Official Luthiers Forum!

What book would you recommend a beginner read before starting to build a flattop guitar? Would want to read it prior to building then be able to use it for a reference on future builds. Will probably build a 000 first with a dreadnaught possible in the future.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Hey there - Cumpiano and Natelson's book "Guitarmaking - Tradition and Technology" is what most folks seem to dig.

I did not really like this book and once read and reread a few times it was banished to my library (bathroom) and never looked at again...... But Cumpiano has revised many things in the book and updated as needed on his web site.

Notably it was one of the first books available for guitar making and that is a monumental achievement. So don't get me wrong and flamers go chill out - it is a good book, just not my cup of tea.

Kinkead's Book gets pretty good reviews from some builders. I have seen that one pop up often in this conversation. Here is a link

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I used Cumpiano/Natelson and Kinkead together. Both very valuable for me on my first two.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I have both of those as well (and a couple of others). I probably used Jonathan Kinkead's book (Build Your Own Acoustic Guitar) most.

I like Cumpiano's book and refer to it more often than others.

For "how these things function" as opposed to "how to build" I like Siminoff's Luthier's Handbook. Chock full of info. http://www.siminoff.net/pages/siminoff_books.html

Greg N

Cumpiano and natelson is the clear front runner, but ....

Even though it isn't a book about flat-tops, I have always felt like a look back at Benedetto's book on archtops was rewarding. I never felt the same about the other.

I like the flat-top videos better. Finocchio, and then John Mayes' videos, which are great but I wish I could edit them.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu