Official Luthiers Forum!

HI, all

I've been reading this forum for a while - it's time I introduce myself.

I'm a recently retired mechanical engineer. I worked mostly in research with structures and vibration, and did some composite (graphite/epoxy) design work for aerospace stuff a few years ago.

I've always done some woodworking, and for about the last 10 years I've been building and selling wooden music stands locally. And, I've built some furniture on commission. I've also built several wooden boats, and, for a while, I was making and selling wooden kayak paddles.

I've always been interested in wood as a structural material and have tried to apply my engineering experience to designing and working in wood.
The kayak paddles I made were about as light and stiff as the best carbon fiber paddles - I made hollow shafts (western red cedar) that were designed for maximum strength and minimum weight.

I've also built a few woodworking machines along the way - all wooden frames - including an 18 inch bandsaw, an oscillating spindle sander, and a 6x48 belt sander.

About 10 years ago I bought myself a guitar from a local manufacturer - American Acoustech - and planned to teach myself to play. I was frustrated and gave up after a few weeks. A year ago or so my daughter ( now 15) became interested in the guitar - partly because the instrument was hanging around - and started taking lessons. She's become pretty good and now wants to teach me to play - but since she's assumed ownership of my guitar I'm left without an instrument. Building my own guitar seemed to be the logical solution.

So that's how I got started. So far, I've got Cumpiano's book and Kinkead's and have read them cover-to-cover, along with Sloane's. Now, I'm in the jig and machine-building phase. Hopefully, I'll actually start on a guitar soon. The next thing is to build a drum sander - I've got most of the stuff I'll need just lying around.

As far as wood - I've got a beautiful 14 foot long, 12 inch wide piece of Honduran Mahogany that is left over from a boat that I built with my brother in the late 60's. It's been hanging around in my garage and attic for most of that time. And, just by chance, it is perfectly quartered. My brother died many years ago, so this piece of wood has real meaning to me. I don't plan to use it until I have a couple of guitars under my belt. I did find a beautiful piece of Sapele at my local Woodcraft store, so that I'm going to start with. And, I've got a few Sitka tops that I bought from a tonewood dealer in Canada.


I do have a quick question. I want to get a new blade for resawing, and my bandsaw takes a 120" blade, so I have to have it made to size. Any recommendations for made-to-length blade suppliers?


Phil

Hi Phil and welcome to the OLF! I'd love to see some pics
of your woodworking machines! I'm sure you will get plenty of responses to your blade question.I can't help you myself on that one.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Hi Phil, and welcome to the OLF.

You will find that Iturra Designs has great prices on a thin kerf blade known as the Bladerunner II. I've been using those and the Bladerunner (BR is 1/2", BRII is 5/8") for resawing with great success. If you can use a 123" blade, the BRII's will cost you $20 each. Not sure if they will custom weld 120" for you, but you can ask. 1-866-883-8064

edited for blade length content...oops
Don Williams38795.8334259259

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"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."

Hey Phil! Welcome to the OLF!

Suffolk Machinery will weld Timberwolf blades to any length you need. Nice high quality blades. I'm sure some of our re-saw experts will have some other sources.

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

The more I know, the more I know I don't know.

trippguitars.com
OR
Find me on Facebook

Phil:

I built my first several guitars from scratch, and I wasted a lot of good wood in the process. Building from a good kit will help you through the learning process, and is in no way just an assembly operation. When it's done it will be nothing less than a one of a kind handbuilt guitar.

Keep this in mind. Once you build one you're hooked, and you will want to build more. I'm on #7 right now, and that does not include the electric guitars, and basses.

Enjoy your new hobby. Just jump in and do it. If you need help post your questions. Generally someone here has beenthere-done that.

Al

Welcome to the OLF Phil!

I think that Hesh and Al both have provided some great input. It is a great way to start and will cause for much less frustration since everything you need comes in the kit (or almost everything)You will find as I have that the OLF is a great place for assistance and answering those questions as you progress on your 1st and many to follow. I am sure you have already sensed the feel of the OLF and these experts (not me) are always eager to help out with whatever you face. Good luck on your first build and I look forward to seeing your posts in the future.

