Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all,

Well I have recently been plunged into the world of the Luthier and so far I am amazed, excited and beside myself that I have finally found what I hope will be a lifelong hobby and perhaps a career.

I am 33 years old and at the moment I am a professional Physicsist which is not so good. I have no real woodworking skills except those that I recieved at school but I do have a passion for guitars and craftsmanship in woodworking. For a long time now I have been looking for an alternative career/courses..............involving woodworking of some description. Viola so here I am.

My plan is to first make a guitar mold and perhaps a sanding bowl to test both my skills and my enthusiasm. The latter is just to check that I am not in some honeymoon interest/passion phase I guess.

Next I plan to make one of Stew MacDonalds kits and then hopefully after a couple start making guitars from stratch which is obviously a long way off yet:)

My questions are as follows:
1 Are my initial thoughts good ones
2 How can I get an outline of one of StewMacs guitars in order to make my mold (say the Dread for now)
3 Are guitar molds, guitar specific or are they at all flexible (probably not i guess)
4 Is a sanding bowl guitar specific or do several guitars share the same curvatures

Thanks for you patience.

Regards.
Snood


snood38947.3183101852

[QUOTE=snood] Hi all,[/quote]

Welcome!!



[QUOTE]I am 33 years old....The latter is just to check that I am not in some honeymoon interest/passion phase I guess.[/QUOTE]

I am 33 too and have been wanting to make guitars since I saw a friend's handbuild guitar ten years ago..the honeymoon period does NOT go away!!!!



[QUOTE]
1 Are my initial thoughts good ones[/QUOTE]

YES!!!!

[QUOTE]2 How can I get an outline of one of StewMacs guitars in order to make my mold (say the Dread for now)[/QUOTE]

If you are talking about buying a kit, you may either want to use the inner body mold and waist clamp that is supplied in the kits, or buy a dread body mold, which is pretty standard across the board..

I used the waist clamp method, and it turned out Okay, although if there was a next time, I would use an external mold.

[QUOTE]3 Are guitar mold guitar specific or are thy at all flexible (probably not i guess)[/QUOTE]
not flexible. Molds come in two halves, and are attached using a screw at either end.

As for the lack of woodworking experience, check out this site...this man managed to make a beautiful guitar with little woodworking experience.

kitguitar site (the site was down when I checked it out but it is accessible most of the time)



I am a woodcarver, which has held me in good stead, but some of the stuff I have done on my build (1st guitar) has stretched and challenged me in an extremely fulfilling way.

Get some books on Luthiery too...amazon... this book has really helped me, plus the guys on this forum!!!!!


I am not advocating the avoidance of spending money on good powertools, because they do make life wayyy easier...however, I was on a mission to make my guitar without powertools, and so far, I have succeeded...
Sam Price38947.3290625

Sorry, the Amazon link is broken...

try this one

Snood,

Welcome!

I could be very wrong on this, but I think that Stew-Mac may give you credit for the plan that comes with the kit if you buy it earlier and then buy the kit. You may want to ask them about that. (Their customer service is so good they may decide to do it anyway.)

Jim

_________________
Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Hey Snood, Welcome to the OLF!

The Stewmac kit comes with a full size plan, plus an assembly video. I believe for their kit, they show a way to build it with out a mold - I know it is this way for their mando kit, give them a call and ask - they're very helpful.

Molds are often guitar specific, although several folks here use a building board which is adjustable, so you do have a choice.

Sanding (radius) dishes *can* be shared across models, but one might also wish to change the radius on different models, so there is some flexibility here.

You are beginning a wonderfully satisfying journey, and this forum is one of the best resources you could have found. The archive section is rich with tools, techniques, and inspiration. And the people here, well, they are just the best!

Don't hesitate to ask questions! I think you'll find everyone here more than willing to take the time to help. Once again, welcome!

-Mark

_________________
Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

trippguitars.com
OR
Find me on Facebook

Welcome aboard Snood! And congratulations for finding yourself the best hobby/craft in the world! You also found the best forum on the WWW!

Starting with a kit is one of the best ways if you have few woodworking skills but after building one kit, you'll be so hooked that you'll want to scratch build, you've just been warned! Be aware that wood is contagious, you will get to see very fine instruments here!

Best of luck and have fun!

Serge

Welcome Snood, I will echo evryone elses sentiments and reccomend that you start with a kit. Stew mac, LMI, Martin and our very own John Hall all have fine kits to start you off right. Take a look around their web sites and make some comparisons. I will say that the Martin kits are lacking for directions. If you arm yourself with a couple books you should do alright with it. Welcome to the addiction!

_________________
Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

Welcome Aboard Snood! (whats your real name?)
As the others have said above,You are starting on a wonderful hobby so enjoy and ask any and all questions here.You will be helped out. Good luck with your 1st guitar.
John Mayes puts out a set of instructional videos that are very good and very helpful. I reccomend them 100%.DaveAndy38947.3749305556

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Welcome aboard Snood!

You have found the best forum around!

Great replies everyone    

Although we might sound like we are located in the Alps due to all the echoing of accolades here, you will find a diverse group. The OLF family ranges the gamut from professionals to hobbiest with talents above and beyond the hobby status to those like you and me who are just getting started. There are all levels of experience.

So, keep us posted and ask questions.

Don't forget we love to see pics of band-saws (keeps Serge happy ) , your shop/workarea, and progress updates!

Most of all, enjoy yourself! Jeanne38947.3868287037

Welcome Snood!

