Official Luthiers Forum!

HI,

I just regestered, and am in process of planning my first build (although I have been lurking for awhile). I find this site to be extremely helpful in my research, and am impressed with the level of knowledge sharing and generally great attitude.

I have decided to build an OM style guitar, with Mahogany B&S.  However, for a little visual effect, I want to go with a slightly flamed mahogany.  Given that, any suggestions on top, and wood bindings?  I have been playing guitar for 30 years, and play fingerstyle - not a light attack, but I do like to vary the attack.

I am current;ly final;izing my work shop (small and modest, but should work).  Any advice or suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

Glenn

 

I would tend to agree with Chris on the flamed maple bindings.

I am going with a sitka top for my first and I really love it - I initially wanted something a little different like lutz or WRC but was convinced to go with the tried-and-true sitka and I am not disappointed.

You could always go for a mahogany top... I played a hand-built one once and I liked the sound but I wasn't too crazy about how plain looking it was. The builder wanted 3,200 for a guitar with no bindings.

Anyway, welcome to the OLF!!! And remember that with so many choices along the way with building a guitar it is going to come down to personal preference for most of your decisions. Good luck!

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

Thanks!  WRT scratch or kit, I am divided here.  My heart says build from scratch, but my head says maybe I should have help on the first one  (i expect this to be a continuing hobby).

So, I think I will take advantage of LMI's shop services, and maybe get the sides bent, and get a slotted fingerboard - but do the rest "scratch", if that makes any sense.

WRT top, i was definately going with spruce - but there are so many choices.  My Franklin guitars have engleman, and I really like the sound - but I don't want to start with engleman.  I was thinking carpathian or sitka (bearclaw).

Glenn

Glenn, Welcome to the OLF!

Not to be too opportunistic here, but I have some really nice figured African Mahogany that is close to going up on my website, and some flamed Honduran Mahogany that is already up there. I also have some very lightly flamed Honduran Mahogany. If you're not in a rush, I'll give you 10% off any of that stuff as a first-time buyer and Newbie here on the OLF.

This shameless commercial brought to you by New England Tonewoods

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"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."

All good advice. I agree with Todd on the "kit" thing. You can take a kit, and make changes on the fly in order to personalize it to your taste. I used wood bindings, carved my own braces, added a different endgraft, ended up bending my sides on a pipe (ruined the supplied pre-bent set), changed the neck profile, went with bone nut/saddle combo, different bridge pins/end pin, etc.

Best of luck!

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Yeah, I have to agree with the kit thing being the easiest way to go. If you're just looking to get a taste of the experience, this as a good way to go at it.

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"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."

Hi Glenn and Welcome,
I think mahogany would be a very good choice for your first.
It's a treat to work and looks great too. I would agree with the others to build a kit on your first guitar. I did and was very happy with it. The only trouble I had was fitting the dovetail neck joint. The mortise and tenon (bolt on) would be easier for you. Have fun with it and good luck making a fine first guitar!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Very generous offer Don!  I really appreciate it. I think I will probably take everybodies advice and work frm one of the "kits" for the first.

Thanks Again!!

Glenn

[QUOTE=glasalle]  (i expect this to be a continuing hobby).

Glenn

[/QUOTE]
Yep No one can build just one

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

There is no harm in starting with a "kit," IMHO - many of us here did this as our first. What's nice about that is you get to collect tools and make jigs as you go with a lower investment up front. With a kit, you will get a playable, good or great sounding instrument, which will hook you for life.

On the other hand, if you have good tool skills, I am aware of lots of builders who scratch built their first instrument and some of them have turned out amazingly well. It is mostly up to your comfort level.

And welcome!

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