off topic winter projects

Interesting.

I'm replacing the saddle on this 1965 Gibson LG-0. Gibson used hollow plastic bridges for these at the time, and, as you can imagine- they were bad then and are even worse now.

Gotta get me some deep-C clamps and a pin reamer- Harbor Freight! Then I'll have to fab up some cauls. Should be interesting.

Something else to sink serious money into. They can be a money pit. Nothing compared to a boat though.

Is that a plastic bridge btw?

edit: NM I reread you post, that was a dumb design? So much tension on a piece of plastic. Are you replacing with wood?

Well if I get the time my winter project besides the Hurricane is going to be to build a new set of speakers for the home 2 channel system. I've been slowly adding to my system over the last 5 years or so and with the addition of a pair of Manley 100w tube monoblocks my components have now surpassed my speakers.

here are my manley snappers


With a limited budget the speakers I WANT will never be affordable so I did a bunch of homework and settled on a DIY design from a speaker designer in Denmark. I just received all the components so now it's down to finding the time.

Each speaker has 2 -10" woofers, 8" mid and a 1" waveguide tweeter. They are both front and rear firing and presurize a central open bottom transmission line horn.   All the feedback says these are reference level speakers so I'm excited to get started.

Here's some pictures of a set a guy in Italy made. Mine will be similar except I prefer a piano black finish and will add Cherry wood inserts to match our current room furnishings. Think I'll start a thread once I get going.



Ps. This hobby is as addicting as collecting correct crafts.

Jllogan wrote: Something else to sink serious money into. They can be a money pit. Nothing compared to a boat though. Is that a plastic bridge btw? edit: NM I reread you post, that was a dumb design? So much tension on a piece of plastic. Are you replacing with wood?

It's a terrible design. I found a guy online who makes replacement, identical bridges in rosewood with bone saddles for these LG models. 45.00 shipped to my door! Amazing! These "Little Guitar" models are really gaining a cult following these days and are worth a decent buck. Very simple construction- all mahogany, ladder bracing. My mom bought this new back in the day but it's been a wreck for the past 20 years or so. Time to bring back the sound.

Jllogan wrote: [QUOTE=81nautique]    here are my manley snappers QUOTE] Are those EL84s?

yes sir, I have a NOS set of Svetlana winged 34's coming!!!    

This is my winter project.

Just acquired for next summer, a 1997 Fiat Barchetta, a 1.8ltr classic Italian design sports car.
Barchetta means 'little boat' in Italian. It was collected from the previous owner on the Martinique trailer. Took the beds off, laid some ladders on the frame and some planks on these so it could be driven on and off.

It has been abused by previous owners, but nothing terminal that TLC can't sort out.

Jllogan wrote: nice!!! Hard to find good tubes these days. 4-EL84s is what is in my vox ac-30 and 3-12ax7s in the preamp

I read your post too quickly, they are EL34 tubes. I eventually may try a set of KT77's as they are supposed to be awesome tubes but an 8 tube swap gets pricey.

must_dash wrote: This is my winter project. Just acquired for next summer, a 1997 Fiat Barchetta, a 1.8ltr classic Italian design sports car. Barchetta means 'little boat' in Italian. It was collected from the previous owner on the Martinique trailer. Took the beds off, laid some ladders on the frame and some planks on these so it could be driven on and off. It has been abused by previous owners, but nothing terminal that TLC can't sort out.

Wow, more jealousy...

I am always amazed Steve when you do something with a Chevy,you end up buying another Ford

In addition to finishing the Mustang, I am taking my 89 Turbo GTC in to have my Quaife limited slip differential installed. I hope to borrow a set of slicks and improve my ET to under 12:70 ( I have only taken it to the strip once and made 5-6 passes on street radials). Unfortunately, it won't be back in time to do it before the strip closes at the end of October.
Steve is not alone. I buy Fords, drive a GM, and race a Chrysler. I will change to Ford for my next car if my present one ever wears out.

The Barchetta is a true older CC, lots of wet foam!!
The previous owner in a wonderful moment of cleverness locked his keys in the car (OK we've all done it) and then proceeded to cut the stitches holding the rear plastic window in the hood. He didn't repair it and then left it in a field for 6 months without covering it.....

Result 2" of water in the 'little boat'. The 'carpet' is a heavy 11/2" thick moulded open cell foam thing that now weighs over 50lbs as waterlogged.
Currently that is out to dry along with the seats and complete center console and forward console as they are fitted in the factory after the floor has gone in. It doesn't look as if this has caused much damage.

The hood and frame can be unbolted and taken to the local boat cover maker to have a new zip sewn in the hole and a zippered window made.

Also needs a new timing belt, reccommended every 40k miles and last 2 owners (since 2007) have no idea if it has ever been done and it now has 124k miles. While you're in there a new water pump (driven by the timing belt)and Variator (Variable valve controller) are recommended while in there.

haha, thats a cool little rod. Why is the union jack hanging in your garage? Its not an MG.

That is a pretty old car to have VVT, I assume it is mechanical. I haven't found any performance figures for your toy, but it sounds like it would be a peppy practical cruiser for the twisties. Am I mistaken, or did they trash one of these in an episode of Top Gear?

Now I remember. I believe that after trashing all of the cars on the cross country comparision / demolition derby, they liked it the best of all of them.

must_dash wrote: I think the Barchetta has nicer lines than its contemparies of the MG-F and the Mazda MX5. They were more popular as the concept of a front wheel drive sports car hadn't taken off.

Another reason the MG's were/are more popular was their history and the club scene,at least in the US. But now that they have been gone over 30 years here they are becoming a memory. And now that the Chinese are involved it's not even an MG anymore.
Is it easy to get parts for? Looks great in the pictures.