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Guitar lutherie book
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10122&t=42946
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Author:  MarkVonShief [ Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:56 am ]
Post subject:  Guitar lutherie book

so I just had the good fortune to obtain a beautiful Martin kit for my first build (thanks, Hesh!). Now I'm not a complete neophyte at building stuff and am a real learn-by-doing sort of guy, but I also strongly believe in reading as much as I can find before getting going. I'm looking for some advice for a book that might be applicable to building an acoustic kit. I'll even use the OLF amazon link to get it.

So - Advise Away...

Thanks - Mark

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Mar 11, 2014 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

Cumpiano & Natleson is most highly recommended for beginners.
http://www.cumpiano.com/

The Gore/Gilet books are much more comprehensive, and I highly recommend them.
http://www.goreguitars.com.au/

Author:  MarkVonShief [ Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

Great - thank you, I'll see which one looks like it works for me now.
Rgds - Mark

Author:  Hesh [ Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

Hi ya Mark!

Glad that your kit arrived safe and sound.

It's a Martin kit so although there is great value in some of the books mentioned Martin kits are assembled in a very traditional manner. Knowing as I do that the documentation with these kits..... well, er..... sucks..... I was looking just now for something that might be more applicable.

John Hall who is a member here sells Martin kits and his site has lots of tutorials that John has generously put together that I think would be not only helpful to you but specific to how a Martin kit is assembled. So here's a link to John's site and I hope that john does not mind me posting this: http://www.bluescreekguitars.com

Author:  johnparchem [ Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

Bill Cory http://www.kitguitarmanuals.com/ a technical writer wrote a book on building a Martin kit guitar. It is step by step and very focused on the Martin Kit.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Wed Mar 12, 2014 11:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

The two books I posted are very good references, but I'm sure your Martin kit has a dovetail neck joint, and neither uses that type of joint.
Another reference for setting a dovetail neck joint would be most helpful, I'd also recommend Bluescreek.

Author:  MarkVonShief [ Wed Mar 12, 2014 12:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

Great suggestions - thank you.
I had been poking around on Amazon before I asked here and didn't see much, I'm glad I asked here. I am surprised at what is available from the online resources too - something good for free? You don't see that too often. Blues creek looks real useful.

wrt the books, I'll get the Cumpiano & Natleson one, the Gore & Gilet one is a touch pricey for my neophyte ability - I'll reserve that for the next build. I did pick up the Benedetto book previously (garage sale), when I got around to reading it a few months ago, that sort of got the whole idea flowing.

Author:  Rodger Knox [ Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

Benedetto's book is also very good, there's several good techniques that also work for flattop guitars.
The Gore/Gilet book is really heavy on design considerations with all the math that explains how a guitar actually works, it's closer to a college-level textbook(as you see by the price) than a "How To" book.

Author:  maxin [ Thu Mar 13, 2014 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

KMG kits are very similar to Martins -- check out the on-line instruction, and the dedicated forum

Author:  MarkVonShief [ Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

[
And they don't even demand that I buy one of their kits to take part.

Man, this lutherie group is a bunch of really friendly folks!



quote="maxin"]http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

KMG kits are very similar to Martins -- check out the on-line instruction, and the dedicated forum[/quote]

Author:  Freeman [ Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Guitar lutherie book

Download the free pdf from StewMac for one of their kits. Here is the dread version, there is also one for their 000. Also, since your Martin kit is probably a dovetail, be sure to get that version

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits/Acoust ... 9054846451

StewMac is in the business of trying to sell you tools but you can filter through the list to see what you really need. Also, they use a simple cardboard mold (Cumpiano builds with no mold) - most of us do use one and almost any building thread will show how to make one.

There is also a kit guitar forum which does have some good references and on line materials

http://www.kitguitarsforum.com/board/index.php

And it is very helpful to read some of the building threads - both to learn how others have done things and some of the mistakes they have made. Here was my first guitar - very similar to the StewMac 000 (this is still my daily player after 8 years)

http://www.kitguitarsforum.com/archives ... 25_0_6_0_C

and my minimal shop at that time

http://www.kitguitarsforum.com/archives ... 46_0_5_0_C

And when you have questions, please post here. Most of us have gone through all of this and will be happy to help.

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