Official Luthiers Forum!

I thought it might be fun to talk about the most rewarding part of building a guitar.Especially from some of the seasoned vets on the forum.I`m not sure if this has been discussed before, if it has it would have been before I was around.I`m not talking about the obvious, when a guitar is strung up and played for the first time.I was thinking about during the process.
     Anyway for me there`s no doubt that it is carving the neck.I`m no expert by any means since I have just finished my second neck.I just really seem to get off on this part of the build.I guess it`s because I`m old ,dumb ,and blind, and I can`t believe that I can even get them carved half way decent.So for me, this is the most rewarding and funnest part of the build.I`d love to hear what floats your boat and why?         &n bsp; James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I agree with you. Carving the neck is a real pleasure for me. Makes me feel like a sculptor. I've finished carving 4 completely and halfway through another. I'm getting much better at it. Closing the box is probably the second most satisfying.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

For me this is the most rewarding part of building.

I'm a first time builder, and carving the classical heel was a frightening challenge. Well, it came out OK, so then side bending was scary, so I built a side bender and it came out OK. Closing the "box was the next challenge, and it came out OK. I am now in the process of binding, so I built a routing jig, and it is coming out OK too. I've learned a lot about myself in the process.

Ray

I actually like carving the top and back braces. To me it is the most relaxing part of the build. It is a slow process that allows you to reflect and listen to the wood as you carve.
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

If I can manage to fill three gaps to the point that they're level without
looking like they're filled with some sort of goop, I will consider that an
extremely rewarding moment

The most rewarding part for me is playing a completed guitar.

There are a lot of "Most" moments during the builds. Most frustrating, irritating, humbling, hair-raising, gruesome, annoying, tedious, frightening, gut-wrenching, etc...but I sure do like it when its D O N E!

-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Hesh it`s intersesting that you said you felt sad when your favorite part was over,I`ve had that same feeling.And of course J. when it`s done it is definately glorious.And Hesh you are truly not an idiot.Anyone who pursues this endeavor and succeeds the way you and many others on this forum have is a very special person in my mind.
                James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Once I've set the neck, it's free sailing from there. However, I get great joy when I can hand it to someone to play and just listen.

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Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

Most of you will call me weird or strange or something else, but......

I actually really enjoy binding the body. It is one of the most challenging parts of building a guitar. It's an area that is noticed if it's not up to snuff and I just really enjoy seeing a good binding job. It's the most satisfying & annoying part of the body work for me. If it turns out it's satisfying, if not well......

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I just got my second guitar in the white, and I have to say I've enjoyed every bit of it so far. It's been nerve wracking at times (and I haven't fretted it yet) but it's all been very nice.

Now for finishing...which I'm anticipating isn't going to be all that much fun. My first was sent to Tony F., but I'm going to attempt this one with a buddy/teacher friend of mine. They say you gotta do at least one, before you really appreciate Tony, right?   

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

Not mentioning hearing the voice on the guitar for the first time, I guess closing the box is the most rewarding for me. Knowing the work that went into the box and the tone I expect it to have is exciting for me.

I think the least favorite part of the build is fitting the neck.

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Reguards,

Ken H

My favorite part is sending a guitar out for finishing - because I hate
finishing

Although there is a certain satisfaction that comes from French Polishing
an instrument - but I always hated spraying a finish. So thank God for
folks like Tony and Addam.

This is my third guitar and the first for carving and tap tuning the top. That was enjoyable like Tracy said, relaxing. I really like finishing also. Who are Tony and Addam? Why would you send out a guitar for someone else to finish?

 

Mark

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Wisdom is justified by her children

For me it is carving the neck.  I find it amazing that I can take blocks of wood and turn them into a nice feeling and looking guitar neck.  A very close second is inlay work.  Although my stuff is relatively simple, it is extremely enjoyable work.

