Official Luthiers Forum!

As long as we are going with the human gestation period, why not be more precice and go with 40 weeks.

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

My first build was a kit and I think it is a great way to get started. All the wood to build a guitar in a box? Perfect. I still forget to order something when I am building a guitar!

I would recommend to anyone building their first kit to read the online instruction manual from Kenneth Michael Guitars. He shows how to make a radiused clamping caul with index cards for about $2.00 as opposed to buying a radius dish. There are also other money saving, and common sense tips and tricks on there that certainly helped me through my first build. Definitely worth a look for the money saving tips alone. I built my first kit with three cam clamps, a razor saw, 4 Bessey ratchet clamps and a body mold. You do not need to spend a fortune to find out if you enjoy building guitars. You will, however, spend a fortune once you discover that you do enjoy building guitars!

This is a great idea to get some new guys involved. Maybe we could put together a "kit" of wood for a second (or third) guitar for the winner? I am willing to donate a sound board. I have one routed for a rosette already or I can send a rough unjoined top, or a thinned top, or even a joined top that is about an eighth thick. Whatever seems best for a new builder. Anyone have a back and side set to give to the cause? I think having a prize defined would also encourage more people to join. The chisel was a big factor in my decision to join the last build off.
Whaddaya all say? I also have a herringbone rosette I could donate. Probably some other stuff if I look around. I am sure you could all dig some wood out and donate a bit. Brace stock? I have a bunch of that too. Billets of Lutz spruce for bracing. I also have cedar sound boards.
I am not sponsoring this build off, just seeing what we can get together. I would donate more, but I just started the Hurricane Sandy Giveaway guitar and the winner chose a really nice set of ziricote I had, which was not cheap.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

lutz billets

mmmmmmmm cedar

Zircote!!

Tony thank you for donating all three of the above to the cause. You are such a wonderful person. This is a legally binding contract. The above supplies are therefore now considered the property of the winner of the contest.

Just kidding. But wood always makes for a nice prize. You never can have enough wood.

Tony you da man!

BTW my 13 year old Emma wanted to see what kind of emoticons were available

You seem to be settling in just fine, Zeke!

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

I think we should start a thread for the newbies just for them to ask questions for there builds. That we we can get back to them faster and help them along. And maybe we can make up a list of helpful things to have. And of they can post where they live maybe of their are local guys who are willing, they can let them come over to use there tools to help them out.
I would have no problem letting someone come over and use my bender or thickness sander. Heck, I would let them build it in my shop. I know what it's likes starting my first one. It took a year to build, mainly bc of tool buying.

Yes 2 builds or less ! I am going to have two catagorys ,

( a ) 1st Build

( b ) 2nd / 3rd Build


( 17 ) Now


If you are interested in helping with the newbie sponsor and prizes , please pm me

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The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

I would like to give it a go and see if I can do better than I did in the $150 Challenge. Technically, I have started 3 builds, but only 1 is playable.

1. My first build is an ugly OM that I cobbled together from cheap parts I was able to scrounge up.

2. Is an LMI Dread that Looks much better than #1, but at this point is not playable due to bridge plate issues - I may end up taking this one apart and rebuilding at some time.

3. Is the Uke that I was building for the $150 challenge. I got as far as bending sides, cutting the scarf, and thicknessing the back.

I have a couple of sets of pre-bent sides and orphan backs that I could work with in a "Kit-Like" build. Hopefully I would make it further than my $150 challenge Uke.

So, do I qualify????

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Greg Hatcher
North Carolina

No worries. I am planning to start another build in about 2 months time so put me down for the second build. Mick

Sounds to me like you have only built 1 , I am ok with it . As long as your build isnt one of those 3 lol


( 19 ) and counting !

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The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Please hold off making your thread start until we get the 2013 nebie challenge subheading up , then post build threads in that forum !

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

Almost 20 people!! Im starting to get really excited about this!! I guess I better start the planning process, unless that's considered part of the build? Can we start designing and ordering materials? I just can't wait to get started. My current build may not get finished till this challenge is over hahaha

Go ahead and start planning , and ordering . I have emailed lance to get a subforum put up . Please wait for the rules to be posted and the build and post away !

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The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

my 1st built electric guitar and 2nd eub, but I never build acoustic yet, never build from kit, never take a course.. can I follow the competition?

Heard from Lance , We will have a new Challenge forum Tomorrow . As soon as thats up I will put in the rules and you guys can have at it .

This is going to be a great build thread . Thanks to all the new builders for stepping forward !

_________________
The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/groups/GatewayA ... rAssembly/

You crazy. Nice to have another loon here.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I may be slightly crazy. The doctors tried medication but it just didn't take so they gave up.

Nothing wrong with a little crazy.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

I'm probably in too. It's nice to have a deadline to work to!

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"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
Pablo Picasso

https://www.facebook.com/FenskeGuitars

I have built my bending machine and a mold but have not started building a guitar yet. I have bought some wood for the top, back and sides but have not done anything with it. Can I enter as a first time builder? I will be building from scratch and will need to be building my jigs as I go along. I don't know if I can do it in 9 months but I sure can give it a shot.

Also, regarding keeping a thread of how it is going I can do this if all I need to do is write something. However, if I need to put up pictures of how the build is coming along I don't have a clue how to do anything like that with the computer.

So do I qualify as a first time builder?

Maybe this will get me going.

Chuck

Put me down as a maybe . It will be my 3rd build but I have a lot going on this spring (new baby in Feb. and starting some basement construction). I'll have a look at the rules and make sure I won't be banished from the forums if I don't get it completed by the deadline.

Jeff

Pictures are not required that I can see but they sure are nice. And you will have to post some at the end. If you need help with how to put them on here I can tell you how, or Im sure others would be willing to help you. Heck if i needed to I could upload them for you. Just let me know if ya need assistance.

Uploading pics is easy, and in the past, documenting the build has been part of the deal.
I created a flickr.com account. They are free, and there is an app you can install on your iPhone to take pics and upload them directly to the site as you take them. Then it is a simple matter of linking to the pics using a PC. Or, you can take them with a camera, transfer them to your computer, and upload them directly to the forum. That's easy too. Unless you know absolutely nothing about computers. Then it might be hard. My mother in law can not do it, so I know people like that exist.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Tony put me in there with your mother in law. People explain how to do things over and over and I just don't get it.
Chuck

Chuck if you can put a picture on your computer then I can teach you to upload them to here. I promise you that.