Official Luthiers Forum!

I was thinking about something of this nature earlier, but geared towards recording the data on each guitar, complete with an illustrated view of the bracing you could use to record details about it in particular like specie, any deflection data, height of peaks and valleys, etc.

Here is an example of mine that I came up with after that thread you linked. It tells me all my specs, and price too. I used Numbers in iWork to create it. Simple but effective.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

It's just a matter of looking in the right place! Google "software for luthiers" for a start.

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Cheers
Pete

Now hurry up and finish that Mac Version

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

What do you guys think of this draft? What would you add, edit, or change?

Here are a few that I like to keep track of that I didn't see: Neck width/profile/frets to body/scale length, nut and string spacing measurements, action measurements, truss rod used, method of attaching neck to body, style of linings, soundhole diameter, body depth, bridge species and final weight, inlay scheme, fretboard species, finish used, tuners.

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Evan McCartney

I like "Software for Luthiers", but I like my PC

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

As this is a hobby for me..no make that an obsession now...I was wondering how to keep track ,so I just started typing in open office and have been saving it kinda like a newsletter..I have been documenting most everything on my first scratch build , a Gibson Keb Mo inspired guitar, using Stew mac triple ooo plans but changing scale length, headstock , bridge, nut width, etc to emulate that guitar...I import pictures of my building progress and also have been adding quite a few notes on the mistakes I am making and what not to do next time..
Fyi there have been a lot of notes!!!

Those build sheets look really cool James!!! great idea

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MK5acoustics.com

+1 on that....

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

What's the purpose of the drawings of the top and back? I'd do it perhaps with an outline, but no bracing shown. Draw it in yourself.

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

I've been collecting data in my shop notebook plus I take a lot of photos. Each guitar gets a file for the photos. I do need to come up with some kind of build sheet because I do notebook entries chronologically which means the entries for a specific guitar can be spread over many pages.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Visually organizing information usually results in better long-term memory conversion and synthesis.

I like the idea James has with the build sheet, but like Andy said about the body outline you could draw it in. I think instead of drawing it in this would be a good place for photographing the top from different angles, a picture is worth a thousand words.

You misunderstand - I mean, what is the purpose of having the same bracing drawing on every build sheet? What does it bring to the party? Is it for making notes on or something?

I've attached the build log I use to keep track of what I do on my banduras. It's evolving as well.

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

Yes, I understand this. I mentioned in my first post of the thread that I was working on a draft more oriented towards the build information than the business dealings.

Ah, I gotcha. You know, it's a draft. A work in progress, and I see your point. I'm not venturing away from the Martin pattern quite yet, so that's why it's there.