Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi guys my name is Jason From Visalia CA. I am building my first guitar a
version of the L-0 gibson from the 30s and I am interested in seeing a
DVD or to on building. What is the best one. please email
avilaguitars@yahoo.com I know its avila guitars and I am building my
first.. its a pre emptive strike

Lets share that information please

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

I purchased both John Mayes DVD set and Frank Finocchio's DVD set and thought both were very helpful.

I would say though that if you're building from scratch which is what I did, John Mayes DVD's would probably be of most benefit to you. Some of the work like bridge making or neck making is not covered in Frank's videos since they're premade in the kit. But if you can, get both because there were some very informative sections in Frank's videos as well.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Welcome to OLF Jason!  If you have just found this forum, you need to go to the archives and browse around.  Search for Guitar Building DVD, and you'll get a bunch of hits, read some of the threads, and you'll get some good resources. 

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I can't help you with your question, but welcome to the OLF! Stick around and ask when you have specific questions about the building process, wood, tools, whatever; we love to chit chat about it!

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Welcome to the OLF! Robert O'Brien's DVD on guitar building is very complete and even covers building a mold and side bending machine(LMI includes this DVD with all of their kits). But it is not actually video, but rather still pictures with audio explaining the process. Good luck in your build, and ask lots of questions!
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

All good answers. I think that Robbie O'Brien's is the best "how to" start to finish. Frank Finocchio's DVD don't cover some of the steps including finishing, but are very good for what he does cover (the vast majority of the steps) Mr. Mayes does a great job with each topic, but I think he makes the disclamer that it is not a complete how to but focuses on the different steps he highlights. All are great, all are different. Starting with only one, I'd go for the O"Brien disc.

I will also suggest Robbie O'Briens DVD.  It covers everything from start to finish so you can build a guitar.  It is a great first guitar building DVD and will get you through the process.   One thing he doesn't cover is finishing.  There are a lot of good resources out there for finishing techniques out there.

Oh, I almost forgot...... Welcome!!!

Another vote for Robbie O'Brien's DVD's, which are a marvel of extensive coverage in an economy of disk space due to the format. His DVD on finishing is very useful, as are the basic building DVD's

I have John Mayes' set and like it a lot, particularly the voicing disks. It does provide some scope and variety in those areas.

Frank Finocchio's set reproduces his one week course (which I did and had a great time). It leaves out the same steps the course leaves out, as mentioned above.

Finally, although it is off topic for flat tops, I have always had a soft spot for both the DVD set and the book by Bob Benedetto on archtops.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Jason, go to Smartflix and rent them. You'll have a week to view them before you have to send them back. Yeah, I know its not nearly long enough, but it will allow you to figure out which ones you like and which you don't or that you are going to invest in all of them. I have Frank's, Robbie's and John's myself. But I like to cover my bases.

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Aoibeann

I've got most of John Mayes' DVD's and I've got Robbie O'Brien's Building a Steel String Guitar and the finishing one.  They all excellent.  I highly rate Robbies finishing DVD, especially the bit on french polishing.  And I really like John's DVD's as well because he shows some (really basic) things that other construction DVD's leave out... so they're really good for beginners like me.  (Watch the outtakes on John's DVD's for a laugh... ).  I'll certainly be watching them again before I (finally) begin building my first.

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If God had wanted us to drink beer, he would have given us stomaches.

I have Robbie's finish DVD and like it quite a lot. I would imagine his building DVDs are just as good. I know they always get good reviews here.

BTW I dropped you a line at your email addy. I'm about 30 minutes up the freeway from you.

I will also recommend "Building a steel string guitar" by Robbie O'Brien actually any of his DVD are great