Official Luthiers Forum!

Hey a big welcome to you guys - Pete, Stephen, Davo, and Phil!

My name is Steve Cyr, and I've been hanging around here a couple of months now - but been an inactive member for over a year. I'm essentially self-taught - I learn by studying instruments and how they're put together, by searching for information on the Internet, and by reading as much as I can on forums like this one and asking questions when I encounter specific issues during a build. And by just diving in and trying things.

I started out building solid-body instruments about 6 years ago because I wanted an electric guitar and was disappointed with the feel and action of the instruments I found at Guitar Center that were in my price range. I actually built an electric guitar 40 years ago when I was in high school, but it was pretty crude.

Four years ago I built my first acoustic guitar after watching the DIY Network program that featured Lynn Dudenbostel building a 20's vintage D28 copy in his shop in Chattanooga TN. I've built 6 acoustics so far (three dreadnaughts, one jumbo 12, and two acoustic bass guitars), plus two more under construction (another dreadnaught and another jumbo 12). Two years ago I built an electric upright bass, and have another one under construction that's almost finished.

I've been able to turn my hobby into a self-supporting business. I build 5 to 10 instruments a year, mostly on commission - most of these have been electric basses. Occasionally I build something because I want to try something new or I get a desire to have and play a type of instrument I don't already have. The electric upright bass is an example - I wanted to learn to play upright bass, but couldn't afford to buy one, so I built one. The first one had a solid body, while the second one is chambered.

I've already learned a lot from just reading through the threads on the OLF. Great stuff, y'all!

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---Steve

Hello all, my name is Greg Smith a SoCal transplant in Austin TX. I've been lurking here for about a month now, and I am finding this site to be an absolute wealth of information. A few months ago I decided I needed a hobby that allowed me to work with something tangible as opposed to the visual effects that I do for a living. I've been around guitars most my life since much of my family is filled with musicians, so I always had a fascination for them. I've always loved crafting things and building things, and since my profession is already a fusion of art and engineering, the idea of building a guitar was pretty much a given. Recently I have grown an interest in Selmer Maccaferri guitars, and figured that I'd take a crack at building one. So what I like to say to friends and co-workers, that indeed I have no formal experience, have not been trained as a luthier, that I'll be relying on books, dvd's and forums such as this to guide me through this journey, that in the end I'll either end up with a have decent guitar or an expensive pile of firewood. Hopefully the former and not the latter. So far I have been doing a lot of research, designing all the jigs, molds and forms that I may need to make the build. Even though I like to dive straight for the deep end of things, I like to plan things extensively first.

I'm not sure what to expect from this experience, although I hope what ever it is, may be positive. I think it will be a wonderful hobby, and if the opportunity to make a few bucks here and there arises, great! If not, thats what I got movies for.

Greg

Steve and Greg welcome to the OLF my friends!

Greg as you know everyone is different but I suspect that what you can expect from guitar building is to have a LOT of fun and a real feeling of accomplishment when you hear your first guitar sing! There is nothing else like it!

Welcome aboard guys!

Hi,
My name is Jack and I live in western Iowa. I joined this forum about two weeks ago. I have been playing guitar for about 50 years, mostly vintage Gibsons and a vintage D-18 Martin. I always wanted a D-28 Martin but couldn't force my self to fork out the bucks to buy one, so about two years ago I bought a Martin kit thinking I would build one. After long consideration I thought it was out of my range of expertise and put the kit in storage. My employers caught wind of my dilemma and one day called me into their office. They presented me with a box wrapped like a birthday present and told me how much they appreciated me and wanted to give me a bonus. When I unwrapped the present there was a new HD-28 Martin in a sealed box. How's that for a bonus?
I am going to retire in a year or so and have decided sense I have found this site, with all the knowledge available, maybe the Martin build would be a good retirement project. After all, I have the kit. So if I should ask a dumb question take into account I am old and maybe getting a little feeble minded. actually I am not too feeble minded, yet, but I am getting old.
Things like setting the neck and bridge are things that concern me. But I think I can get past that. So I will be lurking around here for some time to come.
Thanks for this forum and a special thanks for sharing you knowledge.
Jack

Hi Jack and welcome to the OLF!

An HD-28 is one heck of a nice bonus and a pretty thoughtful one too considering that you really wanted one!!! Wow!

Welcome aboard and feel very free to ask all of the questions that you wish. This is a very friendly AND knowledgeable group with many folks who are always willing to help.

Welcome to the OLF, Jack. You are a lucky man, and it sounds to me like you have a good plan in mind. However, I bet you cant just build one. This is an addictive, and just in case no one told you, expensive, hobby.
Senility is not a problem here, some of us just get there faster than others.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I think I have been lurking for around a year, but recently registered. I've been playing guitars for about 45 years, acoustic and electric. I tried to build a dulcimer back in the early 70s but...it never got finished. About 2 1/2 years ago I took a guitar building class in our local adult ed program. It was building from a kit and it turned out ok and was a good learning experience.

Last year I took the archtop building course with Dale Ungar and I'm still amazed at how nice that turned out. I highly recomment Dale to anyone who wants to learn archtop making. We didn't put a finish on the guitars in that class, and it took me most of the rest of the year to experiment and learn how to spray nitro and eventually finish that guitar. It is said that you learn more from mistakes; and I'll say that I learned a lot about sanding and buffing especially.

While I was in Nazareth for the archtop class, I bought enough wood from Martin to build a couple of guitars. A few weeks ago I started building a D-style using a Golden Era top I bought from Martin. Thanks to the excellent Hesh tutorial, I'm using hot hide glue. And I have already learned how to un-glue as well.

I like to have several projects going at once. I just made the mold for an O-style (thanks to Fred, Hank, and Jaime for help w/specs) and I am also building an OM style with help from local luthier Ted Harlan.

When I tried to build an instrument back in the 70s, there was not much info available and I ended up going into painting and printmaking instead. Now things sure are different and this forum is something I greatly appreciate.
Walter Lay
Louisville, KY

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Walter Lay
"It's taken me so long, but now that I know
I can see. All that I do or say, is all I ever will be"
- Billy Joe Shaver

I am new to the forum and a registered lurker. Whew, glad to get that off my shoulders! I am currently building my first two guitars. I started with one but the second just wanted to come along sooo... there is a Claro walnut/redwood OM and a Madagascar rosewood/Adirondak dread. The forum has been invaluable in the process and responsible for unsticking me in a lot of spots.
I have to say that the guitar building community is the most generous bunch of people I've ever seen. You are all completely willing to share your deepest secrets knowing that you could be helping potential competition. This is a treasure. The world needs more of the soul and spirit that gets expressed here.
Anyway, I started building because it feeds my creativity to no end. I guess I got the bug now. I'm sure it'll get worse when I string the first
one up, too. No plans to sell but plenty of plans to play. I'll be back with some specific questions. Thanks to all of you.

Walter and Randolph welcome to the OLF!

It certainly sounds like both of you do indeed have the bug for guitar building!

Welcome aboard!