Luthier Notes on iPhone: Wood Assessment, Graduation Records & Acoustic Outcome Notes

Lutherie is acoustic engineering through woodworking. The tap-tone of a spruce top, the graduation thickness across a cello's back, the neck angle on a steel-string guitar — each of these variables shapes the instrument's voice in ways that aren't fully predictable from calculation alone. The luthier who builds consistently great instruments does so by documenting what worked and why, iteration by iteration. Nemos gives luthiers a field-ready place to capture these observations across the arc of every build.

Why Luthiers Need Structured Notes

A violin build may take 400 hours over several months. A guitar repair may take three sessions across two weeks. In both cases, the observations made at each stage — tap frequency, plate weight, final action measurement — form the technical baseline that connects this instrument to future work. Without notes, each instrument is an isolated event; with notes, it's a data point in a developing understanding of acoustics, materials, and craft.

What to Capture in Nemos

Wood Selection Assessment For each piece of tonewood: - Species and cut (quartersawn, flat-sawn) - Origin and supplier - Visual grain characteristics (grain straightness, run-out, figure) - Tap-tone character (pitch, sustain, clarity) - Flexibility and stiffness assessment - Moisture content if measured - Intended use: top, back, sides, neck, ribs

Wood selection notes are especially valuable for instrument families — understanding which tap-tone characteristics in a violin top predict acoustic success in the finished instrument.

Graduation Thickness Records For archtop and classical instrument building: - Measurement grid pattern and reference points - Thicknesses at each measurement point (before and after final tuning) - Plate weight before and after graduation - Target tap-tone frequency and achieved frequency - Arching height and profile

Graduation records are the acoustic blueprint of the finished instrument — reference for future builds and for understanding how the plates contributed to the voice.

Neck and Setup Specifications For each completed instrument: - Neck angle and overstand - Nut and saddle height (string by string) - Action height at 12th fret (bass and treble sides) - Neck relief measurement - Intonation adjustment notes - Playability assessment

Setup specifications are the delivery record — and the reference when the instrument comes back for adjustment.

Repair Findings and Documentation For each repair intake: - Instrument description (maker, period, estimated value range) - Damage or problem described by client - Damage found at inspection (often more than described) - Intake condition photos reference - Repair approach decided and why - Any reversibility considerations (conservation vs. restoration decisions)

Repair documentation is especially important for valuable historical instruments where every decision affects long-term value.

Acoustic Outcome Notes After setup and first playing assessment: - Response character: even across register, bright, warm, focused, projecting - Any anomalies: wolf tones, dead notes, buzzes - Client or player feedback at delivery - Post-delivery follow-up observations

Acoustic outcome notes close the loop between build decisions and the instrument's voice — the feedback loop that makes a luthier better with each build.

Client and Instrument History For instruments that return for service: - Prior setup specifications for comparison - Any changes made over time (bridge adjustments, nut replacement, neck reset) - Player preferences noted - Any developing problems to monitor

Client instrument history transforms a repair relationship into a lifetime custodianship of a specific instrument.

FAQ

Can I use Nemos offline in a wood shop with poor signal? Yes. Full offline functionality. Notes sync when WiFi is available.

How do I capture tap-tone frequency observations? Note the pitch as a solfège or approximate Hz if you have a reference. Many luthiers use a smartphone pitch reference app alongside Nemos — note the tap result in Nemos as part of the plate record.

Is Nemos useful for wood sourcing and supplier notes? Yes — maintain a note per tonewood supplier with quality observations across lots, pricing trends, and preferred species selections. This builds a sourcing reference that improves purchasing decisions.

How do I document complex repairs with multiple stages? Add entries to the repair note at each work session. Date each entry. The progressive record captures the full repair arc.

Can I attach photos of graduation maps or plate measurements? Yes. Attach a photo of your measurement grid alongside the thickness table. Visual and numerical documentation together create a complete plate record.

Why not just use a workshop journal? Journals require knowing when something was recorded and physically searching for it. Nemos finds any instrument, plate, or client name instantly across years of builds.

Related Reading

• /blog/bow-maker-notes-iphone — precision woodworking and acoustic craft documentation
• /blog/piano-technician-notes-iphone — precision mechanical assessment and voicing documentation
• /blog/clockmaker-notes-iphone — precision craft service and historical instrument documentation
• /blog/woodworker-notes-iphone — woodworking technique and material documentation

Sources

• Lutherie technical references: Guild of American Luthiers technical publications (American Lutherie journal)
• Acoustic plate tuning methodology: Martin Schleske and Carleen Hutchins Acoustical Society research publications

Download Nemos free on the App Store.