Official Luthiers Forum!

My name is Joe Beni and Im very interested in building an acoustic guitar. I have no experience in wood working but im looking for a little help on starting. I have a book that has a lot of info but its always nice to hear from todays builders. Im friends with Tom Doerr and hes my motivation for building....not to mention playing guitar is my number one hobby. Ive been lucky enough to play some of Toms guitars and ive been blown away every time. Anyways im just looking for a little info on a good start. Thanks!!!!!!

Welcome Joe. I'm sure Tom Doerr can provide lots of guidance & encouragement.
If the book you have is not "Guitarmaking" by Cumpiano, I'd suggest you get that.....it really is a benchmark book. Secondly, with no wood working experience, you might consider a kit guitar, which will take many of the particularly tricky bits out of the equation and increase you chances of getting to the end successfully.

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Dave
Milton, ON

Tip 1: Don't start unless you want to become addicted to building guitars.

OK, still here?
I second what Dave said, the Cumpiano book will clear many things up. I also suggest asking a lot of questions here and at other forums, as well as making use of the search function. There is more information available on the internet than you can believe. Wanna build an exact (whatever brand)copy? That info is not hard to come by.

As far as a kit or scratch? I chose to go with a scratch build, and I'm glad I did. I would rather have a weaker scratch build than a stronger kit, I was interested in the whole process, so I went that route. There's a few guys here that sell kits, John from Blues Creek is one. He is also a good source of info with his youtube videos.

It's not as hard as it looks, but it takes more time and thought than you'd think. I try to understand the process, understand the desired outcome and then slowly! proceed towards that goal. One step at a time. It's incredibly rewarding, and the most fun I've ever had with any sort of hobby.

Did your dad ever tell you: "Use the right tool for the job" - that's the best advice.

Welcome Joe. You are in the right place...there are lots of very knowledgeable folks on this forum.

+1 on the Cumpiano/NAtelson book for a good place to start. It lists all the basic hand tools you need to get started and has very thorough steps of the process of building steel string and classical guitars. Also try to get as much info as you can on building, through books, DVD's, your friend and other builders, and this Forum. Knowledge is your most important tool.

As far as building from a kit or from scratch...If you want to get straight to building I would start with a kit, because you wouldnt have to buy all the tools necessary to make the parts. You just need some hand tools and some glue. The real challenge and art of building a guitar is putting it together clean, voicing, and set up. If you want to start from scratch you will need to spend a considerable amount more time and money setting up a shop. You will need at least a good 14" band saw, router, drill press, disc/drum sander; and if you REALLY want to start from scratch you will need a jointer, planer, and a thickness sander is great to have. Since you don't have any woodworking experience it would be wise to take classes to learn the basics. Oh and get a high quality dust collection system if you get a bunch of power tools (see Bill Pentz's site).

Good luck.

Sooooo true!

I'll second the recommendation to check out John Hall's (Blues Creek) youtube videos. They are very good. And I'll add that Robbie O'Brien's "Luthier Tips du Jour" youtube vids are excellent as well. Both are great resources.

Having found this forum you are already off to a good start. If you have a question, odd are someone has already asked it so use the search function and you will find tons of great info.

Last tip - don't build a guitar expecting you will save money versus buying one.

Thanks everyone! And for "tip #1" I don't think ill have a problem getting addicted to building. I understand its going to be a very different experience and im probably in over my head! But everyone starts somewhere right!?

Along with the luthier books and videos
Their are some great videos to gain precision woodworking skills out there
look for Rob Cosman and David Charlesworth's videos
I suggest if you are really serious about this and are in for the long haul
a cabinet makers workbench would be a project to consider
you could put the info you will need to learn to use

...But that could be just me as im a glutton for punishment

If you do want to build a cabinet makers workbench start collecting loadsa hardwood doors and frames now
get a fire door too if ya dont have a flat surface to start with ....
keep collecting for like the next 2 years away as you cant have enough hardwood
Get sthuck in
Good luck
tomas

Good points from wolfsearcher. If you want to go "all in" and start from scratch, building your own work bench would be an educational experience and you would have something to be proud of. The first stages of building a guitar from scratch is basic cabinetry skills. i.e. learning how to mill and square up stock, basic joinery, etc. As you work on that project you would get the tools you need (jointer, planer, band saw,m etc.) that will be useful later when you start on a guitar.

