Official Luthiers Forum!

Awhile back someone asked about a plan for the J45. I stumbled on this site last night whilst trolling eBay. Don't know anything anything about it, good, bad, or otherwise. Hope this doesn't conflict with upcoming OLF plans, if so, delete it, I understand.

CrowDuck

http://www.guitarplansunlimited.com/

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

no conflict and no I don't know about those plans our plans should get off the board next week.

[QUOTE=Hesh1956] The sample does not look very detailed and is missing a few "must have" things like a side profile. I really want to build a J45 and am looking forward to the OLF plans and a mold and bending form from John if he will do one. Hey John will you be offering OLF J45 support?[/QUOTE]
Hesh I really want to build one too if I can find some time. I got a feeling John Hall will come thru. Michael's plans are great.

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[QUOTE=Hesh1956] The sample does not look very detailed and is missing a few "must have" things like a side profile. I really want to build a J45 and am looking forward to the OLF plans and a mold and bending form from John if he will do one. Hey John will you be offering OLF J45 support?[/QUOTE]

Now, that would make a 'Very Nice Package'!!
Plans, mold, and bending form.........luthier heaven.
Now, if we could entice that new sponser, who makes the CNC necks to 'pitch in', it would be a dream.
Anyway, if a 'package deal' evolves, or JH's mold & from, 'count me in'

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

Maybe John Watkins necks?? I too would buy the package. Mold and form from John Hall, plans form OLF and a neck from ?? Can someone make this happen

I hope I am not spillg too many beans but the Advanced Jumbo plans will not be a OLF library of plans set. It will however be benifiting the OLF Forum and will be available to the OLF membership and then some. Brock will have more on this as project comes to a close but that is all I can say at present Other than the this will be a good thing for the Forum.

As far as the plans on the Guitar Plans Unlimited website that were mentioned in the first post, you can trust them and they are good plans. I've had a on-line friendship with Jamie Unden, the guy who runs that site for quite a while and I have helped him out with many of his plans.
I had a 40's J-45 in my shop a while back and I used it as a model to take the shape and measurements from, and I sent all of the info off to Jamie for him to use in this plan. So I had a lot to do with it and I think he did a good job!
Jamie is a great guy, and very honest and reliable. He's an aircraft designer, and started his plans business as his passion and hobby.

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Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

What are the lower bout, upper bout and waist deminsions on the J-45?

Michael, has anyone heard from John on making a mould and form for this yet?


Thanks

Mike

For someone with expeinece I have no doubt they could pull off those plans
As a newb I would like slightly more detail like complete bacing profiles and such.
cheers
Charliewood

The LB is ~16" Gibson wasn't terribly consistent so it varies somewhat. Most of the tracings I have lean toward slightly larger, not smaller.

We are doing an advanced jumbo (AJ) not a J45. They are very similar, but there are subtle differences. Generally speaking the AJ is built a little lighter.

We are picking up some specs from actual guitars and others we are getting from the Erlewine (and others) book Gibson's Fabulous Flattops. They have detailed measurements and positions of the braces outlined in the book.

This is an excellent book if you are trying to baseline a model on a vintage Gibson.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

[QUOTE=Brock Poling]
The LB is ~16" Gibson wasn't terribly consistent so it varies somewhat. Most of the tracings I have lean toward slightly larger, not smaller.

We are doing an advanced jumbo (AJ) not a J45. They are very similar, but there are subtle differences. Generally speaking the AJ is built a little lighter.

We are picking up some specs from actual guitars and others we are getting from the Erlewine (and others) book Gibson's Fabulous Flattops. They have detailed measurements and positions of the braces outlined in the book.

This is an excellent book if you are trying to baseline a model on a vintage Gibson.

[/QUOTE]

Brock, is there any such book about Martin guitars??
Im looking for some "000" and "00" plans - any suggestions about where I will be able to find good ones - are you guys doing any? I would love to support OLF.
Cheers
Charliewood

The reference guy here would be John Hall Charlie!

StewMac has an excellent 000-12 plan.

The 00 and the 0 12's are on our radar for the future to develop full size detailed plans, but John Hall is an excellent resource for help as well.

Basically our goal is to develop the plans for guitars that are either really exceptional or classics that there are no commercial plans for.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Advanced jumbo (AJ) not a J45. They are very similar, but there are subtle differences.

Considering the scale lengths are 3/4" different from one to the other, I'd say the differences are a tad more than subtle....

[QUOTE=Mario] Advanced jumbo (AJ) not a J45. They are very similar, but there are subtle differences.

Considering the scale lengths are 3/4" different from one to the other, I'd say the differences are a tad more than subtle....[/QUOTE]

In my latest MF catalog, arrived today, they list the J-45 Historic Acoustic-Electrc as having a scale length of 24 3/4".

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

they list the J-45 Historic Acoustic-Electrc as having a scale length of 24 3/4".

Correct. And the AJ is what? 25.5".....

You're right Mario.... I just didn't have my book close by when I made that post.

Here are a couple of exerpts from "Gibson's Fabulous Flat-Top Guitars - An Illustrated History & Guide."

"...Upon its introduction in late 1936 the Advanced Jumbo shared the same round-shouldered shape with the Jumbo... a few example of the first group: a larger soundhold; a longer, 25 1/2" scale of the AJ giving it sheer power not found in the Jumbo; slightly narrower waists (10 11/32") in the AJ, creating a slightly more focused and balanced response"

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Thanks Brock, and Serge!
I saw that one at StewMac, I was surprised there wasnt more at GAL, Blues Creek has one or two tiny's as well.

Im still undecided on final decision for my parlor/smally - I have to see what the wood will allow when it arrives but there are comparatively few plans out there as well, so it will be a factor as well.
Im loving the I-45
{which I saw on the braziltonewoods forum, as well as profiled on gruhn guitars site recently}
but Im needing more information on building {silk/}steel string models with these older style bodies/designs, obviously another topic is needed for such a discussion.
Cheers
Charliewood

Hesh

I was reading about breadloves system and their reasoning behind the bridge doctor thing, was that by having that support they could build lighter and hence make a more responsive top. Not convinced myself as they then anchor the top and surely restrict its movement ?

I have only ever seen one, I repaired a small crack in the maccasar ebony back, I thought the build quality looked quite nice, but the sound was a bit starnge, I would describe it as Bright but thin if that makes any sense at all, to put it another way it would not turn your head. Mind you it did have about 3 Tons of Pearl attached to it