Official Luthiers Forum!

well? how did you learn how to build an electric guitar or bass guitar?

for me im still looking to learn if you have seen my other post you know, but if you don't wanna click away im 15 and looking to learn im in high school and take woodworking. im trying to build my own guitar but professional help/ teachings would be something i would be in debt for, id work if i cant pay (work it off) if anything consider this, im assuming you had somewhat of the same issue?

i got a book on git making when i was your age, then became a carpenter, so i have tools for git building on da side.
read, poke around here, and build a gitar in your woodshop class.
i doubt anybody would hire you, unless they were a friend.
most people pay a fee to learn git-building.
you can go for it on your own and teach yourself.

Hi Matt,
I can appreciate you wanting to learn. However, the chances of someone being close to you that has luthier experience and is willing to take their time to show you and let you use their tools is slim to none.
This is not a cheap hobby, I am on my first build and I have spent a good amount of money. The tools I have are
Router - 100.00
Router and Router Table - 100.00
Bandsaw - 25.00 (craigslist find)
Oscillating sander - 108.00
Drill Press - 75.00
Jointer - 50.00 (craigslist again)
Table Top Belt Sander - 50.00 (craigslist again)
Woodworking Vice - 30.00
Angle Gauge - 8.00
Drill Bits - 12.00
Random Orbital Sander - 20.00
Double Sided Tape - 5.00
Digital Caliper - 20.00
Lots of clamps - 150.00
Router Bits - 150.00
Templates - 80.00
Mahogany Body Blank - 54.00
Quilt Maple Top - 50.00
Flame Maple Top - 39.00 (quilt maple got ruined)
Mahogany Neck Blank - 79.00
Claro Walnut Neck Blank - 30.00
Flame Maple Neck Blank - 30.00

So far I have totaled 1265.00, and not a single guitar built. Oh, someone also suggested I get Melvyn Hiscock's book. Which I did, and it turned out to be pretty much useless to me. Why? Because it is just a general reference guide, and not a real in depth building book. It doesn't tell you how deep to route for pickups, or neck joint, or anything like that.

It's nice to ask questions, and things like that. But don't spam about it, and try to keep it in one thread. My advice is to get some tools, some templates, and just go for it. There's no replacement for experience.

iv read that book and i found a use, it may not say that stuff but it gives some good advice and i found good info, that's just me though.

well im talking apprentice kind of thing, i could work or pay

I went to school...

http://www.roberto-venn.com

class of fall 2004.

but i started of building a Martin kit guitar in highschool. It was a senior project. I had lots of help from my uncle who is a woodworker.

best of luck to you.

bit far for me and i want individual instruction, there has to be someone in or near lowell MA

I would be glad to teach you but I'm not in your area. Keep looking and you may find someone in your area. Not all luthiers have the internet so some of them are hard to find.

I assembled a strat from parts (after reading Bill Wyza's FAQ on the subject), picked up Melvyn Hiscock's book, and figured I could do it. My first guitar was the first real bit of woodworking I ever did.



Not too bad on the money front. I think I've sunk maybe 20,000, maybe 30,000 dollars into this hobby, and have about 11 guitars to show for it. Mind, I've got parts and wood for a good 100 more, but still.



Read it again, cover to cover I'd say. It's far more than 'just a general reference guide'; the design chapter is the heart of the book, explaining all of the standard aspects of design you need to think about when building a guitar, from string spacing, to neck angle, body thickness, styles of neck joint, etc. And he goes on to build three guitars pretty much step by step, demonstrating a variety of useful techniques. At the very least it provides a solid, basic understanding of how a guitar comes together, and helps understand the avalanche of information (not all of it good) available on the internet.

As an example, the things you want answers for (depth of pickup route, depth of neck joint) don't have answers other than 'deep enough', and depend entirely on your chosen design (for Fender's it's 5/8", for both, but that's information you can find out in about 2 minutes using google).

i appreciate all the help but it still doesn't answer my other question, im looking to learn from someone...

This link should help
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=luthiers+in+lowell%2C+MA

you know that showed locations FURTHER away

I think you missed the point.

