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I'm thinking I'll build my first dread after I've finished my current SJ builds. Normally I'd do my own plans but the dread has so much tradition I think I should stick with something established... Like a pre-WWII D-28. I already have a nice red spruce top and mahog or EIR back and sides in my stash.

Any suggestions as which set of plans to use?

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Joe:

The StewMac plans are good, but I prefer the plans that LMI has that are drawn by Scott Antes. They seem to be more detailed, and have much more dimensional information than the StewMac ones. I shifted the x-brace forward slightly and made my braces a bit more narrow than dimensions on the plans, but those are the only modifications I have made. (so far!)

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

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

trippguitars.com
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Mark,

Thanks for the info. I was wondering which of the LMI plans would be best. I think you are talking about the PL48 plan.

I was wondering what the difference is between that and the "Herringbone" plan.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I've never seen the LMI plans for comparison ,but just finished one based on the Stew Mac herringbone plan. Very good in my own opinion and is based on the pre-war forward shifted pattern.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

[QUOTE=westex93] I've never seen the LMI plans for comparison ,but just finished one based on the Stew Mac herringbone plan. Very good in my own opinion and is based on the pre-war forward shifted pattern.

[/QUOTE]

Wes, what is a herringbone? I've always figured it was just the trim but I'm probably wrong on that. It's happened before.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Yes, herringbone actually refers to the trim associated with the prewar D-28s you are wanting to copy. But it is also used to describe the guitars associated with it. (Ever hear of the 'prized pre-war 'bones'?) D-28s after that period (from 47 or so? I know the war ended in 45, but when did the bracing actually change? Help me here, guys) shifted the bracing back from the soundhole, began tapering (vs scalloping) the braces and dropped the herringbone trim. It wasn't revived until the 70's with the creation of the HD-28.

So, in other words, the herringbone plan (from whatever source, again I haven't seen LMI's) should be what you're looking for.

Martin guys, I'm sure you know the facts better than I do, so please help me fill in the gaps here.westex9338788.6506828704

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

I think LMI sells both sets - the one drawn by Don MacRostie, and the one drawn by Scott Antes. I have both and use both... I think Pl11 is the MacRostie plan, and PL48 is the Antes one.

-Mark
Mark Tripp38788.6802546296

_________________
Pullman, WA

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

trippguitars.com
OR
Find me on Facebook

I've built several from the Don MacRostie plan (StewMac/ LMI PL11, Herringbone)I've been quite pleased with the results.