Official Luthiers Forum!

I have begun the final sanding and buffing on the electric that I posted a few weeks ago. Very exciting to see it transform!

For my next project I'd like to build a semi-hollow electric, something line Gibsons ES 355. Having never built an acoustic before, would I be better off with Mayes videos or the Benedetto set? Right now I can unfortunately only get one set.

Thanks!

I say buy the Mayes videos and save your money for the Benedetto book. His videos are so extremely boring and unless you are the type that actually has to see something being done, there's nothing in them that's not in the book.
John's videos are priceless however.

[QUOTE=turbo411]
For my next project I'd like to build a semi-hollow electric, something line Gibsons ES 355. Having never built an acoustic before, would I be better off with Mayes videos or the Benedetto set?
Thanks![/QUOTE]
The ES355 is not very 'acoustic'- laminated top and back (press-molded into the arch shape) with a solid block in the middle to the guitar to control feedback. It's probably a lot more like your electric, except that you have to bend sides and do some sort of linings.

Do you plan on carving the top and back? If so, you certainly want to check out archtop info- whether Benedetto or some other place.

I own both the Benedetto set and the Mayes videos, though the latter just arrived and I could only watch a few hours worth before the power went out here in BC!
You will certainly get a range of opinions- I'll be interested to see what people say.

John

What I think would be relevant to you would be info on binding and
carving the top and back curves. For that I'd say Benedetto, honestly
(having not seen it but reading the book). What would be even MORE
helpful would be finding the curve templates for the top back.

The only info I can think that might be in the Benedetto is understanding
how to drill holes with a drill press to act as your carving guides. I don't
think you need the video for that.

Paul, does the video talk about voicing or give an example of a good tap
tone?

I hate not recommending John's videos btw.

James, the video doesn't go into much of the indepth stuff like voicing (at least not while I was awake). It's really just a camera set up at one of his "build your own archtop" classes. Very basic stuff. The drillpress hole drilling is about the only thing I found benificial but that's in the book too. I think the book is much better than the videos.

Turbo411,

Do you have a set of plans for a 335 style guitar? If not, Jamie Unden who hangs out on the MIMF sells plans. Also on youtube.com you can find a video of the Gibson making of the Clapton 335 reproduction which will show you a couple of tricks -- the most useful being how they make and fit the block under the top plate.

Getting to your question. Will you be carving your own plates or purchasing a set of pressed ply plates?

I've got both the Mayes DVD's and the Benedetto videos. I really prefer the Benedetto ones though Mayes are a close second in my book. For building a 335 style guitar you don't need the Benedetto video/DVDs just the book. Where I part company with Paul is there are things covered in the book that aren't covered in the videos and vis-a-versa.

Another good reference is GAL issues 56, 57 and 58 which is a three part series on Tom Ribbecke and how he constructs his archtops. There are a number of things Tom does that caused me to abandon a number of the methods Benedetto teaches.

I've got a CAD drawing a 335 style guitar (though it doesn't have dimensions) and scanned tracings of a 335 taken from a vintage 335 I own that you are welcome to. Send me a PM with your email address if you are interested.

I have some information on my website here about building a 335. Click on
the Laminated plates tab. I wish I had more time to update my tutorial but
my violin business is dominating to the point that I am almost giving up on
guitarmaking.

Thanks for all the information. I hadn't really decided on carving vs laminated top considering that I really don't know all the pros and cons of each choice and the difficulty in carving a top(open to suggestions!). I'll definately check out the benedetto book since I think everyone agrees it has usefull information in it. Ken, I did check out your webpage and the information is great! I too wish you could update it since there really is nothing out there for building the 335 and without full details I'm a little scared I might be setting myself up for trouble on this one.

Ken-
Super 335 info- thanks!
Are you still making and selling arched 335 plates?
John

Yes John I am. I have a couple of professional builders that order my lam
plates as they need them. I am continuing to make them but slowly. I also
have CNC necks for the 335.

Turbo411 -- I'd go with laminated plates for a 335. Carved plates won't do anything to improve the sound.

Ken, now I'm a little interested, though it probably won't turn into
anything. Are your plates the Gibson shape, or are they just a bit
different, like the ones in the pictures of your laminated plates pdf?

James -- that's a good question! If you are considering using Ken's plates to make a 335 style guitar -- it won't make a material difference to the sound of the guitar if they vary from Gibson's shape.   I think John nailed it in his explanation.

I really like 335 style electric guitars. They sound great, feel nice, so much lighter and of course look great!

Turbo -- I received your PM and will assemble and send some of the info offered later tonight!

The plates are laminated and you can make any pattern that fits inside the
flat area. I have three molds, one is a "double cutaway" and has a flat-ish
upper bout. The others are single cutaway back top. These have a flat for the
cutaway section.

If /whenI make another semi-hollowbody electric I think I wll omit the
gibson block and contour brace and put a soundpost type block at the
bridge area. Then I will use a tailpiece and floating bridge. There are benifits
to both types.

[QUOTE=Anthony Z] Turbo411 -- I'd go with laminated plates for a 335. Carved plates won't do anything to improve the sound.[/QUOTE]
Turbo:
I agree 110% with Anthony. You'll get a lot more 'flash' with the wood grain for fewer dollars as well. It would be a shame to glue some good carved archtop plates to that big block of wood!
Starting with the lam plates and the CNC neck from Ken would be a good intro to acoustic-style building. You'd get to do the mold(s) and sides, linings, neck alignment, bindings,etc with a few of the trickier and time consuming steps already done.

I think what I will do is make some plates, plain and fancy and get them into
the luthiers auction here. And maybe put together a 335 type kit.

By the way does anyone know why I get a wrong file message when trying to
upload a .jpg? I am on a mac.