Thread: Challenging the challenged

i like the idea, but also feel that 1month is not long enough. i'm a uni student with 2 part time jobs, a girlfriend, a (not too serious) band. i think a challenge of some type would be fun, but maybe a 6 month to a year so people with less free time would not have such a disadvantage.

maybe a challenge to make something out of say 75% scrap wood (or just use as much scrap as possible)? with 9 months to do? i want to finish my many projects first, but i'd be all over that with the amount of scrap that i have.

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

You talking electric or acoustic??

A month to build an acoustic...forget about it. French polishing of my instruments takes that long and I have my day job to attend to.

It can be an electric, semi hollow body, bloody arch top or acoustic,,,, it really doesnt matter. And you dont have to finish the instrument to remain in the game.
The whole point is to work with a limited supply of everything, both materials and time.
And the trick to it all would be in design. Think laterally and make it as doable as possible with the limits we have.
If you want to make an acoustic, make it a uke or some weird new twist on "guitar".

So long as you are aiming to get a string tone out of a a bit of wood, thats all that matters! What the design looks like, if you can do it in that time and what it will sound like is all up to you and how you spend the time you have.
And YES, you can also get more beer as you need / want it.

Originally Posted by black_labb

i like the idea, but also feel that 1month is not long enough. i'm a uni student with 2 part time jobs, a girlfriend, a (not too serious) band.

Mate its obvious what has to happen....if youre serious about luthiery then the girlfriend has to go.

haha but hey my girl helps me make mine! haha

they can actually be kinda useful at times!

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

Mate its obvious what has to happen....if youre serious about luthiery then the girlfriend has to go.

but i like to cuddle... guess i should make a guitar with a soft finish...

Originally Posted by Andrew_B

well then....
lets make it any musical instrument....


theres no prize, so it doesnt really matter?
its just getting people to post progress pics of their build from start to finish and sharing tips, tricks, jigs, tools, etc, is it not?

No, its not Im trying to force dexterity with GUITAR makers,,,, to come up with new ideas. Not just to speed things up but to invent new ways of doing things.

well if you want new ideas then your best off giving us/them a year to do it....

all your gonna get in a month is multiple lessons on how to rush and/or screw things up.....

Originally Posted by Andrew_B

well if you want new ideas then your best off giving us/them a year to do it....

all your gonna get in a month is multiple lessons on how to rush and/or screw things up.....

Dude, do you really doubt your own creative skill that much? If so, please move away from the fast moving, sharp & pointy stuff,,,, all of it. That includes pencils and sharpeners.
Actually, keep away fom the crayons too,,,,, you might accidentally create something.

Originally Posted by AussieOzBorn

Dude, do you really doubt your own creative skill that much? If so, please move away from the fast moving, sharp & pointy stuff,,,, all of it. That includes pencils and sharpeners.
Actually, keep away fom the crayons too,,,,, you might accidentally create something.

hahahhaa
you have seen my skills biatch

no one intrested in this comp, aussie?

All right you big gurlie under garments, let's just make it easy for ya's, yeah?
How about this, you have TWO months to complete one single guitar!!!!
Now take out ya frilly gurlie hankies and wipe those tears away, you can still play.
And we will start it on the 1st of next month. That's 1/5/09 for the dyslexics out there,,, or,,,, Thu F3rst, 0v Thu 5ff, 2ew fous3nd n 9. GOT IT?

So you now have 2 weeks to sort through your crap to find all the bits you will need to make a guitar.
Then on the 1st of May (or there after) post a pic of the pile of bits you plan to use.
That way we can see what you have done with what bits and where you done it.
The 1st of May is the staring point,, Go gorrilla #### on all the bits and lets see where it gets us all.
Does that sound more do able?

Aussie old mate how many guitars have you built?? Ive built 6 acoustics and by my estimation it takes about 200 hours to build a basic guitar. That doesnt include rosettes that involve inlay or french polishing.

Like most amateur builders I dont make money building guitars so I have a job. I work the oil rigs so get periods of time off that can extend to 3-4 weeks at a time. Even then id be hard pressed to complete an instrument in two months.

Im in Aussie, although it may end up being a mando or saz or oud like this [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhN1vI0eZxQ"]YouTube - oud made from clothing drawer[/ame]

i guess im in, if you remind me... lol
will be a set neck tele based thing, built from these stupid parts i cant seem to sell.... lol

Originally Posted by kiwigeo

Aussie old mate how many guitars have you built?? Ive built 6 acoustics and by my estimation it takes about 200 hours to build a basic guitar. That doesnt include rosettes that involve inlay or french polishing.

Like most amateur builders I dont make money building guitars so I have a job. I work the oil rigs so get periods of time off that can extend to 3-4 weeks at a time. Even then id be hard pressed to complete an instrument in two months.

Well ive been making solid body guitars for more than 20 years now, so ive kind of lost count on how many ive made.
Secondly, the whole point of this is to try to force limits and drive a little inventive creativity, "necessity being the mother of invention" and all that. But it seems some just cant get out of their box to bother.
Thats ok, i'd rather see the willing apply themselves to think and be creative, than have the unwilling bust a vessle just trying to think laterally.

PLEEEEEEASE understand, this is about finding ways to make it possible within the limited time. Designing something that is assumed to be doable and still result in a practicle instrument.
You dont actually have to be finished at the end of the 2 months, just TRY to work in the time frame.
If someone can make a guitar out of a cupboard draw, surely we can come up with something a little more presentable,,,,, cant we?
Even Andrew (a self confessed sloth) is up for it and i think thats because he has an inventive mind. Thats all im asking, be inventive with what you have!