Build 'Yer Own -- Suppliers?

[traktor]

I am delighted to perceive that the Build-Yer-Own movement seems to be gaining momentum.

And it might prove helpful to those folks interested in building their own to be aware of suppliers of specialized parts and tools. So here are some that I know of ...

1. Stewart-MacDonald -- http://stew-mac.com/

2. Luthier's Mercantile Int'l -- http://www.lmii.com/

3. Grizzly Industrial -- http://www.grizzly.com/
(Most people know Grizzly for cheap prices on import shop tools, but they've recently begun offering specialty luthier's tools and guitar kits. Request both their tools catalog and their new luthier's catalog.)

4. All Parts -- http://www.allparts.com/

[Perhaps tappistry folks who know of other suppliers might add to this thread?]

[Consul]

Thanks for the links! It's nice to a manufacturer willing to foster the DIY community.

I'm still wondering what to do about getting a custom-made bridge. Maybe I can have something fabricated to plan at a local machine shop?

[rjgoos]

Counsul,


I appreciate Traktor's helpfulness to do-it-yourselfers, too.



www.guitarpartsusa.com is also a supplier.



Jay

[rjgoos]

I should also say that Carvin (http://www.carvin.com) sells all of its bridges, tuners, pickups, etc., individually, as well as complete kits.

Certainly the selection is not as comprehensive as stewmac.com, but all of the components they sell seem to be of good quality, and the number of pickups they offer is pretty impressive.


Jay

[traktor]

I just received Grizzly's 2008 catalog, and the section for guitar-builders is larger than ever, with lots more parts that might be handy. (The guitar-supplies now have their own section of the large tools catalog.)

It looks to me like Mr. Balolia (the owner, and a guitar-builder enthusiast) is moving into Stewart-McDonald territory, and as you probably know, Grizzly's pricing is usually aggressive.

So if you're a-building, I suggest you get the Grizzly catalog. I've bought several of their tools over the years, and the quality has steadily risen, while prices are generally lower than 'normal' competitors.

PS: I have no connection with Grizzly, other than being a customer, though Mr. Balolia did send me a baseball cap that said Grizzly after I wrote him that their stuff was better than ever. (Any day I'm feeling especially grizzly, this cap is just the thing.)

[K Rex]

I can vouch for Carvin's pickups. I made the mistake of replacing the pickups on my Carvin LB76 with top-shelf EMGs... only to find they didn't sound as good.

EMGs not as good as Carvin pickups? Am I mad?

No, I am not.

k

[Nightmare Music]

it looks like the President of Grizzly builds guitars...

some of his creations http://www.grizzly.com/sbguitar/sbguitar.aspx

[Tom Drinkwater]

Hey everyone! My web store is almost open. I have some products posted and more to follow. Check it out at www.oaklandaxefactory.com. I am still working out the hardware end of things and hope to have some ready to go soon. I have just completed a guitar scale neck for a bolt on configuration. It is around 5" wide and has two double action truss rods. Should be loading pics today or tomorrow.

[lactose]

Traktor, thanks for being supportive of the luthiers (and hacks like myself) out there.

Since ABM went out of business, I am looking for headless bridge systems. And wondering how much a milling machine costs...:(

[traktor]

I've seen rather inexpensive milling machines with the brand name 'Smithy'. They offer a printed catalog, and have a pretty full website. I don't know how they compare to others that may be out there. But google is your friend.

[Tom Drinkwater]

Hey Lactose, if you are serious about getting a milling machine I would go with the Micro-Lux from MicroMark. It is exactly like the Grizzly mini mill and the Harbor Freight mini mill exept that it is easier to find tooling. The microlux uses a more common spindle taper and drawbar thread. I have the Grizzly and it's awesome and affordable like almost all of there stuff but it has its drawbacks. I have under $1K invested and that includes tooling. Definitely worth it in my opinion.

[rjgoos]

Originally posted by Tom Drinkwater
Hey everyone! My web store is almost open. I have some products posted and more to follow. Check it out at www.oaklandaxefactory.com.



Best wishes for great success, Tom!

Another source of twin-rail pickups (you'll need to scroll down to see all of them):

http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html

I haven't tried every model offered, but the ones I have examined are flat on the surface (no arch to the rails), and have a sound comparable to the twin rail pickups used on the Megatar Eclipse.

[wwhwwwh]

Hi Everybody!

This place seems to have some parts as well as kits for other instruments:



http://www.harpkit.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc (Musicmaker's Kits Inc.)


Perhaps the kits can be modified into a tapper.



Brian Behary

[AlanKroeger]

Originally posted by wwhwwwh

Perhaps the kits can be modified into a tapper.
Brian Behary
Probably could just require some additional materials, a plan, and some labor.
Depending on spacing and other issues it could be good or bad.
Might be able to convert an old auto harp too if one had one lying about.

Just need some frets, a fingerboard, and appropriate dimensions to get it to work or work better. Think how are clavichords, auto harps, and tap instruments similar and where are they not similar. If can get the appropriate dimensions, appropriate for tapping, as the end results of your effort it could work and might be real nice or at least fun. :)

[Tom Drinkwater]

Here is a good place to get inexpensive parts. One could easily part out a cheap bridge and make one for a tapper. Good clearance stuff too.
http://www.guitarpartsdepot.com/Hardware-Guitar_Bridges_and_Parts.html

[rjgoos]

This is a source of no-arch (flat-top), twin-rail humbuckers:

http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html

I don't know if all of their twin-rails are no-arch, but the ones that I have purchased are.

The prices are OK, too.

[jamsire]

Originally posted by rjgoos
This is a source of no-arch (flat-top), twin-rail humbuckers:

http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html

I don't know if all of their twin-rails are no-arch, but the ones that I have purchased are.

The prices are OK, too.

Thanks for the link.