[QUOTE=snood]
3 Are guitar molds, guitar specific or are they at all flexible (probably not i guess)
[/QUOTE]

There are several types of forms that guitar builders use, however the solid outside form is by far the most popular. Inside forms seem to be popular among people who have a background in the construction of violin family instruments, as this is the type of form they traditionally use. Some people like to use adjustable outside forms where the instrument's sides are held against a series of dowels, which can be adjusted to accommodate different body shapes. The main disadvantage of this type of form is you can only access the instrument form one side as it requires a solid work board to attach the dowels. A "quick and dirty" version of this type of form is where you glue wooden blocks along a tracing of the guitar on a work board. You can even build without a form at all with only a flat, guitar shaped work board. This is the way traditional Spanish guitars are built with a "solera". I have tried all these methods, and the solid, outside form definitely works best for me.

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I'd definitely go ahead and build a permanent outside mold, bending form and radius dishes. You know you will build more than one guitar, and it will give you woodworking experience and tool experience. It isn't hard to make a mold, I made a new mold and bending form for an OM last week. One suggestion on the mold: Instead of screws to fasten the two halves together, I put a hinge on one end and a "draw" latch on the other. Much easier to open and close, if needed. I'd also recommend building a "go-bar" deck.

Welcome to the forum.

Ron

_________________
OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Welcome to the forum.

My plan as a first timer is along the lines you have outlined. So it will be interesting to follow your progress. My plan is to complete a guitar in time to learn french polish technique from Brune in the Spring. Whether it happens or not is not as important as having a goal me thinks. Anyway, go for it and have fun.

_________________
"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Snood, there is still time. You can turn around and run now. If you do follow this path you will eventually find that one will never be enough, that you will be spending lots of time out in your shop, which you significant other may or may not approve of, that you get giddy when there is a box on your doorstep when you come home and you always want more wood. Building is relaxing, frustrating and addicting. You will find yourself planning number two when you are barely into number one. You have been warned.

With that said. If you are doing something and you really aren't sure of how to proceed, step away for the wood and go find your computer and ask. If you do something and it went horribly wrong, don't smash it. Go find your computer. Between everyone here, every single thing that could go wrong has been done and dealt with and with few exception, fixed or worked around.

My advice to you, above anything else, is to learn how to sharpen your tools. If you can't get a good edge on your planes and chiesels, building is going to be a miserable experience. Oh, and if you don't have one, put a decent digital camera on your wish list. Pictures not only make it easier to explain, we love seeing other's work, work space and, well, anything else.

Welcome aboard!

_________________
Aoibeann

Interesting post Snood....

I'd rather be a physicist than a luthier...to each his own!

What can I say? I like eating food.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Welcome to the OLF
If you don't want to make an outside mold, John Hall, Blues Creek Guitars,
sells very nice ones. He is one of our regular contributors and sponsors.
He also has bending forms etc....as well as very nice kits
Andy

azimmer138947.5133564815

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

[QUOTE=snood] I am a professional Physicsist...and beside myself [/QUOTE]
That's right, and one of those selves has already completed his guitar! See, it's not so hard!

Welcome to the OLF. May you enjoy your journey.

Carlton:

Now THAT'S funny! Physics jokes are almost as good as banjo jokes!

-Mark

_________________
Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

trippguitars.com
OR
Find me on Facebook

Thanks, Mark. My job is done here.

Welcome Snood.

I'll just welcome you aboard! All the best of luck and I'm sure you'll love it here!

_________________
I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Welcome Snood and good luck with your beginnings, keep us posted as to your progress.

Mike
White Oak, Texas

[QUOTE=Aoibeann] Snood, there is still time. You can turn around and run now. If you do follow this path you will eventually find that one will never be enough, that you will be spending lots of time out in your shop, which you significant other may or may not approve of, that you get giddy when there is a box on your doorstep when you come home and you always want more wood. Building is relaxing, frustrating and addicting. You will find yourself planning number two when you are barely into number one. You have been warned.

NICE ONE!
With that said. If you are doing something and you really aren't sure of how to proceed, step away for the wood and go find your computer and ask. If you do something and it went horribly wrong, don't smash it. Go find your computer. Between everyone here, every single thing that could go wrong has been done and dealt with and with few exception, fixed or worked around.

My advice to you, above anything else, is to learn how to sharpen your tools. If you can't get a good edge on your planes and chiesels, building is going to be a miserable experience. Oh, and if you don't have one, put a decent digital camera on your wish list. Pictures not only make it easier to explain, we love seeing other's work, work space and, well, anything else.

Welcome aboard! [/QUOTE]

Wow everybody.
Thanks very much for the kind words of encouragement.
I am going to build an outside mold for one of Stew-Macs kits as a first step and perhaps a sanding dish (no sure about the go-bar rig will learn more first)
Not so adventurous I know but as I have said I have limited skills and therefore limited tools.
I will let you know how I get on.
S

[QUOTE=snood] ...at the moment I am a professional Physicsist which is not so good.

Regards.
Snood
[/QUOTE]

Hi Snood,

You may want to Google Dr. Michael Kasha, a physicist that decided to take a scientific approach to guitar construction. Although you'll also find a thousand luthiers and a lot of the buying public that will disagree on Kasha's and later Richard Schneider's results, there are many that believe that Dr. Kasha did unlock more of the potential from the guitar.

Personally, I suspect there will be a split in acoustic guitar construction, with one camp producing wonderful copies of traditional instruments, generally of the Martin lineage. The other camp will explore new technology, and will arrive at instruments that have different acoustic characteristics than the traditional instruments, or will at least not have a built-in schedule to "belly" and implode. In some cases these new engineering concepts will produce traditional sounding instruments, and in other cases they will produce instruments with characteristics such as greater sustain, greater volume, better balance, and perhaps different timbres that at least some will see as improvements.

Your branch of physics may not be in acoustics or in structural engineering, but at least you understand the scientific method, and can separate lore and myth from factual information.

I predict you are going to have a blast in lutherie! (Though making a radius dish will not be one of the highlights!)

Dennis

_________________
Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia