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Hi guy's

I'm really new in Guitar building. So new that I only last week descided to start building one my own. I do own an Alhambra P4. That is a nice classical nylon string guitar. My playing scales are very limited but I'm still learning. A few years ago I was in a guitar shop were they had an Eastman AC320. That is a western steel string guitar. I did play on it, that felt very right. The sound of the guitar did sound good to me. The price and my limited scales withhold my from buying the instrument. But it kept lingering in the back of my mind. Now a few years later my playing scales have improved but not a lot so has my financial situatition. Both do not justify buying a new guitar.

On the internet I did found a company that sells wood packages compiled to the guitar that you want to build. They also give a cource on building your own guitar with the wood you just bought from them. Very smart concept I would say.

That's when the idea of building my own Eastman AC320 was born. I looked at the whole range of guitars they sell and found that there primium top model is the AC822. That is a Western steel string Grand Auditorium model.

So what did I last week? I'm in discusion on the soundwood that is needed for my Grand Auditorion so far it will be European Spure. The rest of the wood has been decided. I looked at several internet site's and orded some books.

Maybe you can help my making the next steps. What tools do I really need? What sould I have for a workshop?

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Building my own grand auditorium steel string guitar.

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If your intention is to save money by building a guitar, I would suggest you work a second job instead. If you wish to embark on a life long addiction of guitar building, then you are on the right path.

I resemble that remark. A few years ago i picked up a copy of Cumpiano's & Natelson's book and said: "how hard can this be!"
I thought if I can't buy a Martin, I'll make my own copy.
Now I am hopelessly addicted to tool buying, jig making, and finding new ways to hide my spending from my lovely wife.

+1


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Eastmans are indeed nice -- one of my favorite mass produced guitars. A complete beginner could build a grand auditorium, certainly. To build one that sounds at the same or better quality level as an Eastman -- that would take years of study, many 1000s of $, many guitars of practice.

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David Malicky

Thank you Rusty for your reply.

It look like's I have happend to pick up the same book. Guitarmaking by William R. Cumpiano and Jonathan D. Natelson. (ISBN 978-0-8118-0640).
The book is full of colour pictures that show how to do it step by step. And it does look like if it's easy.

I have also ordered two other books. Classical guitar making by John S. Bogdanovich (ISBN 978-1-4027-2060-4).
Far less pictures and they are in black and white. They have been taken in the seventies I reckon by the clothes the Luthier is wearing. The book does have more text and drawings describing how to do things.

The last one is the Luthier's handbook by Roger H. Smianoff (ISBN 978-0-634-01468-0).
To my that book comes a cross as if it has been writen more from a desired end result, the sound of the instrument, then from the building perspective. So very usefull to read and understand on a rainy afternoon but not so much in the workshop it self.

If anybody does have more suggested reading before starting to build please let me know.

Here are my suggestions:

First, in all seriousness, if you only want one good guitar, you will not save any money building it yourself. You would be much better off just spending money on a great guitar.

Second, don't underestimate the value of a good kit. I hear great things about the StewMac kits. They save you from many of the time and tool intensive steps involved in building a good guitar. These are a great way to get into the hobby.

Third, if you are sure you want to build from scratch, I still think the best way to learn on your own (no classes) is to follow the Cumpiano book. Why? Because he goes into great detail on how to do things that other books assume you know how to do, and therefore fail to explain. If you follow the Cumpiano book as I suggest, be aware that there are some substitutions recommended by Cumpiano, and some that you might want to make on your own. For instance, Cumpiano now recommends a bolt-on neck instead of the pinned neck shown in the book. Check out his website. Also, you can buy a great truss rod instead of making one from scratch. There are many, many procedures that are easier and more precise if you buy more tools than Cumpiano recommends. For those things, you really have to read many sources, including here on the internet, and figure out what substitutions you want to make. A great example would be the use of spherically dished work boards. Cumpiano thinks they are unnecessary; many folks think they are great. Whether you substitute or not, his book is still a great introduction to making guitars, and the most complete guide that I have read. After building one guitar that way, you start making much better informed decisions about what tools and processes will work best for you.

Good luck!

Colour pictures? Hmm -- my paperback version is B&W. Maybe you found a used copy of the original hardcover? Excellent book to guide you though your first guitar. As others have pointed out, Cumpiano gives specific updates/corrections/etc. on his website http://www.cumpiano.com/Home/Book/textbook.html

Betcha can't build just one!!!!

You're walking a well used and slippery path here. I also built my first to save money. Built a nice guitar, spent more than I would have on the one I was trying to copy, and still wasn't quite satisfied - - so I built another one And I just keep going through the cycle. The guitars get better but I'm still not satisfied so I just keep on building and now I don't want to stop

Good luck and enjoy the journey.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

My book by Bogdonovichs is hard bound and in beautiful color. It must be a newer edition. I've had people not interested in luthiery comment on how nice it is.


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