Mark,
Tony Ferguson and Addam Stark are professional finishers for the lutherie
community. When you are selling your guitars and you have a reputation
to uphold, your finishes have to be perfect. And a perfect finish can be
very time consuming especially if you aren't set up for it. For example,
when spraying lacquer it really helps to have a clean room so dust won't
settle in between coats. Also, lacquer and the urethane finishes are
dangerous to work with - and water based finishes just aren't up to the
same standards.

I have a lacquer finish done for me by Addam Stark and his work is
flawless. There is no way with my small workshop that I would be able to
make the amount of guitars I need to and do a perfect lacquer finish - all
at the same time and in the same place. It just isn't practical or
financially valid. And there are a number of full-time and hobby luthiers
that are in a similar position as I am. In fact, a good percentage of well-
known luthiers are having their finishes outsourced because they can
become more profitable by doing so. The only finish I do myself is a
French Polish which is much more appropriate with my given resources.

Peace Out,
Simon

I Do enjoy finishing my guitars.I just really get into laying down a nice wet coat of lacquer without runs. And rubbing it out and buffing that beautiful shine back .Very rewarding.
Also,the carving of the top and back braces is a joy for me.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I haven't carved a neck yet, but I do like carving the braces a whole lot. I find it very relaxing. Also, after it's strung up, finally getting to play and hear is great, but I also like that moment when you know the setup is right. You play up the neck and the fretwork is right. The sound is clean all over the neck.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

There is nothing like hearing the first note!!!!!
In the building, I like bending the sides!!!!

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

Well...*takes a deep breath*

It is apparent to my husband, family and friends that guitar building is becoming more important to me...

Every aspect of the build is still VERY much a novelty to me, from searching on the web for good deals on tonewood (I have a growing family to feed!!), to communicating with other luthiers, from jointing to having the finished instrument in my hands, being a guitarist for 18 years.

Even the conception of the design in my mind's eye is an enjoyable process, sketching out the design, making plans and standing back in total awe as the instrument physically takes shape.

Surely nobody would dispute that is an amazing part of the build process too!!!

My guitar building hobby has been the fruition of too many years of intense creative frustration, using my lifelong artistic training to engage myself in a wide range of creative activities.

I now feel a great sense of fulfilment and identity in what I am doing, and it has been a real gamble. Whether or not I make a "career" out of it, I don't know. I am just enjoying every moment of what I do, and am looking forward as to seeing where this current path will take me.

It seems many enjoy the steps that involve sharp tools, and when you see pictures of The Luthier on web sites and in books you often see him concentrating with a shiny chisel or a plane with shavings scattered nicely about… The truth is most of us probably spend more time with big power tools, rotary hand tools, abrasives and super glue, but where is the romance in that?

Me, I like most steps involved in the building process. I don’t particularly enjoy building molds and jigs, and the planning and drafting stage is a bit too much like my day job to all that satisfying. Of course finishing can be tedious, but putting that first coat of a clear finish over the body and seeing all the colors come alive can be pretty exciting too…

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I am one the the sadistic sickos who can be seen concentrating with a shiny chisel with shavings scattered nicely (or otherwise) about...

But then I am a vegetarian left-handed guitar player, so that might explain things a bit...

Pet hate: building tools and molds. I enjoy making a good one that looks nice, but only because I enjoy using a nice tool/mold/jig for a job. Finishing is fun at the very beginning (First coat) and the very end (when you're finished), but finish-sanding is a chore.

Biggest freaky/satisfying moment is tuning up for the first time, hearing things creak and pop a little as all that string tension gets applied, but what I really enjoy most is the process of building, all the little steps, the attention to each detail.

Neck carving is very zen, very pleasurable, ditto brace carving. Jointing is great fun if it's going well, side bending is oddly satisfying and a bit of a thrill (probably because I don't have proper temp control yet, so it's cycling on and off and on and off and bending and...). Closing the box, another great moment, fitting the rosette and having it all line up. Mostly, anything involving shaping, curving, etc. is great fun, and I do really enjoy the design process quite a bit (which is nothing like my day job).

Also, routing with a good router and a solid bit has it's own high-speed charm to it. It's not only hand-pushed edge tools ;)