+1

_________________
Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

>.> i know what you meant

bought a book around a decade ago. not attemtped to build a proper guitar after my first expensive failure.
even cheap pine attempts have eneded in failure.

almost done with my first non failure so far. very limited tools.
belt/disc sander. Dremel, jigsaw and a 1/4" router. some basic hand tools.

watched alot of youtube videos of other peoples builds. google. this site
taking apart one of my own guitars - to see what actually went in one

http://www.cumpiano.com/Home/Classes/classes.html

Two week one-on-one instruction, tells you how to do every step exactly, and shows you, while you work alongside him, doing exactly what he does, and also learning about the background and history of guitarmaking, and why things are the way they currently are and how they got that way. Cumpiano wrote the book "Guitarmaking, Tradition and Technology", along with his business partner.

It's expensive, but well worth it in my opinion.

John hall offers a similar course, for less than half the price.

http://www.bluescreekguitars.com/

I know these might be far, and expensive, and they're acoustic classes, not electric, but my point is to show you that it's worth paying for, as you will learn what you want MUCH faster than trying to figure it out all on your own.

_________________
Old growth, shmold growth!

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... _95&fsc=-1

Get this book, too.

The first book I suggested in my first replay, WAAAAAY at the bbeginning of this thread, "Build your Electric Guitar and Bass" is a great book, shows you exactly how to make one step by step, with full color pictures.
I don't know why you say that Melvyn's book is just a general reference book without going in depth at all. You must not have read it very carefully and just skimmed it over.
Try it again, and get the three books total that I've suggested. By the time you are done with them, you will have a solid in depth knowlege base of how electric guitars are made to start experimenting from. Including Melvyn's book, all four books cover pretty much all the bases for equipment and technique, as well as styles of guitars, except archtops. For that you need this book/DVD combo:

http://www.stewmac.com/shopby/product/4349

Here's another great book I've read:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plan ... uitar.html

Get reading!!

_________________
Old growth, shmold growth!

Actually I posted two other book suggestions on a different thread, sorry!

_________________
Old growth, shmold growth!

hi. ive built quite a few guitars and basses and have started to sell them at a small profit. all the info for building is on the internet, youtube etc. expect a lot of mistakes, headaches and amazing breakthroughs. i spent about £3000 setting up a workshop and buying wood and parts but worth every penny. carl thompson has some very inspiring videos, checkout ctbasses.com. i played guitar and bass for 20 years before it dawned on me that i HAD to build guitars. at 15 you have a lot of life ahead before you settle into something like git building. but definately give it a go in class. as i say, all the facts are on the net if you search. if its what you want to do, just do it. books are pretty useless.

Having some really cool tools to show your buddies .... Priceless.

Well, I would not consider myself a guitar builder (yet), but I found three very good guitar building forums and read them daily. It is amazing the wealth of information that is available on these forums.

I read three. This one, OLF, MIMF and TDPRI. All are set up differently, all offer something the others don't. All offer help.

Mike

master obi-wan taught me lol i learned everything i need to know in life from google...

Wanting to learn the specifics of git building is good, but there are many trades that can give you the experience of working with wood that will build up your base of knowledge and skills. Other people that have responded on this thread mention carpentry, cabinet making, ect.
The skills involved in one craft will help in other crafts. All learning is good. Measure twice cut once. Trailer manufacturers, mobile home factories, furniture companies, anything that involves measuring and cutting wood will give you valuable experience. It's not really a good idea to try to learn how to route a neck pocket while you are learning how to use a router.
You may have to work part time and sweep up and stuff but everyone has to pay one way or the other. Pay to go to school, or work long and hard for low pay as an apprentice, or buy power tools and pay the emergency room for sewing your thumb back on. Who knows you may learn that you don't like this sort of work when it comes down to actually doing it.
I learned by making bows and arrows. But the skill sets and tools are the same. If you can't work and learn on the job then try hobbies that require building or assembling things.

Steve you bring up a very good point. When I said that I read three web forums and got what I needed there, I failed to say that I have worked wood in one form or another since I was 15, and I am now 59!

BTW, I learned what little "detail work" I have from making rifle stocks and pistol grips.

Mike