Official Luthiers Forum!

thinking about getting a triple-O guitar kit from stewmac. it'll be my first timie building a guitar would you recomend the dovetail or bolt on neck?

Bolt on. But either are fine.

Stewmac has nice kits.

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

Bolt on is much easer to set the neck for a first time builder. If you intend to build many more I would build each at some point. My personal thoughts are the bolt on are better in the long run because of the constant pull of the strings, at some point in the life of the guitar, a neck reset will be needed. This may be 15-20 years down the road. It is much easer to remove a bolt on neck than a dovetail, and with less risk to the both the neck and top of the guitar.

Hi,
Before you send off your money...check with John Hall aka Tippie. He's one of our premier members and he produces some really nice guitar kits.
He can put something together for you which can be taylor made for you.
You have nothing to lose.
His business is called Blues Creek Guitars.

Walter

The StewMac kits are really good. I've never bought one of John's kits but I imagine they are also. Lots of great choices here on the OLF!

_________________
"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."

I'll chime in with a vote for John Hall...buying from him will get you started the right way and he even throws in lots of help.

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Well I guess I have to speak up. One of the advantages with Blues Creek Guitars kits is the availablility for help. I sell Martin guitar kits and I also produce my own.
   They will be all high end and complete. I can also do any custom parting if you need it. I also build so you will get advice that is tempered with my experience and I can help you by not making the fistimer mistakes.
   If you want to call and ask questions I am here to help.
John Hall
570-682-8046

I can confirm that John is very customer oriented. I've done a few transactions with him and have not been dissapointed.

I agree that bolt on is easier and just as good. As far as where to buy, You can't go wrong with either StewMac or John. They are both very helpful and they stand behind their products.

I would say that John's kits arent "Taylor" made for you, they are more "Martin" made for you...although Im sure that some people have taken John's kits and "Taylor"ed them

    I have started making my own kits shawn. My kits are serviced and the sides are radiused and trued. I also carry adironack-engelman and sitka tops and adirondack bracing or sitka. My woods are high grade and yes I do sell Martin kits also.
     Things are changing at Blues Creek. I am trying to get what you people want.
john hall

Thanks for the info. im currently saving money for some tools i need that i dont have and a kit. johns kits sound good too if you could email some more info on your kits that would be great. mjeffreyowen@hotmail.com or i'll give you a call sometime and get some info either way but im planning on starting this hopefully in the next couple months.
thanks,
matt

You can call me 570-682-8046 and I will be happy to talk to you. ALso check out my site for building tips.
Yours
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars