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 Post subject: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 11:56 am 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:51 am
Posts: 18
First name: Mark
City: Northborough
State: MA
Zip/Postal Code: 01532
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
so I just had the good fortune to obtain a beautiful Martin kit for my first build (thanks, Hesh!). Now I'm not a complete neophyte at building stuff and am a real learn-by-doing sort of guy, but I also strongly believe in reading as much as I can find before getting going. I'm looking for some advice for a book that might be applicable to building an acoustic kit. I'll even use the OLF amazon link to get it.

So - Advise Away...

Thanks - Mark


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 4:46 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:12 am
Posts: 1170
First name: Rodger
Last Name: Knox
City: Baltimore
State: MD
Zip/Postal Code: 21234
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Cumpiano & Natleson is most highly recommended for beginners.
http://www.cumpiano.com/

The Gore/Gilet books are much more comprehensive, and I highly recommend them.
http://www.goreguitars.com.au/

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:33 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:51 am
Posts: 18
First name: Mark
City: Northborough
State: MA
Zip/Postal Code: 01532
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Great - thank you, I'll see which one looks like it works for me now.
Rgds - Mark


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:04 am 
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Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 12971
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional
Hi ya Mark!

Glad that your kit arrived safe and sound.

It's a Martin kit so although there is great value in some of the books mentioned Martin kits are assembled in a very traditional manner. Knowing as I do that the documentation with these kits..... well, er..... sucks..... I was looking just now for something that might be more applicable.

John Hall who is a member here sells Martin kits and his site has lots of tutorials that John has generously put together that I think would be not only helpful to you but specific to how a Martin kit is assembled. So here's a link to John's site and I hope that john does not mind me posting this: http://www.bluescreekguitars.com

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Ann Arbor Guitars


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:53 am 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:42 pm
Posts: 1701
First name: John
Last Name: Parchem
City: Seattle
State: Wa
Zip/Postal Code: 98177
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Bill Cory http://www.kitguitarmanuals.com/ a technical writer wrote a book on building a Martin kit guitar. It is step by step and very focused on the Martin Kit.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 11:27 am 
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Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:12 am
Posts: 1170
First name: Rodger
Last Name: Knox
City: Baltimore
State: MD
Zip/Postal Code: 21234
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
The two books I posted are very good references, but I'm sure your Martin kit has a dovetail neck joint, and neither uses that type of joint.
Another reference for setting a dovetail neck joint would be most helpful, I'd also recommend Bluescreek.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 12:01 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:51 am
Posts: 18
First name: Mark
City: Northborough
State: MA
Zip/Postal Code: 01532
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Great suggestions - thank you.
I had been poking around on Amazon before I asked here and didn't see much, I'm glad I asked here. I am surprised at what is available from the online resources too - something good for free? You don't see that too often. Blues creek looks real useful.

wrt the books, I'll get the Cumpiano & Natleson one, the Gore & Gilet one is a touch pricey for my neophyte ability - I'll reserve that for the next build. I did pick up the Benedetto book previously (garage sale), when I got around to reading it a few months ago, that sort of got the whole idea flowing.


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 5:25 pm 
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Contributing Member
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Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:12 am
Posts: 1170
First name: Rodger
Last Name: Knox
City: Baltimore
State: MD
Zip/Postal Code: 21234
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Benedetto's book is also very good, there's several good techniques that also work for flattop guitars.
The Gore/Gilet book is really heavy on design considerations with all the math that explains how a guitar actually works, it's closer to a college-level textbook(as you see by the price) than a "How To" book.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 4:17 pm 
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Mahogany
Mahogany

Joined: Tue Dec 24, 2013 9:09 am
Posts: 44
http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

KMG kits are very similar to Martins -- check out the on-line instruction, and the dedicated forum


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 5:58 pm 
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Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:51 am
Posts: 18
First name: Mark
City: Northborough
State: MA
Zip/Postal Code: 01532
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
[
And they don't even demand that I buy one of their kits to take part.

Man, this lutherie group is a bunch of really friendly folks!



quote="maxin"]http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

KMG kits are very similar to Martins -- check out the on-line instruction, and the dedicated forum[/quote]


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 Post subject: Re: Guitar lutherie book
PostPosted: Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:18 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:46 pm
Posts: 2124
First name: Freeman
Last Name: Keller
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Download the free pdf from StewMac for one of their kits. Here is the dread version, there is also one for their 000. Also, since your Martin kit is probably a dovetail, be sure to get that version

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits/Acoust ... 9054846451

StewMac is in the business of trying to sell you tools but you can filter through the list to see what you really need. Also, they use a simple cardboard mold (Cumpiano builds with no mold) - most of us do use one and almost any building thread will show how to make one.

There is also a kit guitar forum which does have some good references and on line materials

http://www.kitguitarsforum.com/board/index.php

And it is very helpful to read some of the building threads - both to learn how others have done things and some of the mistakes they have made. Here was my first guitar - very similar to the StewMac 000 (this is still my daily player after 8 years)

http://www.kitguitarsforum.com/archives ... 25_0_6_0_C

and my minimal shop at that time

http://www.kitguitarsforum.com/archives ... 46_0_5_0_C

And when you have questions, please post here. Most of us have gone through all of this and will be happy to help.


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