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I want to start buying materials for my first guitar and I've been trying to keep the price as low as possible. This guitar will more than likely be purely for my own enjoyment so appearance/grade of wood isn't important. I would like to stick with EIR or something similar in tone for the back and sides, lowest grade possible that won't cause trouble for me. I don't mind filling some holes or scabbing on some wings. Any spruce will suit me for the top. I want to get good quality brace wood. I have some walnut I might use for the neck.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Sounds like a good plan Hutch.
EIR bends easily, sounds great, and is available in lower grades. I would suggest trying to get a straight-grain set of sides for ease of bending, the back can be figured / wierd with no problems.
Also, I would suggest an "A" grade piece of Carpathian Spruce from Old World Tonewood, and he can supply a block of spruce that you can split for braces.
Walnut will make a great neck.

If you are patient, you can buy it all right here in the classifieds, usually at bargain prices.

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LMI's "Kit Wizard" (name is deceptive; "kit" here doesn't necessarily mean what you normally think of when you hear the word "kit") may be a good option. You can select any grade wood you like, get all other essential components, and receive 15% off everything. You can also opt to have them throw in Robbie's guitar building video free.

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Aaron Craig

Call the Martin Guitar Makers Connection. They sell their reject EIR for $12 for a back and side set. It is still very stuff, just not up to Martin's standards. Some mineral stains(which you cen cover up) wider grain lines, stuff like that. You can also get a reject neck blank for really cheap from them too, $5.00 I think. That ought to keep costs down for you, no? Back sides and neck for under $20?
Send any thank you gifts to me directly. PM me for my address!

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PMoMC

I've designed a couple of different kits using the wizard and I may go with them. I like the idea of getting the plans and DVD with the order.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

I used the email contact instead of calling so I'm waiting for a response. If I can get wood at those prices I'll get enogh for 2 or 3 guitars.
Thanks

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Really, $12 for a set of backs and sides? I was up there in March for a tour and to maybe get a set of EIR from the Guitars Makers Connection and they were asking $90-$110 a set. Most of the ones I looked at had mineral deposits on them. Maybe you caught them when they started to get backed up with back/side sets.

REJECT Backs and sides. You need to speak to them to get them.

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PMoMC

are they really ugly or something?

It looks a bit like this:


Ok. It looks exactly like that. I borrowed that pic from oval soundhole. He has been very open about the wood he gets from the GMC. In fact, he can tell you who to speak to at the GMC to get the $12 wood.

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PMoMC

You can get "student grade" EIR sets from Allied for $38. I used one on an L-00 I made and it came out pretty nicely.

Matt

No offense, but I thought the woods that they sold at the GMC and for the kits were the reject wood? Am I mistaken?

Well I just got off the phone with GMC and the prices are great but not the $12 I was hoping for. Cheap enough that I bought 2 sets. Side sets were $16 ea and back sets were around 35 or 36. I've already forgotten the exact prices. I'm pretty satisfied with the price and I can't wait for it to come in. I'll put up some pics when it does. I probably won't start actuall build for a couple of months though. I want to concentrate on building radius dishes and any other related jigs first. It's a good feeling just to know that I'm really going ahead with this.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

There is a guy on eBay the sells cnc dishes for cheap. That's where i got mine. I spent under a $100 for both.

Todd,
I apologize for offending you with that horrific wood. If you are able to recover from the trauma, call Gail or Liz at the GMC. Prices may have gone up, but they are still good. Ask for the $6.00 reject backs and sides and see if they have any.
Tony

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PMoMC

I just got off the phone with Gail this morning and she told me there is nothing like that in rosewood but there may have been some deals like that in cherry or some othe wood in the past.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

I am certain my info is accurate. Well...almost certain. I will get oval soundhole to weigh in here. He is the guy who bought the wood in question.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I don't doubt you, I'm just telling you what I was told by Gail at GMC. If there's an insider we can call and get the 12 dollar stuff, count me in for a few more sets. Of course maybe i should wait until I see the peices I've already ordered.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

Well...it turns out I was confused about the pricing. My apologies to everyone. It was $12 for sides and I thought I was told $12 for back and sides. My bad.

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PMoMC

No Problem, but isn't the wood the GMC sells the reject wood?

Here are better pics of that guitar with the inexpensive rosewood

this is another set of el cheapo EIRW

You got me. I assume they are all factory rejects. Perhaps the kits are assembled with the second grade stuff and there is another lower grade they sell? I never bought from them personally.

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PMoMC

Exactly, and just what I want to build my first couple with.

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

those sets look great to me. i wish i could get some like those for that price!