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My wife told me last night that she loves the fact I build for profit. I asked why she said it keeps you broke and at home on the weekend while she is on the road Feb-Nov. Some how the for profit part is getting lost somewhere in the traslation

Just like most of the rest of you I was / am / will continue to be obsessed over musical instruments and playing them. I originally wanted to build just for a kick to see how hard it would be and also because no one i knew had ever done it. I really enjoyed making the first and over the past week have been slaving away making myself a mandolin because I have always wanted one yet never owned my own. I am just kinda making it up as I go along though with a little inguinity and guitar knowledge as I don't have any plans haha. so far so good.

I currently feel compelled to do more guitars and get better at my skills to provide myself with something I thoroughly enjoy playing.

I sometimes feel a tension between my time spent building or on these forums and playing as I see myself more as a player first. Does anybody else ever feel a conflict between playing and building? granted i have only played for 5 years so perhaps once I finally get all the theory down then i'll feel like i can relax and build

Matt

Started playing guitar, read an FAQ about putting together a guitar (the internet was new and shiny to me back in 1997; I think it was Bill Wyza's FAQ, linked from harmony central), ordered bits from Warmoth, picked up a book on making electrics (Melvyn Hiscock's), built a few, read a book on building acoustics and lurked a lot at the MIMF, and finally took the plunge and started building acoustics.

Why? Because it's fun. No, scratch, that, it's fantastic fun. Lets me unwind, make things with wood that can be used to create music, and express my creativity in an applied sort of way. I've got my job (I'm a resident, and I look forward to going to work in the mornings, so I figure that's got to be a good thing) for the intellectual stimulation, I've got photography for the visual arts, and guitar making for the challenge of building great sounding and looking instruments, these days mostly for friends and others who will appreciate them and make music with them.

I build banduras because no one else does, and if I don't the instrument will die. (that's not entirely true but pretty close).

I've played bandura since I was kid and having a degree in engineering and an interest in woodwork, I always figured I would build one some day. I then had an epiphany on a different design for banduras and got started.

I originally started woodworking building furniture and such but now have no interest in building anything other than instruments and stuff to make instruments.

Believe it or not, there's probably about 100 or so bandura players in the US and another 100 or 200 in Canada. There is a factory in Lviv, Ukraine that pumps out 3 instruments/month but they're not of the style I make and they are difficult to come by here. As far as I know, me and a guy Bill Vetzal in Oshawa, Canada are the only two people in the world building Kharkiv (Харків) style banduras. Those 300 some odd players are all playing instruments that were made in the 60s, 70s and 80s and aren't the Kharkiv style.

My vision is to get to a point somehow to be able to supply a student Bandura for <$1000, a semi-pro model for <$4000 and a pro-model for whatever cost to anyone who wants one. Part of this will certainly require outsourcing etc. but if that's what it takes...

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

I was 15 and wanted three guitars I couldn't afford. So I got a book from the library and built my dream guitar. At 28 I still play that electric.

I have since built a few lap steels, tin can banjo, and a nylon string parlor guitar. I am now working on a couple ukuleles for a couple 4 year old boy I know. I think I enjoy building to show people that it isn't impossible and you can do anything you put you mind to. And if they don't think they can then I welcome them to my shop. We'll figure it out together.

I also love to see other people make my creations sing as I can't play all that well. The different nuances they pull out of the wood and how they interpret it's character.

Oh and It's just fun.

That's my story.

_Mike

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_Mike Tracz
MCT Guitars
https://www.instagram.com/mustcreatethings/
https://www.youtube.com/mustcreatethings

My reply is like many of the above. I love guitars, but am not much of a player - I am rhythm challenged. I can't justify buying the guitar that I would like to have for now, so I am trying to build them. I am finishing a LMI D kit now - letting the shellac cure for a couple more weeks then I will be back to work on it.

Others to Follow:
A Taylor Like GC/GA. I have the walnut back and sides and have glued up a walnut and maple neck blank. Working on getting a redwood top.

An archtop, I got the Benedetto book and video and would like to build an archtop that has electronics as well

A classical / not so classical nylon string. Can't decide how true to stay to the classical and how much to make it a hybrid with steel string neck.

My 15 year old is talking about building one with me this year. I hope he doesn't lose that urge.

Happy New Year to All. Greg

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Greg Hatcher
North Carolina

This is the truth, My doctor told me to find a hobby to reduce the stress in my life... .... still waiting..... still waiting..... still waiting.... ( when does this stress go away)... must buy more wood, must buy more wood, must buy tools, make jigs, ...... STILL WAITING.....
THEN I SURROUND MYSELF WITH ALL THE WOOD AND TOOLS..... PEACE AT LAST...

--SANFORD-- OUT

Several years ago I really wanted an Olson guitar and I figured at the time I could build myself a nice guitar (not an Olson of course) for at least 1/2 the cost plus I'd get some cool tools out of it.


Fast forward 6 years, $5000 for the shop, $3000 for tools, and about $3000 in materials and that Olson is looking pretty good now

Seriously, I love to build things and I love the fact that I can build something that gets used to make music and other people really happy.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Well I started because I couldnt get my recorders right. I got a lathe, drills, took turning classes, bought plans etc, etc. After numerous failures I worked out that the equipment needed to make something really nice started at $10k. Hmmmm "Ive always wanted a mando" I thinks, well, 2 years and 4 instruments later I worked out that its the music man, its the music.

I want to take music back from the record companies, from the expert performers, not from disrespect for talented individuals but the sense that we are all musicians capable of expressing our joys, sorrows, anxieties etc in music, poetry, dance etc. We've outsourced our creativity. I want people to take it back. A back yard jam on home made instruments is my little slice of post commercial heaven.

Its also great therapy!

Strangely enough, I build guitars because I fell in love with F5 mandolins! 20+ years later, the F5 isn't yet finished (it's the binding that takes time ), but I do have a few guitars under the belt, having eventually seen them as a more achievable ambition given my impatient streak.

It's very much a creative outlet and a continuing series of challenges to be confronted and overcome - a mix of art and science I guess, and a way to keep both the left and right sides of the brain gainfully employed. Also - in my own case anyway - it's a means of making up for very limited musical ability. I guess I'm a "facilitator" in that sense, with the guitar I've created hopefully being the vehicle for the making of music in the hands of someone more gifted in that direction.

Whatever my original motivation was, collaborating with a talented musician then seeing them on stage making beautiful music with the last guitar I built was the ultimate reward and spurs me on to repeat the whole experience as many times as possible.

Cheers
Pete

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Cheers
Pete

I was just wondering, what is so hard about making a F5 mandolin? I never played mandolin so I am not too sure...

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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

This isn't the time or place. Take a look at the following for some insights!

http://www.fletcherbrock.com

http://millermandolins.com/


Cheers
Pete

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Cheers
Pete

I don't quite build guitars. YET! But I do remember one of my first memories of wanting to build a guitar. I was probably about 6, I took a rectangular piece of ply wood and a longer plank for a neck and nailed them together, cut a hole in the middle, put on my strings "rubber bands xD" and I was ready to rock. And to tell you the truth from what I can remember "I was 6 or 7" It sounded really good.

I share your sentiments.

I couldn't afford a Lowden.

then I wanted a mandolin with a wide fretboard......

then a guitar bodied bouzouki......

then a 6/12 doubleneck acoustic....

and a fretless bass.....

Now my building fund my desire for "different" instruments.

sort of a sell two, keep one sort of thing.....

this year I HOPE to move into fanned fretboards

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My soundclick xx luthier blog xx luthier soundclick

Sorry for the ignorance... I just met someone who has an F-5 Mandolin and I can see the difficulty (they got some REALLY tight bends and scrolls... try getting a router bit in there!

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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

Because I spent all the money I had for a new guitar on wood and guitar parts, now I have this stuff and an old warped guitar and a son who thinks I can do it.
Someone in my family told others that I am making a couple of guitars and now people ask if they can bring out that old sears guitar and see if I can fix it up some. Gee .....can't wait to see it
Bill

Like so many others, I started because I wanted a quality custom guitar on an Applause! or Rogue budget. Sure, each guitar cost me way more now; but it is too late. Obsession has taken over.

I build because nothing else I do MAKES anything. I shuffle papers and other people's problems all day. Then I can come home and see something beautiful and lasting come from my own hands. I can't get enough.

One problem though, what do I do with them all? The market for semi-pro custom guitars is clearly glutted. There must be two or three hundred builders in the US alone trying to sell their guitars. There just aren't that many players willing to pay for a custom guitar. Most players go into Guitar Center and ask which acoustic is the cheapest. Even those who take their playing seriously are completely snowed by brand names. They want a Martin, Taylor, or Gibson. I had a friend who made beautiful guitars. He has manage to sell several dozen over the years. When his old roomate told him he wanted to buy a guitar, he offered to build him whatever he wanted. The roommate went with a $4000 Taylor. A TAYLOR!

With seven of these things hanging on my walls, and several more in the hands of family members, I fear I am reaching the practical limit of my hobby.

Perhaps I should start a thread that asks, "what do you do with them?" instead of "why do you build them."

I find that a trencher is particularly effective..........

I wanted a good guitar but could not afford one. So I bought a kit from John Blues Creek and after a few dozen emails and a new neck I finished My D-18 Kit. John was a great help. It was a good first try. Then I found out that I hade a Guitar Biulder living a few miles from me. So I called Mike Collins and made a great freind. He let me build my next guitar in his shop, with his supervision I created a great 12 fret Indian rosewood/koa guitar. Now when I look at it I cant believe I made it. Since then I finished and sold a D28 Dread and have started three more that are coming along great. I can not seem to go a day without working on them. I can not thank Mike enough for fueling the guitar building fire that started with my first kit. I have a new hobby (Addiction) as well as a new life long friend.
Dean

Dean welcome to the OLF!

Thanks for the welcome Hesh I have read a lot of posts but never replied.

If you want something that makes a little money you could try repairs since a lot of factories can produce something of good quality at good prices and when you go above $1000 they will pretty much demand brand names. I think players rather have their headstock that says "Martin" or "Taylor" or "Gibson" and are willing to sacrifice things they might not like about a particular factory guitar than pay similar or less on a custom made (to their specification) guitar because in their mind brand name just looks good. Thing is a lot of factories in China makes counterfeits although they are utter junk they are cheap and if they put their efforts in they could make something just as good and so real that even employees from Martin could not tell it's a counterfeit then they will sell it for 1/4 the price.

You might consider giving the build to a church or other charity organization or just give them to a missionary group. There's a lot of churches in third world countries who couldn't afford anything decent and perhaps one of your build would be a huge blessing to them. Or you might try selling them at ebay starting at one cent but you will sell them at a loss but at least you get something back...

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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

Basically, just like the rest of you, I got into it for the easy money and as Howard mentioned, the babes!

Joe

Any advice on the 'Kinkead or Kinkade' book? I have purchased the book and studying. I am new to this art and ready to start. I would appreciate tips on getting started. Mistakes to avoid. Mold building. Doming the workboard. Just anything would be appreciated. Thanks, kevin