Official Luthiers Forum!

I've visited this forum several times and finally joined last night and wanted to introduce myself. Seems there are knowledgeable folks hanging out here and I've sure enjoyed reading your posts.

I have an interest in building an accoustic guitar and would like to learn more about it. To share a little of my background, I've played some in a gospel bluegrass group though mostly I played mandolin and enjoy playing the old Martins with the great bottom cut. Some though are a little difficult to play before they started adding trusses. I also enjoy wood working and have made a few pieces of furniture etc. I have a background in mechanical engineering and computer science and develop automation control systems for a living.

I live in NW AR and have 3 daughters ages 13, 8, and 4. The two older ones are wanting to learn to play the guitar. The 8 yr old's hands are still fairly small. I have a nice sounding and easy playing Ovation but it's awkward for the girls to handle (awkward for me as well for that matter). I also have a cheap, D sized acoustic made by Simon & Patrick Luthier that I bought at a pawn shop. It's not easy to play though I think I could help that if I spent time on it.

I've been playing with the idea of building each of my daughters a nice guitar. I'm not completely up-to-date on the different sizes and scale lengths so I'm open to suggestions. Seems something similar to a 000 Martin might be nice. I've heard of an 0, 00, 0000 sizes but I've never seen one and not sure what these designations mean. I recently heard of the Clair model from Martin which I think they call a size 5 that might be appropriate as well. As far as cosmetics, I'm open to nice wood but want to stay away from too much bling.

What are your thoughts on the smaller body and scale length guitars? Can you get a nice warm sound out of them?.......any bottom to them? I've heard you can move the bracing forward to warm the sound or use a western cedar top, scallop the braces, etc. As you can tell, I've a lot to learn so I'm open to suggestions. I'm also open to feedback on how feasible it is for me to build a nice sounding guitar that I would be proud to give my daughters as chances are they would keep it forever.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Welcome, the answer is yes to all those questions but would need guys of more experiance to guide you in how to do so. I'd buy
Build Your Own Acoustic Guitar by Jonathan Kinkead and Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology by William Cumpiano and Jonathan Natelson and if you can strech to it IMHO the John Mayes advanced voicing DVD, I have the set, but truthfully thats the only one which I would buy again as he's setup with so many machines jigs etc to do it his way as showm on the DVDs you'd have to buy all the kit first, thinking about it Cigar Box Uke DVDs show how to do most things manually so they are worth while too. Just keep reading the forums and as questions when stuck I do you learn and absorb so much.

Thanks Guys for making this site what it is

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

Welcome to the OLF Ada!

Howdy Ada. I vacation alot in your part of the world. Eureka Spings is a lot of fun.
Welcome to the forum.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

The books JJH told you about are a great place to start!

You may want to use a Kit as a starter !
Many of the OLF sponcers sell guitar kits!
Allot of the parts are semi made and they usually come with instructions !
I think they all offer a 000-model-if built right you can get an excellent bass out of that size.

Of course we're all here to help ya !!!!

Mike

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Mike Collins

Welcome to the OLF. FYI, and since Mike mentioned kits, there is also a Kit Builders Forum, that I have heard is pretty good support for kits too. I know John Hall - Blues Creek Guitars and LMI both are involved with that one as well as this forum.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Thanks for the welcome everyone! The book suggestons and the reference to teh other forum should prove useful, thanks.

I have a question, does a 000 have the same scale as a standard dreadnaught? If so, is there an option for a shorter scale? Are the 0, 00, & 000 all the same size body?

Oh, and Eureka Springs is a neat place to visit. I bought a handmade billfold there I've been carrying for 14 years. Also bought an awesome cigar that the guy at teh smoke shop rolled for me. Unfortunately, he moved his shop elsewhere.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

The 8 yr old's hands are still fairly small. Adaboy

Welcome to another Arkie Hillbilly!

I once saw a tenor guitar by Gibson a small college professor owned.

He played it upside down, yep, flipped over, but not restrung.

That would be a perfect guitar for someone with a small hand.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Welcome to the fold, Adaboy! You're going to like it here.

I built a size 5 Terz a few years ago for my kids. Guess what? They outgrew it almost by the time it was finished. You could have a look at my web site. In the Process link I've documented its construction.

Have fun!

Pat

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

Welcome to OLF. And good luck to you. Remember, cost should not be a driver in your decision. You can buy "highly" serviced kists from Stew-Mac or LMI that will reduce your need for jigs & tools. You might want to take that route in the beginning. Building anything from scratch will increase cost because of the tools that you will need (and the jigs). If, however, you want to really build guitars as an ongoing eneterprise, then be sure to study threads in here that discuss shop tools.

Mike

Pat,

That's a good point for me to consider.......how long before my girls will outgrow a smaller scale guitar? I need to think about that question.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Hmmm. Me thinks I sounded like a wet noodle. Not my intention. Have fun.

Mike