Official Luthiers Forum!

I know everyone really likes the kits from blues creek guitars, and lmi, but has anyone used a kit from grizzly?
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Western ... -Kit/H3098

or page 398 of their 2009 catalog

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Brad Anderson

If they are anything like the ukulele kits, save your money and buy from John.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

fair enough,

Thanks,
BA

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Brad Anderson

the electrics kits the heirloom line are okay. the acoustics are not the best

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

It's not challenging enough. The body is glued on all you gotta do is set the neck angle and glue the neck and fretboard in. There isn't a whole lot of building for me at least, its more like assembling (a bit like saying you build guitars when you buy pre-painted and made parts from Warmoth). Then you don't know what is in the body chances are it's all plywood. A lot of guitar sounds comes from bracing and you will never learn that if you don't brace the top and back yourself. A proper guitar kit should be something like the Stewmac or LMI kit... pre-bent side, shaped neck and bracing.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Also the link the OP sent said "the main difference between a classical and steel string guitar is where the body join the neck". Well what if someone builds a nylon guitar that joins at the 14th fret.... also I am sure the different is much more, like you don't install steel strings on a classical unless you like a ruined instrument.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

not to mention bracing,woods used, lack of truss rod, etc etc,
building classical guitars is allmost a different art than steel string making with the emphasis on traditional being much more important.

that is a comment that could lead to many problems for first time builders.

Joel.

Ouch, looks like I will not be buying any luthier materials from them.

Thanks,
B.A.

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Brad Anderson

Their catalog says that the acoustic guitar kits have basswood backs and sides. That wouldn't be my choice for backs and sides. I know that their goal is to furnish a very inexpensive kit, but one would think that using some plain looking mahogany would not add much cost to the kit.

Not to pile on too much, for a change of pace I tried an heirloom strat kit from Grizzly. It was a sale item and the body routing was ok, the top plate was ok, and the electronics worked after re-soldering several connections. However the neck took lots and lots of work to get it on straight, the bridge took extra parts to get it to work correctly, and the tuners were absolute bottom of the line so a new set of tuners was purchased. The final setup was done by my son - who does repair work on strats and other electrics - who had to spend a few hours getting it right. So after all was said and done a $200 kit became a $500 guitar before labor. And of course it was maybe still worth $200. I eventually gave it away to a nonprofit organization that provides guitars and teaching to at risk girls. Bottom line, never again.

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GEO
perpetual beginner

Stick with John and the other sponsors here. I think grizzly sells a good (for the money) bandsaw and table saw. 'Bout it.

Mike

I ordered several sets of bridge pins, soon after their catalog came out last year. I received them all, one set at a time over the course of a year!!! Worst customer service of anyone I've ever dealt with

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John Ressler

John, that is one of the funniest stories ever. You made me chuckle out loud at work, (never happens). Did I see one of your student guitars at Joe White's place this weekend? Nice stuff!

Stick with our sponsors, folks! Most of them have been here for a long time for a reason.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Glad I could make your day Steve. It wasn't very funny at the time. I had even cancelled the order, but they just kept coming! Every time I am tempted to order from Grizzley, I think of this, then come to my senses!

Yes - I have a student guitar at Joe's. This is one that fell off of a table during a photo session. The guitar was OK, but it damaged the finish on a couple of the corners. Joe worked his magic as usual.

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John Ressler

I wonder if they're so senseless that you could just order something then cancel and the stuff will just come (without your card being charged and stuff)...

I bought machine tools and other stuff (dial calipers and end mills) from them in the past and their quality is good but never actually bought luthier stuff from them.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com