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I have built 2 kits (Martin and Stewmac) and would like to start my 3rd build from scratch. Which of these three books has the most useful info for a 1st timmer:

1. Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology: A Complete Reference for the Design & Construction of the Steel-String Folk Guitar (by Jonathan Natelson)

2. Build Your Own Acoustic Guitar: Complete Instructions (Jonathan Kinkead)

3. The Luthier's Handbook: A Guide to Building Great Tone in Acoustic Stringed ( by Roger H. Siminoff )

I looked inside the first and it looks fairly detailed!

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Bro. Matthew A.
Oklahoma

Book three won't get you much construction info. The Natelson-Cumpiano book would work for you. Kits or not it will be your third build. You will understand just about everything they are trying to say to you. I have not read the Kinkead book so I cannot comment on it.

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

As a fellow beginner I would have to say Guitarmaking, it will leave you with a great understanding of all the processes and history. Although I found its a little bit outdated in a few areas... like the radius dish, but thats no big deal. I am still trying to finish it... I am terrible at finishing books.

Being a bibliophile I'd say the first 2 I can't get on with any of Roger Siminoffs books it's just not the way I work, I'd say use the Kinkade book and just add a bolt on neck you'll find Cumpianos neck block update on his site, to that I'd add the voicing series DVDs out of the John Mayes set then after you've made one or two instruments and your still interested I'd buy the Somogyi books and you'll have all you need!

John

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

Yeah I like the Kinkead book also. The Cumpiano book is pretty much considered the classic and is a good resource, but I personally relate to Kinkead's better. I find the more books and info the better, you never know what's going to fit your style.

Joe

Check your local library--you may be surprised. Mine had the Kinkead book (and Gibson's Fabulous Flattops which has a surprising amount of specs in it), so I borrow those and bought the Cumpiano book on Half.com for $12. But yeah... you're on #3, so anything you get would just be icing on the cake.

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Don't confront me with my failures--I have not forgotten them.

Cumpiano gets another vote from me.

It is a very good "Construction Manual."

I would supplement this book with a good "Modern" set of plans that is a little more lightly built....

Good luck

John

I own all three. But i would go with number 2 as a modern updated book on the subject. 1 is great and still recommended but a little dated. 2 along with great info also offers some great clear color photographs full size plans and detailed info on building a mold. If number one was updated in all ways including photographs it would be a great improvement. I hate to say 3 is a very limited or useless book when it comes to guitar building....Mike

Dr.M: Looks like you are getting serious about building guitars. I started building in the 70's ,started out with David Russel Young's book and since then have tried to aquire every publication I could find on the subject. Have learned something from every book that was purchased,but have not found one that was the be all to end all.That being said I would recommend you aquire both number 1 and 2. these will get you through nicely and you may not need anything else,but there are lots more out there to gain something of use,be that what to do or what not to do. Good luck.
Tom.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I've got all three - and built my first from Kincade's. He explains things in a very straightforward way, with fantastic pictures - which was very important for me. I'd suggest Kincade's book for ease of use for a beginner. He'll answer enough questions so that you can get through it without saying "hmm - I've read this passage three times and still can't envision what I'm trying to do here".

Cumpiano and Natelson's is deeper, and more thorough, and a must have (IMHO). When you get to the point that Kincade's book doesn't answer all the questions, Cumpiano's is a great deeper dive on those.

I notice you didn't include Somogyi's book(s) in the options. While the price is higher - I bought them and haven't been able to put them down in the month since I got them - some really, really good stuff, if a bit deep for the first build.

Have fun!

I built my first one using Kinkeads book, I highly recomend it.

I have an old copy of the David Russel Young book and it was a great book. The only odd thing about it was his use of a butt joint and epoxy to attach the neck. He stated this was sufficient. I Wonder how them neck joints are holding up after all these years...Mike

Do what Todd says, struggle through a build from scratch, and if you are still hooked take a good building course. It will shave at least 5 years or more off your learning curve.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I'm not a book fan. I prefer to make my own mistakes, and successes. In the end you'll end up with something "special" (as well as a bunch of scrap wood LOL) instead of a clone of someone elses work. It is expensive to do it my way, but like I said, I believe the end results are better.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

My first real foray into building was in 1970. Irving Sloane was our most prevalent guide. I think his book is still worthwhile because it is the "root" of the independent luthier development movement.

Next for me is Cumpiano-Natelson. While dated as well, it is still a foundation work. Much of what we guessed at with Irving was filled in by C-N.

I want the Kinkead book. Robbie's video is fool-proof but is not a theory source. I have some John Mayes' DVD's from a time when I gave him a vintage Stanley # 7 and he sent me some. I would like to own the whole set, but the originals I got will not play through on either of my two laptops at home- John was close to making that move so I never asked about it-he was a busy man.

This forum and the other, shall we say, more closely managed forum, taught me pretty much anything I have needed to know-outside molds, spreaders, radiusing and a variety of neck attachment methods. Between the two forums, books, and to some extent videos, become much less essential. Also, here, one can PM someone if too shy or embarrassed to ask a question-I just asked my dumb questions openly, but the members here will respond wonderfully to private requests for help.

