Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello All,

Does anyone own, or know about "THE BIG RED BOOK"

I'm thinking of getting it, but, I'd like to hear some comments about it first.

Thanks, Robert

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!

Robert, there are actually 4 big red books. (Volumes 1-4) I've got them. They are nice to have for reference as long as you know what it in there. So at some point you have to skim it pretty thoroughly to know what's there. But I find myself going back to them pretty frequently.

Robert - These books collect the content of the journal "American Lutherie", from the Guild of American Lutherie (GAL), luth.org. GAL also sells a number of plans that go along with articles in the books (and later volumes that aren't collected yet), and maintains a searchable index online that makes it easier to find things in the books which, as Paul mentioned, is hard).

Jim

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Not to mention that they are one of our sponsors, just a button click above. (Not enough coffee yet).

Jim

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Doing Lutherie without the Big Red Books is a bit like practising Christianity without The Bible.

I have all four volumes in my workshop and its rare that a week goes by without me pulling out one of the volumes to look up an article in same.

If you are looking to buy books from the GAL, check out the one on tools. I've really enjoyed that one too. I almost wish they would do another one. I'm sure there a numerous jigs that have been created or redesigned since they publish it.

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Aoibeann

if you are going to build, membership in the guild will be of benefit as it includes the journal, as well as significant discounts on plans and books they publish. check it out!

Robert,

I have volumes 3 and 4. I kind of agree with Martin, they are like the Gospels of the Luthiers Bible. I will be getting the first two as funding permits. They are great reads and resources. I do not find it easy to re-find articles that had some particular piece of information, but that is something that I'll have to deal with.

Ray

Thanks All!

Paul, I think to have all four is definitely the way to go. You’ve brought up the very point why
I was considering getting it. Reference!

Jim, great info. On the GAL! Now that you’ve mentioned it, I’ve thought I will need a
“Guitar Plans Library” if one could call it that?

Martin, I think you pretty much summed it up! I’m convinced!

Lillian, I will be checking out the one on tools. I LOVE TOOLS!

Michael, as you mentioned, “If you’re gonna build” That’s exactly what I intend to do, for a long time!

Ray, thank you too! As to the difficulty of finding articles, Jim has made an excellent suggestion
of using the searchable index at the GAL.

Thanks again Everyone!

Robert

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!

I bought all four of them, and I've been working my way through them. I didn't know about the searchable index, however. Thanks to Jim Kirby for mentioning this

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

This is probably a bit on the tacky side but I challenge any in here to deny that they read in the toilet. Here Downunder its pretty much a national pastime and what better way to use up otherwise wasted time by keeping a Big Red Book or two in your dunny....youll soon have every article in the book memorised and you wont have any trouble finding the article when you need it

Never in the toilet, on the john maybe but certainly never in the toilet. eh.

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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

Thats one honest person on this forum

Sorry to disappoint you Martin,

But, I’m a get on, get off kind a guy!

In fact, I can’t wait to get the h... out of there! Wehhh!

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!