On the other hand, Harbor Freight sells cheap starter work benches. Get one of those, a kit, some hand tools, glue, a bunch of educational materials, and you can start building immediately.

"Last tip - don't build a guitar expecting you will save money versus buying one." goof point from Charlie T. A well set up luthier shop is quite expensive. Like, you could have a pre war Martin D-18 instead!

Hey Joe-

Google "John Mayes guitars". Go to his website and buy the DVDs he has - they are great. The voicing DVDs (voicing 101 and advanced voicing) are lutherie gold. If $$ is really an issue, buy the voicing DVDs and add the rest as you can afford them.

Like everyone else said, the Cumpiano book is great but check out his website for free updates to the latest procedures he uses. His methods have changed a bit, especially the neck joint attachment.



Enjoy-

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Hey, Joe, you've just discovered how friendly all these folks are. You'll find lots of help available here.
If your friend Tom is willing to help you learn, that's great, because he knows the ins and out of the craft and could teach you very specific skills. If he doesn't have time to teach you the basics, my most urgent suggestion is that you shop around in your city for an adult education course in basic woodworking (often available at local vo-tech schools or woodworking clubs). There you will learn so many fundamental skills like sharpening tools, safe use of tools (there isn't a tool in your shop that won't hurt you if you don't know how to use it). Dull cutting tools are particularly dangerous because they'll skid or chatter on wood but they're still plenty sharp enough to cut you deeply. I learned this through experience. Dull or improperly tuned up tools will also be constant source of frustration to you and you won't know how to set matters straight without some help. Furthermore, if you locate an available class or club and you're up-front with the instructor, the person will be able to give you a lot of specific, hands-on help and training. In an adult education setting, you'll also have access to all the large machine tools in the shop (band saw, jointer, etc.) Once you get an idea of the tools you'd like to acquire (for example, a few hand planes) you might also spend some Saturdays kicking around at yard sales and estate auctions. You will be amazed at the quality tools you can often pick up inexpensively at those events. Of course, you also have to be prepared to quit bidding sometimes and have the patience to wait for the next opportunity. I came to this hobby pretty much like you. I already had pretty good woodworking skills and lots of tools, but had to learn through books and by trial and error on my first. That was before the internet. It's fun and fascinating. Best of luck to you!
Patrick

Stewmac has the instructions for their kits available for download: http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/i-5295/i-5295.pdf

Download that and give it a very thorough read. It can help you decide whether you want to go down the kit or the from scratch path.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Hi and welcome to the club! I just thought I'd chime in as I am only on my 2nd guitar and had no woodworking experience at all, nor any other crafts/handwork. You'll be fine! With some guidance and taking one step at a time, there's nothing about it that's not doable. Sometimes you get stuck somewhere but places like this are heaven send. Just remember your first guitar(s) is (are) a learning experience(s) and try to enjoy the process - it's not so much about the outcome, that comes later. And you really work best when you're not worried.

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

I didn't have any serious woodworking experience when I started. Just go slow, and learn to use the tools as you progress on your project. Sharpening is one of the first thing to learn, along with how to tune up a plane, if you have an old Stanley or something like that. It's pretty amazing what you can get out of old tools when you clean them up and set them up right.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Addicted to guitar building? Hogwash. I simply cannot stop. That's different.

I started from scratch , but I also had a lifetime of wood working experience , I suggest a kit to get the basic feel and idea . THEN if your hooked , and you WILL be . #2 go from scratch ! Be ready to spend money on tools , or spend more time with your friend than your wife

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I came into this hobby with zero woodworking skills. In fact, I completed my first instrument before I found out that you have to sharpen brand new chisels and plane irons (I figured I could learn to sharpen between the first and second. . .). After that I found the internet fora and spent every free moment reading old discussions and tutorials. At first I understood about 10% of any given discussion and believed 90% of the voo doo about what makes great tone. Slowly I started understanding more. Eventually those percentages reversed*.

I started out designing simple instruments that allowed me to omit the processes that were too intimidating. Each time I would add in a few more of these steps. It was nice to accomplish something, but the early efforts were more novelty than instrument. If I had to start out again, I would try to be less intimidated of seemingly difficult tasks and just try out the traditional methods.

*I still only understand about 20% of any Alan Carruth post longer than 2 paragraphs.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

All I can say is, learn as much as you can from Mr. Doerr. He makes some of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen and played...

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com