Thread: Making an acoustic guitar

Hi, looks like I had the same idea as you but I have no woodworking experience whatsoever. My build progress is in the next thread (mini Jumbo build) if you want to check it out. I'm using a book by Jim Williams - "A guitar makers manual". It was published over 20 years ago and I like the traditional style of construction and the step by step process given. I'm working from a printed pdf version so the images aren't great but after reading it maybe 10 times I've got a good handle on the processes. What most people ask is "what is the hardest part?" there really is no answer because it all looks really hard, but is harder than it looks. As far as buying the timber precut, it depends. I went with buying a minimal amount of pre cut parts, firstly because I'm tight, secondly because we have the equipment to make it, and thirdly it gives me a bit of satisfaction to find a log or slab and turn it (hopefully) into a playable guitar. To be honest, the parts I did buy have disappointed me - pretty sure next time I'll work out how to make it all myself bar the strings and tuners. Hope this helps

Don't know how much it costs but maybe go north for a week to make one here.
Hancock Guitar Making Course by Dane and Sean Hancock. Build your own guitar during a two week guitar making course located in Mount Tamborine, Queensland. goldcoast
Or come south
Contact TLG, Acoustic Guitar Making Courses, Guitar Luthier Supplies

Me and my brother bought and discovered the DVD set of Chris wynne from Thomas Lloyd guitars to be very good. Probably a little on the expensive side but excellent explanations and plans, and comes with a book aswell (I think a bit over $200 form memory).

+1 on Chris Wynnes' DVD. You get a booklet with lots of diagrams and measurements as well.

Bending the sides can be done with a blow torch and an aluminum pipe. There's a few youtube vids on it. You just have to make sure you're at the right temp.

I ended up spending quite a bit on tools and jigs for my first knowing that I'll be building more in the future. It made it much easier but obviously the catch is if you only want to make one then you won't want to spend a lot of money but you may run into problems with homemade jigs and tools.

Thanks Gentlemen, for your comments so far. That two weeks course on the gold coast is $3,500 and I think that does not include accommodation. So $5,500 or thereabouts is well out of my league.

I will check out that dvd now, maybe it is the best way for me to go. On another thread earlier this year I made my own sanding thicknesser based on the plans of Pat Hawley, guitar maker from Canada. He designed the sanding thicknesser for his guitar making purposes. It works pretty good. Currently I just use it to make small timber jewellery boxes.

I've emailed Pat also, to see if he has any words of wisdom for an inspired guitar maker. (he was pretty impressed with the photos I sent him of the machine I mentioned above).

For anyone interested Pat has an excellent webpage of his guitars, to me they look ultra impressive. I'd love to be able to do something like those.

Off to see if I can find that dvd now, to be continued,

Regards, Paul

+1 on the 10DVD SET from Chris.
If you can get out to his course I'd do that at some stage too.

Hey Justi227, As a matter of interest, how did your guitar turn out from the DVD collection.? I was just curious, Regards, Paul

Really good, his instructions are very good, we're stoked with our result. Sounds good and looks good

there's a video on YouTube if you're interested.

Also theres a wip of my current one in the forum.

Hi Justi, I am impressed, very good indeed, top stuff,..................Paul

Contact GERADE Gilet of Gilet Guitars best teacher ever taught me everything I Know and a great guy