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Any ideas on how I can get started on a project like this?

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I would get the Benedetto book first off, then draw a set of plans or have some drawn for you by copying an existing 175. They have laminated top, back and sides. You can learn to make these or purchse them already made.

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Ken

Ken, I have the Benedetto book and a friend has offered his es 175 for tracing and measurements. I'll probably carve the front and back. Thanks

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I'm in a similar situation. I'd like to build something like an es-250 or es-150 some day, but I don't know where to go beyond where I'm at. I also have the benedetto book. I've found some laminated back and sides. I'd like to carve the top and make a neck.

how do you work off a pre-existing guitar? you can trace the shapes, but what about getting the bracing to be accurately placed, etc? where do you purchase already made plans?

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"...you have to get over your strict adherence to your largely imagined notion of absolute perfection..."

I found Frank Ford's site had some pictures of the inside of the 175 so I could see the bracing. Also join the Gibson forum for info on specific guitars.
Regarding your laminated back who is your source? I've found only 17" laminated backs at Stewmac and I'll need 16" so I may have to carve the back.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

This question has been floated a few times, so my assuption is there's probably not a specific building plan for a 175. But I've also heard it said more than once that it shares it's shape with one or more other models. ("That same "16-inch" body has since been used on the L-5, L-7, L-10, L-12, L-47, L-48, L-50, L-75, ES-150, ES-175, J-185, J-180, Everly Brothers, J-200 Jr, J-2000, Starburst Elite."....... a quote from the MIMF archive). Franks Fords site shows basically a parallel braced archtop. (It shows the braces as kerfed!!!!.... I wouldn't do that if it was me.) I think ACME sells lam'd plates that, if I remember, work on 16", but check. My take is that you're building a parallel braced archtop right out of Benedetto's book. The Ford site has a few good "full front" shots of the 175. Since you know the 175 body parameters (16" lower, 20.5" length), draw a box that size and cut/paste an exactly cropped image of the body so it fits that box exactly. (You can then make templates for body, f-holes, whatever)

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Dave
Milton, ON

Dan at ACME is a great guy and can certainly help you out. I bought some plates and sides for a Benedetto shape archtop and they are really nice quality.

Also, less known is Stephen Holst at http://www.pacinfo.com/~sholst/laminatedplates.htm The Holst plates are for a 16" if I recall correctly and look pretty nice.

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

I don't have one yet. Acme is the guy I have heard of that sells them.

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeouc4e/acme ... /id26.html

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeouc4e/acme ... /id10.html

I don't know if he has 16".

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"...you have to get over your strict adherence to your largely imagined notion of absolute perfection..."

Steve, Hoists product looks real good! What did you do for sides?

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA