Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello everyone,

I've been lurking for a week or two now since buying my first Martin D-28 cutaway kit. I've already learned so much by reading through the archives and paying attention to what others have asked, answered, and shared. I'm (as they say here in San Diego, CA) "stoked" about this forum.

My first kit:
I've started to think about this project in terms of unit operations. I'm trying to anticipate the beginning operations and to buy the tools and materials that I see some consensus on being good/useful/cost-effective for that particular step.

The instructions that came inside the box weren't exactly very enlightening to a newbie like myself, so I've been reading the stewmac instuctions for their kits. I also picked up books and videos to get me up to speed: Cumpiano, Kinkead, Finocchio series on Guitarmaking, Dan Erlewine's fretting series.

Here's what tools I've purchased so far:
1.) D-14 fret Mold from John Hall (thanks, John!)
2.) Cam Clamps (Qty 6) 8" lrg
3.) Titebond (16oz)
4.) replacement dovetail neck block, since the seller's dog chewed up the one that came with the martin kit.
5.) Go bar rods (Qty 27), radiused (20') board;
    I still need the 28' board for the top...
(I'm planning on making the Go-bar system adjustable like Kathy Matsushita's. BTW, thank you Kathy, for such a wonderful site!)
6.) Dremel

I live in an apt and have a one-car garage with one avaible outlet, two if I unplug the garage door opener. So my space is somewhat limited. But I'm absolutely going for it. I love guitars and can only see this as a natural extension of my obsession. And I'm glad to have found a site where I'm in such good company.

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it...

With kind regards,

Darren

Welcome Darren.

If you haven't already found it, Will Franklin's Kit guitar website may be of interest Kit Site

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Hello Darren, welcome to the OLF

fire away!

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Hey Darren,
You're just a little ways behind me. I built my first from a StewMac kit recently. Followed the StewMac guide word for word and it turned out a quite acceptable guitar. I'm down the road with molds, benders and the like now.
Have fun with the first build. VERY exciting - you should be WAY stoked, totally. Good Luck!

Alan

Welcome aboard Darren and Happy Building!!

Thanks everyone!

Dave, I hadn't seen Will Franklin's site yet. Thank you! I'll be perusing that this weekend!

Hesh, thanks for the reminder about humidity. My typical household humidy is about 50-50% uncontrolled. Will I need to find a way to lower this? Or should I allow the would to accommodate to the existing humidity levels? I live about 20 min from the ocean so luckily the temperature and humidity don't change too drastically. Hopefully, this isn't a huge problem.

Basically, my plan right now is to just get started on the rim assembly as soon as I receive the mold and clamps. I'm not expecting a showroom guitar and would rather get started building than planning so much that I never get around to actually *doing* it. But I do plan to watch the videos, read as much as possible, and ask lots of questions as I go.

It also occurs to me that there might be particular operations that are more difficult than others, ones that I may benefit from doing practice runs on scrap guitars first. Having purchased a handmade guitar that looks to be a stewmac kit-made 000-12fret, I see that the fretting may be a learning curve. Which aspects of kit building do you all think are the most difficult for a newbie with minimal woodworking experience?

Darren,

I think Binding operations are the most difficult for newbies..........and others too. You will find a wealth of info and instruction by reading the 'archives' on this forum, and I recommend Will Franklin's kit site mentioned above for kit/newbie issues.

CrowDuck

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Chris Nielsen
Soquel, CA.

Darren
Welcome to the forum
I am also in San Diego. so I can certainly give you help if you need it since I
am local. Starting with a kit is the best way to begin. If you are like the rest
of us, you will be bitten by the lutherie bug and be building more and more.
I will PM you with some local info.
Welcome
Andy

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

Darren,

Welcome!

As to your last question, I would venture to say binding and fretwork. In both cases, taking small steps helps. You might even consider buying a fretboard from ebay just to practice on. Glue it onto a 2 x 4 and off you go.

BTW, wasn't that "...a free bottle.. .. a pre-frontal ..."? Let's be specific here!

Anyway, you're in for a great time.

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

We are here to help so anytime you have a questions let us know
john hall

Welcome, Darren!
You`ve seen the Wizard too, huh?

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

Welcome aboard Darren, good luck with your first!

Mike

Hey welcome to the Forum and the culture Darren. You should have ablast putting your kit together and even more fun playing her! You have access to a lot of advise and a lot of goods here at the OLF. If you need a 28 foot dish look at Tracy's site (Luthier Suppliers) or at my site (High Mountain) we can both help you out. You have already found John for great moulds and there are a loit of wood suppliers here also and really pretty much everything you need is here or the people here will tell you where to get it. For just plain old help, you couldn't have made a better stop!

Good Luck and don't forget we all like pictures!

Shane

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Canada

Welcome to the OLF Darren, you're gonna be bitten hard like the rest of us, i'll be the guy who will try to make you laugh through the rough days! I'll also give you my support whenever you need some!

Have fun setting up your shop and happy building!

Serge