Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Fellows and Ladies,
I've constructed several solid body guitars and I am considering trying an acoustic build.
What would be a good beginner project? I put together a really crummy Uke kit and I think a flat-top Uke from scratch may be within my skill set. I have decent woodworking skills, but no carving skills (yet).
If this sounds feasible for a newbie, can someone point me to drawings or plans?
Thanks and happy 4th,
Dan

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I'd build whatever shape/size guitar feels right to you. The only thing that you may want to consider, unless you have bending experience, is not to start out with too expense wood. (East Indian Rosewood would be a good start. Beautiful, good tone, bends easy and not to expensive)

Plans are readily available from sponsors here like Stew Mac, LMI and others. I believe they still have some here on the OLF forum but I could be wrong. There are many other sources and I’m sure some members will let you know about them.

I’d recommend a good book like ‘Guitar Making Tradition & Technology’ by Cumpiano & Natelson. I started with it and still use it to some extent on most builds.

As you know there are also kits available. I never tried one being cursed with the ‘Do It Yourself’ bug.

In addition to the book, this forum will be a great source of information.
Good luck and have fun!

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

First of all, I'd say build something that you'll want to play - if that's a uke, go for it.

I've built 2 Martin kits and am in the middle of 2 scratch builds. I'm also into a scratch Les Paul build which I don't think was really any easier, just different.

If you go the kit route, the sides will be bent, the soundboard joined, sound hole drilled, rosette installed, neck already shaped, fingerboard shaped & slotted, and bridge shaped/slotted/drilled. Even with all of that done for you, there's still a lot of work.

Personally I'd go the kit route.

If you want some good plans that also happen to be free, google Grellier - he's a French builder that has also made some nice drawings that are free for download.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Just realize that the way your instrument sounds acoustically will depend on how the instrument was built rather than the type of wood its made from, particularly how you "voice" the top. Getting expensive woods is no guarantee that your guitar will sound good but in some cases it will help.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Thanks very much Gentlemen,
Dan

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I started by getting a bunch of books reading them, settled on the Natelson / Compiano book and ordered a "Kit" from LMI, I use kit loosely as it basically came as one box with all the rough cut wood in it. Back, sides and top were nothing special (spruce/EIR). I went the classical route as that’s more in line with the music I play. Mine turned out good fallowing the book and getting plenty of advice and help on the forum for finishing and bracing the top (which I'm very glad i had as I had about twice as much cross sectional area as I really needed on my braces when I asked). It turned out ok for me, had no previous woodworking experience except shop in high school and while letting the wood in the kit get used to my basements environment I put together a torsion box work bench. The guitar turned out OK for a first attempt.

Any way, that was my experience.

Jonathan Kincead's book is a very good text for a first build; great pictures, logical approach, and pretty thorough, but not so deep that you have to read sections 4 times before you know what's being communicated. Take a look.

The Natelson & Cumpiano book is great but use a more modern bolt on neck. Their neck joint in that book is incredible complicated for a beginner IMHO. I'd also suggest you don't go the kit rout. You are doing this for fun right? Bending sides is a lot of fun even if it is frustrating. And if you want to learn how luthiers understand the wood then you need to work it from the start, no better way to learn than by doing. I built an electric guitar as my first guitar because I figured the skills learned would be valuable for building acoustic guitars and I think it works out well. You got neck building, fretting and setting the proper neck angle down which is paramount for acoustic guitars. So go for it! Good luck and post pics.