Useful websites

[cass misri]

What are the best hidden gem websites for luthiers?

Everyone here probably knows about stuff like Stewmac, but what are some less known websites that are useful?

 

[Gary_M]

Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies Guitar building tools and parts

 

[Crawforde]

Thanks for that link
I already have stuff in my cart

I have used with positive experiences
Luthier’s Mercantile, fretboards, wood, a tool or two
Wood and Supplies Guitar Makers - Luthiers Mercantile International, Inc
https://www.lmii.com/
International Violin, tools and parts
Home
https://www.internationalviolin.com/
and Bitterroot. Small parts, electric stuff
Bitterroot Guitars Home Page

 

[rudy4444]

Without a doubt #1 comes in as Frank Ford's [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] website.

Previously mentioned, Robbie O'Brien's videos, affiliated with LMI are also of use.

 

[Jeff Siddall]

Especially if you are in Canada, but they ship elsewhere too:

Parts for Amps, Guitars, Pedals, and Pickups - Next Gen Musical Ltd.

 

[mapleglo]

I've ordered a bunch of stuff over the years from these guys:

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They carry everything from luthier tools, to switches, to logo plates, to knobs, to tubes, etc, etc.

 

[HardNHeavy]

Just a few i use

Allen Guitar Luthier supplies
Link Removed
(Canada) GM Vintage Restorations This guy helped me find a truss nut i searched hi and low for... lol
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Guitar Electronics
Obsidian Wiring

 

[Will_White]

Not a parts supplier but if you're cutting your own boards FretFind is invaluable wether you do multiscales or not. ekips.org - FretFind2D

 

[mikewalker]

I've bought a lot of lumber from Exotic Wood, Birdseye Maple, Curly Maple & Tiger Maple | Bell Forest Products over the years...

( and also this very good eBay seller: Buzzsaw International Inc. | eBay Stores )

 

[Jazzdogg]

LeeValley.com
Lie-Nielsen.com
HockTools.com

 

[Will_White]

More non-website but useful info I got from another member here, I'm not sure who made it originally, I found the OP thanks @pilotjones. Pickup locations for common basses.

 

[Thumpin6string]

TalkBass.com

 

[Topkat13]

Howcanihelp.com.

 

[alex1fly]

Seymour Duncan forum, Luthier Talk forum

 

[Will_White]

Link Removed

If you need a weird electronic part they probably have it. Odd cap values, rotary switches, linear pots with detents they've got it.

 

[iiipopes]

More non-website but useful info I got from another member here, I'm not sure who made it originally. Pickup locations for common basses.
View attachment 4926834

View attachment 4926835

Do you know if these measurements are to the center of each referenced instrument and pickup? I say that because I don't own a Fender P, or J, nor a Rick 4001 at this time. I have gone to either 33 or 32 inch scales for most of my basses, and my Rick is a 4002 (not "1" or "3"), which has pickup placements more like a J, but not the same due to the difference in scale length, which, of course, is 33 1/4 inches, not 33 3/16 inches as set forth in the chart. What's a 1/16 inch among friends? Probably not much, but I hate to see anything like this mis-labeled or mis-quoted.

 

[Will_White]

Do you know if these measurements are to the center of each referenced instrument and pickup? I say that because I don't own a Fender P, or J, nor a Rick 4001 at this time. I have gone to either 33 or 32 inch scales for most of my basses, and my Rick is a 4002 (not "1" or "3"), which has pickup placements more like a J, but not the same due to the difference in scale length, which, of course, is 33 1/4 inches, not 33 3/16 inches as set forth in the chart. What's a 1/16 inch among friends? Probably not much, but I hate to see anything like this mis-labeled or mis-quoted.

The top picture is to the center of the pole pieces on a 34" scale from the nut. The bottom chart has the raw data. If you want to convert to a different scale multiply the scale by the (pickup)_frac value to get the distance from nut to center of the poles at that scale.

Edit: I see now that you were commenting on the ric scale length, it was probably just that their reference RIC was slightly different in any case the difference in measurement of it is a fraction of a 1/16th so negligible either way. 4001/3 pickups are supposed to be at 3/4 and 7/8 scale length but RICs are handmade with the variation that comes with that.

 

[RichterScale]

Not a parts supplier but if you're cutting your own boards FretFind is invaluable wether you do multiscales or not. ekips.org - FretFind2D

This and The Wood Database have been the most valuable to me, as someone trying to build a bass from scratch.

 

[iiipopes]

The top picture is to the center of the pole pieces on a 34" scale from the nut. The bottom chart has the raw data. If you want to convert to a different scale multiply the scale by the (pickup)_frac value to get the distance from nut to center of the poles at that scale.

Edit: I see now that you were commenting on the ric scale length, it was probably just that their reference RIC was slightly different in any case the difference in measurement of it is a fraction of a 1/16th so negligible either way. 4001/3 pickups are supposed to be at 3/4 and 7/8 scale length but RICs are handmade with the variation that comes with that.

Thanks for clarifying. Yes, since I am transitioning to shorter scale basses, I will do the math to get the proportional analogs of the pickup placements to the shorter scales.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

McMaster-Carr's web site is a tremendously useful reference for me. Besides selling millions of industrial-related products and parts, their web site is full of technical reference pages. Very well written, accurate, and easy to understand. Screw thread sizes, hardware types, metal and plastic material specifications, plumbing fittings, electric motor specs, etc., etc. A big time saver.

And they are also a wonderful company to deal with. I've been buying from them for almost 40 years (!!!). I think I've heard that their web site is one of the largest commercial web sites in the world. And the company has been around for over 100 years.

McMaster-Carr