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I have previously built a steel string guitar, and now would like to move to a classical. I have selected a Redwood top and Claro Walnut for the back/sides.
I'm having a hard time deciding on selection of a plan. I would like to place priority on tone, rather than volume. I have looked around and seen plans by Ramirez, Rodriguez, Hauser and Kasha/Schneider, and I can't make up my mind. Any suggestions?
By the way, does anyone have a favorite classical tuning machine for less than $100?

Hi Craig,

Since this is your first classical, I would recommend that you do as many others have done, and begin with a design that's still hard to beat, after many decades of "improvements," one that incorporates the seven-fan soundboard bracing pattern as first popularized by Antonio de Torres. Hermann Hauser used essentially the same pattern with his guitars. Thus, I personally feel that starting with a set of Hauser plans would be the way to go. That's what I did, and I must say that my first guitar sounded much better than I dared hope.

As for good, economical tuners, I prefer those made by Schaller, specifically the "Hauser" ones. They are smooth and accurate. At a bit less than $50 for a set, I consider them to be an outstanding value.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Gotoh that you can get from LMI or Schaller that you can get from Stewart MacDonald are both good and will be under $60.00.

Supposedly Smallman ships his guitars with Schallers as standard with everything else an upcharge.

As far as a plan, I would start with Hauser as it is closer to Torres which is the foundation for all mocern classical guitars. Before trying a more exotic bracing pattern such as a kasha, it is usually best to start with a fan braced. Hauser like Torres tends to be a smaller plantilla (outline) than a larger style like a Ramirez and is also probably the best place to start.

You will find that building a classical is quite different than a steel string. The dimensions and thicknesses of everything but the width of the neck are smaller on a classical because of the lower string tension. Having said that I would still be careful not to take the redwood top too thin as redwood has a tendency to split.

Good Luck...you may find building classicals so seductive that you may not want to go back to building steel strings. I have built a bit of everything but now build only classical (and flamenco).

I'm a big fan of the Miguel Rodriguez, Jr. pattern. Tom Blackshear drew a fabulous plan based on a '76 Rodriguez (GAL plan #46) and wrote an accompanying article in American Lutherie #68. The plan and article discuss top graduation and fine-tuning techniques and I have found the plan to be very robust, producing a vibrant, full-bodied instrument that also possesses a lyrical voice. Rodriguez is best known for cedar-topped guitars but also successfully used redwood on occaision.

If you use that GAL Rodriguez plan, note that Blackshear has published a correction to the plan: the bridge pad is 3/32" thick, not 5/32".

http://tguitars.home.texas.net/Spanish%20Sound.htm

I like these at $64 with Hauser style with ebony knobs 0653-G

Thanks for the help!