THE SWIM SHOP

22/09/2021

13/09/2021

Ok here's the next one coming soon. Just waiting for a mother of pearl dot for the fretboard. It's a steel string dreadnought accoustic guitar. It's belly was swollen and bridge was hanging off but with a bridge doctor and new bridge plate it's good now. I made a new saddle and nutt and recrowned the frets and reglued some of the bracing so I'm happy with it now. It's quite a solid guitar and will need a strong hand with the steel strings. So if you know of a budding rock star who needs a bit of a headstart let me know.

30/08/2021

Another one ready to go .

30/08/2021

All gone. Found a perfect fit for the last guitar. Gone to work it's magic.

27/08/2021

Looking for a home for this latest rescue. I would prefer it goes to someone who is busting to learn and benefit from the joy of making music. Perhaps someone who is not so mobile as they would like or maybe someone who needs time out from the pressures of life. It has quite a wide fretboard so good for picking and probably better for an adults hand. Message me if someone comes to mind.

24/08/2021

This was fun. Neck was bent. Bridge was falling off and it had a belly nearly as big as mine. It has quite a wide fretboard so good for a big hand. If you know of a worthy recipient let me know.

24/08/2021

Wagtail just jumped onto my hand while I was weeding. I think she was trying to tell me something.

23/08/2021

Any idea what this is?

04/08/2021

Well the biggest challenge yet is finished and gone to good home. Lets hope the new owner gets as much joy and satifaction from playing it as I did from bringing it back to life.

03/08/2021

When you can't afford the clamps you have to get creative.

01/08/2021

What a fantastic night at Sounds of the Heart concert. I loved every minute of it. Tony, I love the way your notes just seem to float over the top of the stage and yet connect so beautifully. Parvan, you took me back to some of the best days of my life travelling and working in India. Carl, you are a true master. You don't hold that guitar in your hands you hold it in your heart and we feel it. Ladies, Rati, Amity, Bhavani, what a contrast of voices that blend so perfectly. Some of your sounds sent shivers through me and often reduced me to tears (and others around me). Thankyou all so much for rewarding me with your talents and Zana thankyou for recognising such a great opportunity.❤

24/07/2021

Another one ready to go and spread some joy.

23/07/2021

You just never know when you might need a piece that shape.

10/07/2021

Looking for a musical anarchist.

08/07/2021

Another rescue guitar.

02/07/2021

Now to the fretboard. The deep gouges and wear told me that this beast had been played often for a long time. That won't happen to a guitar that doesnt sound ok. So with superglue, sawdust and leather stain I think the fretboard will play again.

29/06/2021

You know its going to be a bad day when you put fried onions on your chopped fruit instead of meusli!!!

29/06/2021

These were the original tuners. No k***s so guitar was probably tuned with pliers. Spacing the new ones apart so they wouldnt split I hand cut them and filed and sanded them to shape. A few coats of varnish and they at least look ok. However I think the screws are too worn to be much good but we'll see when strings are on. A good exercise in patience anyway..

20/06/2021

So, with my homemade spool clamps I got all the bits glued back together. However the bridge, which was falling off, looked way out of alignment. So with lots of u tubing and improvising I was able to move it to where I thought it should be. The intonation on both E strings is pretty good now so fingers crossed.

18/06/2021

So with lots of hot scalpel work I took it apart before it fell apart. The two bracing strips had lifted and warped so I replaced them with five new ones.

17/06/2021

Ok . This is the $8 wreck I bought couple of weeks ago. Once I got some of the paint off it revealed this symbol which I believe has something to do with anarchy. Anyway my mission is to get a tune out of this little beauty and bore you all to bits with update posts of my progress.

13/06/2021

Another rescue guitar.

13/06/2021

What is it?

06/06/2021

Biggest challenge yet.

02/06/2021

Anyone got one of these hiding in the cupboard please or know where to get one. Liberty Blue Boston Tea Party Tureen lid.

22/05/2021

Top is coming off already and buckled. I'm too scared to take neck off so will remove back and fix top from there. This is the worst one I've tried so far so might need some advice.

22/05/2021

Picked up another challenge today. You never know what to expect.

22/05/2021

NOW LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED!!! Back to square one.

15/05/2021

Got the back on again but how to finish it? I'm not good with varnish.

11/05/2021

Four corners last night? Unbelievable technology, incredible bravery and how about the power of love?

07/05/2021

Anyone in the gutter business in Booragoon area ?

06/05/2021

Wanting to dye a fretboard. Anyone know where I can buy Fiebings leather dye in Perth?

05/05/2021

.....and the next job is....

01/05/2021

Any spray painters out there? I fixed the broken neck but not happy with the paint job. I used rustoleum. Bunnings didnt have any primer so just sanded previous gloss finish and gave it two coats of satin black. Is it a sanding problem or a painting problem? Or am I just being too fussy?

29/04/2021

OLIVE OIL FAMILY? Get your orders in.

25/04/2021

Finally after two hours of hot scalpel work the neck is revealed. What do you reckon? Fix it or bin it?

25/04/2021

Ok this going to be a bit of a long winded rant but I need to get the message across.
Maybe if people's heads weren't buried in the sand of ignorance and they took the time to understand, instead of judging and thinking it won't happen to them because they have the perfect family, life would be that bit easier for people that do experience this!
This hits close to home for me, for family and friends who live under this shadow.
The days of 'it' not being talked about or being taboo should be over. Yes, it's sadly true that there are those who milk the system and even sadder that there are those who don't know just how much help is available out there for them. In the most difficult moments of life you realise who your true friends are, and the people who really appreciate you.
Unfortunately, most social media 'friends' aren't true friends. They will send you a "like" here and there, but in reality they do not take time to read your status if they see it's lengthy.
More than half will stop reading right here, or have already scrolled on to the next post on their page. I decided to post this message in support of all those who continue to battle with their mental illness.
Now, let's see who will have taken the time to read this lengthy post right through to the end.
If you have read everything so far, please "like" it so that I can put a thank you on your page.
More mental health awareness is urgently needed. Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean people aren't suffering. Please, try to spare a little of your time with someone who may just want to talk (about anything).
Talking can help us all to cope a little more, keeping things bottled up just makes it worse.
Most people will say, "if you need anything,❤️ don't hesitate to call me, I'll be there to help you" but will they? I believe a select few of my friends will post this, to show their support for those who may be struggling.
You just have to copy and paste rather than sharing. I'd like to know who will take a minute out of their day to read this all the way to the end and then copy and paste it to their page, will you? I will make time for you, just like you make time for me. we can talk any time you want, about anything you want, I don't need to know any more than you are comfortable saying, I just need to know that you are ok!

Thought this was worth sharing.

25/04/2021

Have made the spool clamps and reglued all the stays. Now to try and refit the back and pull the neck back a little. Fingers crossed.

24/04/2021

When your neighbour rings just as you are about to sit down to the best indian takeaway and asks if you have any plain flour .

23/04/2021

When you are dog sitting your daughters hound and she refuses to eat because there were a couple of ants in her bowl you have to go to the shed and be creative.