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I´m looking for a good book on luthiery. Any suggestions?
I heard that the two Somogyis are the best.

They are great for folks who already know something about building guitars. For more of the basics, the Cumpiano/Natelson book is really good (some say the best).

Cumpiano/Natelson for how to, Gore/Gilet for why to...

There are many great luthier books .What is your goal SS or CL ?, hand tool ,or power tool?. each author has a different flavour imho geared towards the aspiring luthier .Get up on amazon and see a large list to choose from..Never made anything? Find a shop class, or school to learn the basics of woodwork, especially hand tools

I like the kinkade book, coupled with cumpiano. I think they complement each other. kinkade makes the process less intimidating, but lacks in some areas. Cumpiano is very informative, but can make the task appear too difficult.

The Cumpiano/Natelson book has pretty much been the standard over the years and having another one or two around to compare approaches with is a good idea.
Cumpiano and Natelson cover both Steel string and classical in their book and it gives a you good solid back ground to build on.
You can never have enough books as they all approach things a little differently.
The Somogy books and Gore books are great but more appropriate after you've built several guitars IMO.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I like Willis, inexpensive and informative for the first book.

Bob

Pretty much my own experience, if you want to build a steel string.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

The best IMHO low tech luthiery book I/ve read was by stanley doubtfire. For some reason. I find that the books written In british english, vs american english are easier for me to understand.Keep in mind english, is not my first language and I learned it in Canada,not trying to stir the pot here, but I find the same thing on y tube when watching english/aussie talkers on a variety of woodwork subjects ,they seem to cover the bases or minousha in greater detail. Remember this is just one mans opinion. There is a wealth of resources both at the library and the internet. I have the natelson/cumpiano book and thought it was hard for me to understand.It seemed too complicated. For Cl and low budget $, I recommend the bogdanovich book/videos well thought out , good colour photos and well written.

Also, remember that Robbie O'Brien has an on line course in guitar building. I have only watched most of the Classical course, but it's really good. Lots of tips and tricks. The Bogdanovich book and the DVD set are really well done, but he does build a bit of a hybrid design. Somewhat less simple than a beginner needs to deal with to build a good guitar. If you are building classical guitars Courtnall's book, "Building Master Guitars", is, IMO, the most in depth instruction. Even it, though, is a little arcane in some processes. I have read Cumpiano/Natelson several times, but find it hard to use as a reference book. Nothing wrong with the process, but hard to find answers to your questions once you start building - my experience. Best way is to read as many as you can get your hands on, become familiar with the overall process and the sequence of the build, then take portions of each method that you feel will work best for your way of doing things.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

The first books I ever read on the subject--way back in the early 80s--were written by Irving Sloane. The great thing they did for me was de-mystify the process and make it seem approachable. I've read many other books since then, which offer more details and technical information. More modern techniques, too, but very little that has seemed so straightforward and purely approachable. I actually find the Cumpiano / Natelson book to be a bit confusing at times. Benedetto's book on arch top construction gave me a wealth of insights that I can bring (and do bring) to other instruments, as well as arch top instruments.

I think Robbie O'Brien's videos are clear, easy to understand and approachable in the way that Sloane was approachable.
Watching Robbie's Luthier Tips du Jour series has given me more "AHAAAA!" moments than I can count.

My point in this is simply that one can gain valuable insights from a variety of sources--even the most basic sources. By reading and watching everything you can find, you soon begin to visualize your own processes and solutions.

When it comes to a beginner's book, my vote goes to Michael Chock (and ASA) with the Hana Lima Ia Ukulele Construction Manual. It covers the step by step construction process with enough theory (explanation) to point a beginner in the right direction. A guitar is, after all, only a large ukulele. It requires all of the same processes, except a truss-rod, and requires the same amount of time to construct.

Anyone contemplating building an instrument who comes to me for advice usually goes home with my copies of Willis and the Hana Lima book.

Bob

+1
I'd also recommend Benedetto's book, it has a lot of useful info that applies to flattops as well as archtops.

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

It's cheaper to buy all the books and study them than to try to reinvent the wheel on your own. Tone wood is expensive!

I currently have the two-book Somogy set in the classifieds. I agree that it's probably not "first guitar" material but it's a very valuable resource toward getting you to really think about how and why things are done.

Might as well buy them all, as you will eventually.

Bob

For first few guitars, Robbie's online course is really excellent. you can not go wrong there.

Gore's books are packed full of useful information. If you are not math inclined, skip through the derivations to the results and conclusions.

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EddieLee

+1! For a novice, the Kincade book is very useful. Great pictures, great section on tools.

+1. I find it very helpful. A feature I appreciate is being able to purchase the videos section by section. This lets you spread the cost out as you work on the sides, or the top, or the back, the neck, etc, if you need to.

As far as books go, I actually think Trevor Gore's "Build" book is extremely valuable. The pictures of the process and detailed information are second to none.

I'm a reference geek. I like having a lot of resources on hand to pull from.

Thank you all for all the tips!

I am a beginner, in fact. All I done was an Ukulele from Stewmac's Ukulele Kit. Also, I have started to build a Viola Caipira (Brazilian's ten-string, five-course guitar) made off calabash. I am following some pictures from a brazilian luthier's website (Levi Ramiro) to do it, and of course there is a bunch of lack on the process. I am getting some tips with another brazilian luthier, who lives near my home, and that is from where the principal knowledges comes from. My goal is to become a good guitar maker, but I have little time for this. That´s why I am looking for a good book: I want to do it well.

From the tips, and because here in brazil the access to the american and european books is hard, I choosed the Cumpiano/Natelson, wich I found in an used book store for a good price.

Here is the list that came from this topic. Thank you all again and please excuse my bad English.

Contemporary Acoustic Guitar Design and Build - Trevor Gore and Gerard Gilet
Build your own acoustic guitar - Jonathan Kinkead
Step By Step Guitar Making: Full-Size Plans Enclosed - Alex Willis
Make Your Own Classical Guitar - Stanley Douybtfire
Classical Guitar Making - John S. Bogdanovich
Making Master Guitars - Roy Courtnall
Classical Guitar Construction - Irving Sloane
Making an Archtop Guitar - Robert Benedetto
Ukulele Construcition Manual - Michael Chock / Hana Lima
Robert O´Brien online courses - http://www.obrienguitars.com/courses/

One more suggestion Rodolfo .I/ve read almost all the books and it/s easy to get lost in others perspectives/jigs /tools/ methods. One must find a way to do these operations that are sympatico with the way you like to build and what type of sound/look you are after .Don/t get too caught up in other peoples opinions otherwise you will surely get lost /confused my 2 cents.

Rodolfo, Since you are in brazil I would take a Brazilian guitar building course. There are several available. I have been going to Brazil every year and teaching courses with Luciano Borges. Check with Miguel Cardone from Musictools as well. Word on the street is that he is putting together a 10 day course in São Paulo in August of 2015. I will be there as well.