Thread: Advice for a Novice

Wayne its for ever takes your fancy.
You could order a kit and use that for your fist build or build your own from scratch there is lots of free advice out there on the internet to help you on your way. I have never build an instrument myself but I am going to have ago at building a Weissenborn,It might take me 1 year or 2 or 3 years but who cares I am not going anywhere, And at the end it will be nice to say I built that myself.
Regards Bob

Originally Posted by wajor

Hi All,

I have watched the many threads in this section of the forums with great interest over the years, astounded at some of the fantastic instruments that have been produced. I am no real guitarist but enjoy my mediocre strumming and love the beauty of the guitar.
I currently have a Maton CW80 12 string and would really like to get a 6 string as well. I could buy one but would like to have a go at making one. I have never made a guitar before so I was wondering whether I should start with a kit (or would I be disappointed with the sound), or go from scratch. I don't have a bottomless pit of money and I have even less time. I have a reasonable assembly of tools and enjoy working with wood. What would be your advice for a would be guitar maker?

Thanks

Wayne

Originally Posted by woodturner777

I am going to have ago at building a Weissenborn,It might take me 1 year or 20 or 30 years
Regards Bob

i reckon a kit is a decent way to go for a first acoustic....
th acoustic kits arent like the dodgy electric kits you see around, those things are horrible

Who changed my answer here Andrew on your reply.?
I stated my build could take from one year to 3 years at the most and yet it says in your reply to my post from 20 years to 30 years for my build.
If I took 30 years to build it I would be doing my build from the grave.
Good one I look forward to that.

Originally Posted by Andrew_B

i reckon a kit is a decent way to go for a first acoustic....
th acoustic kits arent like the dodgy electric kits you see around, those things are horrible

Originally Posted by woodturner777

Who changed my answer here Andrew on your reply.?
I stated my build could take from one year to 3 years at the most and yet it says in your reply to my post from 20 years to 30 years for my build.
If I took 30 years to build it I would be doing my build from the grave.
Good one I look forward to that.

you still have some good years left in you,
and i have many more years of guitar building to go, which means i will be needing my fiddle back mountain ash which means your not going anywhere hahahaha

Thanks andrew, I will stay around till you manage to open your wallet.

Originally Posted by Andrew_B

you still have some good years left in you,
and i have many more years of guitar building to go, which means i will be needing my fiddle back mountain ash which means your not going anywhere hahahaha

Originally Posted by wajor

I have never made a guitar before so I was wondering whether I should start with a kit (or would I be disappointed with the sound), or go from scratch. I don't have a bottomless pit of money and I have even less time. I have a reasonable assembly of tools and enjoy working with wood. What would be your advice for a would be guitar maker?

Time is needed as Bob has said. It depends a bit on your approach to your work, if you are a perfectionist it will take a long time if not you could have it done in a weekend. As for sound I will suggest that your instrument will sound better than a similarly priced factory one. The reasons will be pariochialism, the superior timbers and the finish which will almost undoubtedly be lighter. Less finish = better sound.

What kind of acoustic do you want to build? There are good kits available for most styles. My fist instruments were kits and although I dont rave about them but they are all players.

Well there we go Wayne, Sebastiaan has made the same comment as me.
You have also answered your own question.
You love woodwork, you have tools build your own guitar what does it matter how long it will take.
You will find a lot of people here that will help if you have any questions, ask for Martin he is the main acoustic builder here, nice young bloke very helpful.
A kit is just that a kit already made up for you to glue up and assemble is that want you want.? or the satisfaction of building your own custom guitar.?
Regards Bob.

Originally Posted by wajor

I was wondering whether I should start with a kit (or would I be disappointed with the sound), or go from scratch. I don't have a bottomless pit of money and I have even less time. I have a reasonable assembly of tools and enjoy working with wood. What would be your advice for a would be guitar maker?

Thanks

Wayne

hi wayne -
first step is to read one of the standard texts - GUITARMAKING: Tradition and Technology by cumpino is an excellent resource

a detaled kit from stewmac is the way many 1st time accoustic builders go - you get all the bits plus a plan and step by step instructions - a limited amount of support is available - i am pretty sure grizzly in the states do similar kits - kiwigeo is the accoustic wizard round here and may know of a local supplier of kits - there are also a couple of courses here in melbourne that you go along to and come away at the end with a pretty decent guitar

a scratch accoustic build is possible but a steep learning curve for a 1st timer

like all wonderful things to do with guitars - you get what you pay for

Hi Ray,

How have you been? What have you been making?

hi - all good here in tele-land
did a few amp cabs to finish up last year but i did squeeze one nice swamp ash tele alike out before the fireworks went off - should post that i spose

Originally Posted by wajor

Hi All,

I have watched the many threads in this section .... I could buy one but would like to have a go at making one. I have never made a guitar before so I was wondering whether I should start with a kit (or would I be disappointed with the sound), or go from scratch. I don't have a bottomless pit of money and I have even less time. I have a reasonable assembly of tools and enjoy working with wood. What would be your advice for a would be guitar maker?

Thanks

Wayne

Hi Wayne

I am 20% into my first build. I have cut out the top, back and sides from stock with a panel saw, sanded it down to thickness by hand and plane, cut out the neck from a 8x2x72 inch blank etc. I have made the rosette from scratch. Etc. Its taken me a year so far including a lot of reading and learning. I still haven't bent the sides....

I started with practically no tools at the start of the year(2009), and have bought/collected/made them as I go. If you already have a few tools and can use them, that would help all round.

A kit from LMI or StewMac or similar will be quicker to achieve a good result and should be a nice guitar,. A git from scratch wil take longer, but has the potential to be a nicer guitar. A kit also has the advantage of requiring fewer jigs than a custom guitar. I recently made a jig to make a jig....No Kidding!!!

Certainly this forum should be able to put you onto some good quality materials at reasonable prices, back/side sets, tops etc. I started out thinking not to spend much on materials, but over the whole guitar the main materials, ( neck woods, tops, tuners, back side sets) dont amount to much cost, unless exotic woods are used. I reckon Ive spent more money on dust masks than wood.... Must be all that sanding.

So a kit would be a good fast shot in the arm to get u started, and should result in a pretty good guitar. A scratch built guitar would definately take longer, but would allow much more of your own input.

Whichever way u go dont stop!!

Thanks everyone,

sorry not to have replied earlier = working away, which is one of my problems. I don't work a set swing so time is limited. Stopping and starting a project from scratch really extends the build time and I really would like to enjoy learning to play better as well as getting a feel for building process rather than just buying another one. More to ponder I guess.

Thanks again,

Wayne

I spent at least half the year away from home working so my output is only about 1 1/2 instruments a year at the moment. When I get home it does take a bit of time to get back into the swing of things. It doesnt however take anything away from the enjoyment that comes with building your own instruments.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Cheers Martin

Mate, I say BUILD YOUR OWN
The simple truth is you will most likely make a few little mistakes along the way, but thats no big deal. Its all about learning and you never stop learning with luthiery, so you might as well go at it with what you think is your ideal design.
Then when youve made it, the obssession is something you wont be able to shake off, which is a good thing, concidering you'll already have the jiggs and a better understanding of what you did wrong or didnt like on the first one.

I'm currently working on a few presses for my own arch tops, and the idea is driving me insane cause I just cant wait. Yes I know laminate soundboards arent always as vocal as a flat top, but I like the idea and the arch adds to the overall stability (from what i understand).
The hardest thing for me is to slow down and look clearly at what ive done and whats to do next before jumping in and screwing things up all too quickly.
If im gonna screw up, id like to know where and how
Either way, its all about learning and luving it,,, even the screw ups.