Official Luthiers Forum!

Just curious, how many builds did you make until you really started to hone in on the sound you were after, and were consistantly able to get the results you intended? Just for fun...

'bout 10 for the sound. 25 for the fit and finish (and still counting, to a certain extent...)

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

I built a couple, a slope D, and a 000 12 fret and didn't bind the top. I kept removing the tops and.....messing until. 1. I got the tone I was after. 2. Until I got a fair understanding of how to shape the tone.

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

I have only built 5 guitars and am very happy with the sound of the last 2 and get really good comments from players on the finish and sound. I have a way to go as far as I am concerned with fit and finish as I am a bit too fussy, but they all look good to the eyes of others.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I'd say 15 to 18 guitars , but then my wife ( and my first wife) both say I'm a slow learner.
jack

Completing #5 and I'm not close yet, in either category!!

Completed 19 steel strings....friends and family seem to think they're 'awesome' , but us builders know otherwise. Some sound better than others, some finish out better than others....part of the handbuilt process for me....have not seen the 'checkered flag' on perfect tone and perfect fit and finish.....that's what keeps me going, I guess.

Umm yo, Fool...

Well me no build from a preconcived idea or notion of " sound me after or intended results."

That approch and attatude to building reduces it down to "Yes Dr. we would like our baby boy to be a blond eyed, blue haired, genius with a
dimple on his chin"

Sorry, dude, the thought of building to demand, or to order, (although it may pay the bills) or the thought of knocking out repros smacks of therapy assembly line work to me or like the hours waisted meditating for enlightenment in the monastery....and well me the Padma "will not be assimilated"

If you are trying to find out how long it took me to feel confident with my luthier skills....well is like this....

I don't got any "luthier skills"

Me basicaly been builden em by the seat of me pants since Kennedy was in office... and me still learning a thing or two on these forums.

Dude ...its the journey through life, not the destination.


Now, Fool,

My question to you is....When you gonna stop asking questions, and start building?


blessings
the
Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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My level of workmanship is 95 %-I always find something I'd like to have done better.
Tone-sound ;is another matter since I do not make copies of famous makers or myself-My clients want a guitar that is made for their ears .
So i listen to them-write down every detail they tell me and make a guitar for them & me-If i made every guitar just to my liking I'd only sell a few.
I do not thing any maker is totaly happy all the time with every guitar they make.
It's a learning process that takes time & patience.

If your making guitars only for yourself -keep notes of thicknesses and such so you can make changes where neccessary that will help with the next builds.
I know this is simple advise but ;it works.
Mike

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Mike Collins

I'm just finishing #'s 38 and 39. Not there yet, I'll check back when I'm at 100 if I live that long but it'll probably be the same answer. To paraphrase Dory in "Finding Nemo" -- Just keep building just keep building just keep building.
Good Luck
TJK

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

21 for the sound. Finally getting some nice toines. Still working on the construction and carpentry.

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

Padma,
I hope I never stop asking questions. It would be a sad day if I thought I had it all figured out! And I build around 70 hours a week, 35 hours for someone else and however many I can coax out of my poor old body for myself and I really love almost all of them. Except buffing, I don't like that. At all. I just finished numbers 41 and 42, they both turned out great, but neither of them did precisely what I expected and that is really the purpose of this thread, to get a general idea of how long it has taken some people to be able to confidently control the results. I like your approach to your projects as well, but I'm trying to get my way rolling.
Maybe I'll give you a jingle next time I'm in the Koots, we'll have a show and tell in the Oso Negro patio!
Cheers!

Ok Yer on...

by the way...my applogies, for some reason or other me took it into me head that you were a newbe and had never built befor. Sorry.


blessings
the
Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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No worries, it's all in good fun!

After I built 14 my first year then I took some formal training. Once I learned from a master I dialed in the tone pretty fast . I would say in honesty , 25 to get it right. I suggest you keep a building log and note every change . Don't make a lot of changed but do it small increments so you know what each change did.
Fit and finish I had pretty quick as I was exposed to wood working most of my life and was familiar with nitro and its processes. I am over 100 and still learning . Each one is a bit different and that is what keeps me coming back for more.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I thought I was awesome after my first one! So I guess I'm just a natural.

My second one was way more awesomer and they just keep getting better.

So perhaps my initial assessment was premature and lacking a valid frame of reference.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom