Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi, I'm a newbie trying to learn guitar building. I have researched and bought books trying to understand how to get soundboards to work and work right. I'm trying to get info on how to brace the sounboard, how to thickness the soundboard, placing your braces in certain spots, etc. If anyone could be so kind to direct me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated. Everything I have obtained has been over my head it seems. I really need it in kindergarten terms. Please help!

edlee Missouri        &nbs p;         &nbs p;         &nbs p;         &nbs p;         &nbs p;         &nbs p;         &nbs p;         &nbs p;         &nbs p;  

Welcome to the OLF. This is the best site on the net. The Cumpiano/
Natelson book is excellent.   A lot of us started with kits first. It allows you
to build a guitar without having to sweat all the details. Then slowly you can
do more and more on your own. Also most of us started on our own
following well designed plans.

As far as details on soundboards etc. that is a million dollar question and it
would take years to try to answer it. Personally I am attending Ervin
Somogyi's voicing course next week to try to learn some of the art of
voicing. If I can learn 1% of Ervins knowledge I will have learned a lot

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

John Mayes voicing videos are great. I just got voicing and advanced voicing for xmas from my wife. I've been too ill to watch the advanced voicing video, but the first one was fantastic, John shows how to brace the top then what happens when you remove wood from different braces.

It was exactly what I was looking for.

Paul is correct. The DVDs of Johns are great. Actually all of them are, so if
you are new to bulding you might want the entire set

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

There is a discussion happening with respect to Ervin
Somogyi's voicing methods and philosophy {directed by the man himself} happening in a related forum, youll find in the forum directory, thats alot of info to soak up right there - Im struggling through it, trying to absorb as much as I can right now.
Cheers
Charliewood

Here's an article by Dana Bourgeois reprinted from the Guild of American Lutherie that compliments the C&N Dr. Andy referenced. It's a great intro on voicing.

Edlee,
     I would`nt get terribly hung up on worrying about how it`s going to sound right away.I basically learned from Robbie O`Briens video.It`s a great teaching video.He explains the whole nine yards and your guitar will come out sounding great.Every thing everyone else here has said is probably right on.I`ve also read Cumpiano`s book,which is good,but for me visually seeing things was the ticket.Also I can get hampered with information overload.I think 2 maybe 3 references at most are all most peole will need.
                        James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

To all who responded on soundboards:

Thank you very much for your time and advice. I'm certain it will help and can't wait to get started.This is a great place and hope to be able to speak with you all. Hopefully one day I can answer questions for all of you. Thanks again everyone and have a great day.

P.S.: This is a great site.

edlee

Missouri

Edlee, if this is your first guitar, may I suggest that what you do is choose one of the books, Cumpiano, Kinkead whatever and follow their directions on soundboard thickness, bracing pattern and size. The writers of those books have a lot of experience and they will have used dimensions that will give you a good soundboard. Believe me when it's finished the one thing you will guarantee is that it will sound like a guitar and if you follow the instructions well, a very good guitar.

On subsequent builds, well then your looking for improvement, and eventually your 'sound'. Get to know the wood, get to know the tools and the processes.

It's a long and enjoyable journey, with no instant gratification, but a journey well worth the effort.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I second what Colin said. I've been at this for more than 30 years, and I'm still trying to figure out how soundboards work. I think Irvin is, too, if my conversations with him have not lead me astray. It's a puzzle you'll never get to the bottom of, which is one reason we all keep coming back to try to solve it again. Pick a standard design, build it carefully, and take notes. Repeat. At some point you'll start to get it, and, at the same time, you'll realize what a big qusetion you asked.