I still struggle with iron bending and haven't spent the money for a Fox style so I am sending some imbuia to John Hall for basic bending(as long as he will let me profile my own way)-I have his slope dread mold and it is my favorite shape. Except for the bend, I am jigged up pretty well and I am lazy and use pre-carved necks.

I like books(e.g. I have about a 70 hardbound Civil War library) but it is all right here, actually on this forum alone. MT

I feel that I must reply to my own post before someone else rightfully addresses my shortcomings. "What?" You don't bend your own sides or carve your own necks-what kind of luthier are you, if at all?"

I do not consider myself a luthier. Really, I don't hold myself out as such. I am a "builder" at best, and could fairly be called a mere "assembler." Touche`.

Most of the time I have spent on precision woodworking was spent making custom rifle and shotgun stocks from varieties of walnut. From time to time over 36 years or so, I went at it on an acoustic guitar. A drill press and an ancient all cast iron 14" bandsaw were my power tools. Everything else was done with handtools.

When I built and drove my own racecars, I did the engine assembly, but not the machining. I bent and welded my own chassis but from a master designed and proven by someone else. I still cannot properly assemble a "Muncie" transmission, but most years were in open wheel cars with no transmission ,nor a starter. I did my own chassis setups and at the track adjustments and I fixed the cars when they got wadded up in crashes though a few times, some "sheet-time" delayed that and others might pitch in while I was healing.

When I belted into those 700+ horsepower 1400 pound cars(my weight included) the welfare of my family was on the line along with the welfare of those on the track(dirt/clay-asphalt is for getting to the track) with me. So, assembling correctly was not a matter to be taken lightly. When I assemble a guitar(lately mostly Les Paul style) I use the same care, but I have a fellow who has a stock of very good Central American Mahogany and he has my sub-body pattern and he ships bandsawn to that pattern with a bit extra for smoothing. A couple of reliable fellows sell me joined maple tops, uncarved. I have a large shooting board and plane set up for jointing 5/8ths" tops-it is simpler for these fellows to joint and glue mine along with many others and
ship. I carefully top-carve, assemble and finish. Not a luthier, a mechanic. MT

Another excellent build guide is over on http://www.luthiercom.org look in builds and builders I've printed off Colin Symonds and De Faoite guitars build threads so much useful stuff pictures.... modern techniques and Daves builds are a little different and shows what can be done, he doesn't follow convention

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Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes

John, do a search for Colin as an author here. He has several threads in the archives that I have copies in my doc folder. He is a wonderful, patient teacher.

I would agree with Todd. But I would add Robbie O'Brien's videos into the mix. They are scattered here on the forum, but you can search for Robbie on Utube and find them all quickly.

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Aoibeann

Thanks for all the info guys! I'll try to keep you updated w/my build!

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Bro. Matthew A.
Oklahoma

The Stewart Mc Donald web site has some good instructions for their kits - full of useful tips.

I have Cumpiano and Kinkaid - both very useful but also very confusing if read simultaneously.

The fun in building seems to be the development of your own techniques and then sharing them with the world.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits/Acoust ... ns#details

J

Nice picture is this a stock photo or wip ?

I have all three and I would that the first two have been more help to me. I am reading the third one now and it seems to take a bit of a different approach to building. So I am glad I got all three.
Chuck

Todd,

What you say here makes a lot of sense, and it certainly mirrors my experience (as a student, and during my limited experience as a teacher). I know that different students need to process new information in different ways - I've always thought that a course in High School which explored this topic, with the intent of showing each student how they most effectively (reading, hearning, working through practical experience, etc. ) learn would be a great foundation for the rest of one's "learning life"

One comment that I'd like to make (as a novice builder).

You're comment that a direct copy of a tried and true design as a first build - to take design considerations and variables out of the picture - certainly makes sense. There are so many places where my first build went astray - to start with a rock solid design is a very good idea.

But there's one comment that I'd like to make about my experience in building my first couple of guitars. The scope of the task appeared to be so monumental that I needed something to get me through to the end - for me, that was to bring some creativity to the process. For me, I used some unconventional wood (from a tree in my backyard), and put a custom inlay into the headstock - certainly not a prudent thing to do if one is focused on limiting errors or maximizing likelihood of having the first guitar be the best it can be.

My comment is only that some first builders need to do whatever they can do to make it fun, since the first build is likely to be frustrating on many counts, and "getting it done" might just be a pretty good ultimate goal for some on number 1.

Thanks.

I have the first two books you mentioned and I like them both. They really complement each other. Jonathan Natelson's book has great explanations of all the various processes, although some of it seemed a little deep for a beginner like me. That's where Kinkade's book is great. It's a great easy to understand book with great pictures. Not as in depth as Natelson's though. I would get both if you could. But being that you have already done two kits you are far ahead of me so what do I know!!