. So for me describing the plusses and minuses of pure nickel strings with round core was more valuable. Bottom line - try them and see if they are for you. Personally I now use Curt Mangan pure nickel round cores. There is no way you will hear a different between the Mangans, Stringjoys or TIs on a video - they are all excellent - but I can describe why one brand lasts longer or is a better value.

Talk to William Alama. I know they do a Jumbo. Not sure about fanned frets.

@@expatluthierinthephilippin6441 they already offering fanned frets/multi scale neck at 5000 php or 94 usd

The PB1 is so small it is most appropriate for small hole and driving small screws. This one (PB2) works for the small stuff but is a bit larger and heavier and I could see using it for medium holes and medium screws as well.

Alama guitars start at 20k and go up from there. If you go to his FB page you can find a sheet of prices for extra features.

Thanks - Glad you enjoyed.

Thanks!

I also own an Alama Guitar, what was that string you used? i mean the brand and the gauge?

@@sjb_andri1332 They are Curt Mangan 80/20. The gauge is a super light 9-42 and they are round core strings. I play 9-42 on my electric guitars and wanted a similar experience with my old fingers. However I did just order some Curt Mangan sets in 10-46, so will compare. At the same time the guitar had only had strings on it for a few days and is already beginning to open up; I suspect in the months to come its tone will change. The light strings have nice mid and high tones but are a bit weak on the bottom end. Perhaps the 10-46s will be somewhat better, even though that too is a very light gauge.

@@expatluthierinthephilippin6441 Thank you for your quick response. so i was right thinking it was some super light string gauge. Where did you buy your strings? i am having difficulty on searching legit strings, most available are just immitations. Anyway, it still sounded good, your Alama guitar with the super light strings.

@@sjb_andri1332 Curt Mangan round core. I used the very very night 9-42s since they match my electric guitars and are easy only old fingers. Nonetheless I am gonna try Mangan 10-46s. The 9s sound great on the highs and mids but a little weak on the lows. Of course the instrument is far from broken in so that will change the sound also.

Nice to hear. Hope you are able to have that dream come true.

Things have changed since this video. First off there are only Chinese made Bridge City tools, since 3 years ago the company was bought by Harvey Industries. You can but bridge City tools directly from Bridge City or from a number of outlets worldwide - I think there is a list on their website. But all the tools now are made in China.

@@expatluthierinthephilippin6441 yea I noticed that on a try square I bought from them over a year ago. I thought maybe you could still find a knockoff of this somewhere kinda like their kerf tool. Thanks anyway

Thanks! Check out Alama Guitars.