Tag Archives: Making Masonite Guitars

A token of friendship: the “Cubacaster”

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

May I present to you my latest creation: the “Cubacaster”… One of my side-projects. This guitar was entirely made of repurposed materials. The neck and tuners once were part of a Yamaha ‘tourgear’ beginner strat. Hardboard plates for the Danelectro-style … Continue reading →

Posted in Guitar, Guitar Plans, Projects, Think different, Uncategorized, Woodworking, Workshop | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A late medieval chainsaw

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

With a little bit of luck, history is just around the corner. A couple of weeks ago my neighbor walked in the shop. In his hand a plastic shopping bag with a lot of mud streaks on the outside. “You … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles, History, Nonsense, Research, Think different, Tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Coca Cola history

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

It’s probably one of the best known brands in the world. And its history is almost synonymous to the development of marketing and name branding, intertwined with popular culture. Quite an achievement when you realize it’s just carbonated sugar water… … Continue reading →

Posted in Documentary, History, Research, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Doing something positively weird…

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

If you follow this blog regularly, you will know that I’m always in for something weird. Especially when it comes to art. I like to make things that make people stop for a while and wonder. Something unexpected, that gets … Continue reading →

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A little video…

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

A week ago two reporters of the local television station came to the shop to make a short item about guitar making. It was aired in their program ‘Campustalk‘. The language is Dutch (maybe Youtube may generate some translated subtitles). … Continue reading →

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Jawbone of an ass

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

When I see the news about the American primaries, this image pops up in my mind over and over again. An engraving by Johannes Wierix after Pieter (I) Bruegel, made about 1566-70. The title is “The music of the rich man … Continue reading →

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The Moka Express…

Posted on February 13, 2016 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Yesterday the sad news arrived that Renato Bialetti, the father of the percolator, died at the age of 93. Everybody knows the little aluminium stove top coffee makers. They have become design icons in themselves. I even featured it on … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A candle powered guitar effect…

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Sometimes things are just so simple, genius and obvious that it’s hard to imagine why nobody thought of it before. This candle powered phaser is one of them… Made with a stirling motor driving an offset disc, that regulates the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Think different, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

By Design…

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

The chapter about design in “Making Masonite Guitars”; To gain more insight in all aspects involving guitar design I made this schema. It is like a map for instrument makers. Showing how all factors are interrelated and influence each other. … Continue reading →

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Making Masonite Guitars

Posted on October 26, 2015 by Jan van Cappelle (Javaca)

Over the years many people told me: “You know so much about guitars, you should write a book about guitar making.” It always appealed to me, but also seemed an impossible task. Until a few years ago I sat down with … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Projects, Research, Tools, Woodworking, Workshop | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments