Website Redesign is Finally Done ~ Luthiery Laboratories

December 10, 2019

Website Redesign is Finally Done

December 10, 2019

I set the site up earlier this year, using one of the default WordPress themes - TwentySixteen - and some code I wrote myself. The big push then was to get all the old content into the new system and somewhat organized. It was a huge amount of work just to get everything 'good enough', and then I let it lie.

Finally, I came back to the site to make it into what I really wanted. I reworked the theme into something completely new, and went over the content to clean it up and get it fully organized. I'm sure there are still things I've missed, but now the site is a lot better than just 'good enough'.

I also cleaned up the huge mess that WordPress had made of the uploaded images, and added some settings to keep it from happening again. Typically, for a 1MB image file, WordPress automatically creates about 400KB of useless garbage. I'd like to know who thinks that is a good idea. Right now, the site contains 1427 images.

Now it's time to finish a few real projects.

Web Stuff, 12/10/19

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Skunk Stripes

The skunk stripe is the walnut strip down the back of many 'classic' guitar necks. It is an indication of the type of truss rod within: A single steel bar in a curved channel. To create a perpendicular force, a truss rod needs two members: one in tension and one in compression. The skunk stripe rod uses the neck itself as the compression member. This was originated on a guitar neck and then extended to the bass. The problem is, a bass neck is much longer and less stiff than a guitar neck and is under much greater compression. The last thing you want to do is add more compression. Also, using two dissimilar materials for the two members inserts a host of issues, and using steel against wood, that's just hideous. The wonder of the skunk stripe is that most of the time you get away with it, despite how awful the design is. Of course, it is very cheap and easy to manufacture, in a factory setting.

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