Mike
Whte Oak, Texas

Great intro and Welcome to you Phil. I do believe you are going to like it here, (not to mention what an asset you will be with your background!!)

I too started building from scratch with only a Cumpiano book. I didn't really follow the book but it is a great reference that I still use. I've found that guitar building is all about thinking about it, planning it out, and then doing it. Next comes figuring out how to correct the occasional mishap, (and it will happen).

The people here are all great and have a wealth of knowledge. I'm always amazed at how open they are and willing to share. It is a truly great place!

Good luck with your build. You are going to love it.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Welcome among us Phil!

I started from scratch and sort of built my own kit which was hard at first because of my very limited woodworking skills. Along the first build, i also built myself a drum sander which helped me so much. I had bought Cumpiano's book last year but found it difficult to read, maybe too technical for my English knowledge at that time. Finished my first last december and then found the OLF which i wished i could have found sooner. Like others have said, don't hesitate with any questions whatsoever, the folks here are just great for sharing and there's huge camaraderie among us!

I see that you buit yourself a huge bandsaw, i'd be really interested to learn more about it, i gave a try at it around christmas but was too hard for me because i didn't have any plans to work from.

Now brace yourself for that bug that's about to bite ya, you'll be hooked forever!

Good to have you here friend

Serge

Welcome, Phil!
Worked with structures and vibration, huh? Maybe resonance and harmonics might come into play...

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Welcome

I'll take the other side of the argument. Go big or go home as the say. With your background, I'd say build from scratch.

Good luck

Welcome, Phil
You've got the right literature and right attitude, not to mention the background. Should be a piece of cake. Like your bow tie, too. You may be the first forum member here classy enough to sport a bow tie.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Ron

I reckon this place is getting seriously upmarket, Lance will be introducing a dress code

Phil welcome aboardRussellR38795.6407407407

[QUOTE=old man] Welcome, Phil
You may be the first forum member here classy enough to sport a bow tie.

Ron[/QUOTE]

Not true, I wear one all the time. I find it goes perfectly with my propeller hat, big shoes, baggy pants and suspenders.

Welcome to the OLF Phil.

Cheers

Kim

Phil, welcome to the best forum on the web!!
I'm sure beteween all of us here you'll be able to find many answers that we all come across every once in a while!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

[QUOTE=Phil Marino] .....Building my own guitar seemed to be the logical solution.....

[/QUOTE]

This is what you call a "gateway statement". Perhaps the plural would have been more accurate, 'cause you're on a slippery slope now!!

Welcome aboard, Phil. You're going to like it here.

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

Hi Phil! Welcome to the OLF!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Hello Phil and Welcome to the OLF!

Welcome aboard Phil, great group of folks here!
Evan

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http://www.NewYorkGuitarRepair.com

[QUOTE=RussellR] Ron

I reckon this place is getting seriously upmarket, Lance will be introducing a dress code

Phil welcome aboard[/QUOTE]

Russell, that will only apply to new members. We'll be grandfathered in. At least I hope so. I don't own a bow tie. Actually I only have two regular neck ties, about 20 years old. Only worn to an occasional funeral or wedding.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Welcome Phil,
We have a very similar background, lot's of composite stuff on my end and I'm putting in vibration lab right now at the day job (Lots to learn there!).
Jim

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Welcome
You are going to love this forum
Andy

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

Welcome Phil,

I spend my life dealing with structures and virations too, only in my case it's on a planetary scale as a geologist, not a lot of use with a 20"x 15" box!

If Lance is going to introduce a dress code, can I please insist that all bow ties are hand tied ones not those ready made ones with the hook at the back. We must have some standards!

Oh get a kit, call John Hall, Stew Mac or LMI, get your first set of sides ready bent and you top and back joined and thicknessed. You want that first guitar up and running. Then start the quest for the "perfect sound" that will take a lifetime.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Colin

If we have to tie our bow ties there will only be about 3 members

Russ, make it 4, i might be able to scrounge me one between 2 planks and a toaster!