Official Luthiers Forum!

I have been wanting to build an acoustic for a few years now. I know that I am particularly interested in tone - my whole building desire rests on getting to voice the guitar. I had planned to buy a LMI serviced kit and start there. Alternatively, my wheels got turning when I read the latest Fretboard Journal . . . what would you say to me buying an older Epiphone Ft-350 (solid EIR back and sides) for cheap, and then taking the top off of it, making my own top, and putting it all back together? I am not worried about finishes matching, or bindings, or anything of that sort. Thoughts? Would this be an easy introduction, or would it be more complicated than simply starting from scratch (with a kit that is).

I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

Peter

that is not a bad idea. I deal with first timers on many occasions and I can tell you that be realistic and don't expect to build your dream guitar the first time out. I have over 100 under my belt and I still keep looking at things to do better. I am lucky to make a living doing what I love.

_________________
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

Thanks, John.

Would I have to take the neck off to replace the top?

Peter

yes that would have to be done to do it right

_________________
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

Personally, I would carefully remove the neck/fretboard together from the body.

On my Esteban, I removed the fretboard extension from the body with a clothes iron and some cake frosting spatula knives...

Many new-ish cheap guitars use a butt-joint dowel-pinned neck.... These have a terrible tendency to come apart after 20-40 hours of playing.... It is well worth it to saw these apart and convert them over to a bolt-on neck.

I think it is a great experience, and a way to "Test the waters" before going for a full-on build.

Good luck

John

Thanks, John.

Did you use the match-em-up, rout it out method from the Greven tutorial?

Got what I need.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Peter