Official Luthiers Forum!

I am about to dive into my first classical build.
If I had to buy one book which one would it be?
I already have Irving sloan.
Ive read alot about Bogdanovich,Cumpiano,and Courtnall
I will eventually get them all ...but my poor creaking wallet.......

Hi Steve,

I have all of the books you mentioned and without hesitation recommend the Bogdanovich book. I have chosen not to do everything exactly the way that he does, but it is by far the best book available for a new classical builder (IMHO). He gives a lot of info' on building jigs, templates and tools that is invaluable. Also, the book has tons of color photos which puts it miles ahead of Cumpiano, Sloan and Courtnall. Especially for the price, this one can't be beat.

Best of luck,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

It was the Bogdanovich book that got me off the couch and into the shop with confidence that it would work out. In my opinion no one book can cover every question and I have all the books you mentioned but if I could only have one it is Classical Guitar Making. I have found Mr. Bogdanovich to be responsive and helpful as well. Bogdanovich comes from a cabinet maker background so I found that his solutions to the various issues of building easy to follow and intuitive.

Hope this helps....

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http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

If you just want building information, Bogdanovich is an excellent book, and the photography is great. If you want to really get a grasp on what makes a fine classical guitar, and learn to build one, the Courtnall book is, in my opinion, much better. Though expensive, it contains an education on how the masters built the guitars that everyone else is copying, including Bogdanovich, with his hybrid solera/mold process. He does some things in a convoluted way, though, like fitting the sides to the bottom of the top rather than fitting the sides to the perimeter of the tops edge, which is much easier. However, you won't get that from either book. Whatever book you choose, find out what methods are used by master builders, and see what suits your comfort zone. I was lucky that Shawn, Joshua, and David La Plante were generous with their help in my understanding of the techniques I was interested in, not to mention others here on the forum.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

The Bogdanovich and Courtnall books are very good and I second the recommendations of Max and Waddy. The David Schramm CD's for construction of a Hauser and Miguel Rodriguez are very good also. They both start with the fabrication of the necessary jigs and fixtures and are very detailed. David is generous with his time and advice if you get stuck at any point. He used to have most of this information available on his website but I think that it's now only available on the CD's.

Good luck in your endeavors.

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Peter

Bogdanovich for sure !

Mike

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Mike Collins

I have it on good authority that the Romanillos book is in it's final stages.........this one I think will be definative.

Hoping to snag one of those as soon as they come out. Keep us informed, David, please!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Dave;
any idea as to when Jose's book will be available ?


Can't wait to read that one!!!!!!

Mike

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Mike Collins

Sounds like I may be one of the few Cumpiano fans out there but I really like his writing style and would recomend that one. His website also mentions that he has been working on a DVD companion to the book. Hopefully that will be out soon.

I have all of them and they are all excellent books. The Bogdanovich book uses some techniques that may be better saved for a later guitar - laminated sides, a lower bout that dips below the surface of the soundboard (which I have not seen anywhere else), non-kerfed linings. A great book though.

Another book you don't hear about often is by Rik Middleton called "The guitar makers workshop". There is a description of how to make your solera with a mold. There is also a good discussion of neck angle and all of the factors that effect it-bridge and saddle height, soundboard dome height, the depth of the fretboard and any angle you may or may not plane into it. Very helpful.

There is a another thread I started recently about the neck angle on a classical. You may want to read that. The Cumpiano book approaches that a little differently than the others.