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Any of you build your own acoustic guitar?
Posted on 9/13/18 at 3:44 pm
Posted on 9/13/18 at 3:44 pm
I’ve been thinking about this for a while. Enjoy wood work and refinishing furniture.
Anybody? From a kit or saw down your own tree and turn it into a guitar.
We need an “e-signal” for FretShack.
Anybody? From a kit or saw down your own tree and turn it into a guitar.
We need an “e-signal” for FretShack.
Posted on 9/13/18 at 4:41 pm to LSU alum wannabe
I've never done it but if I was going to do it, I'd buy a kit from StewMac or somebody. If you want to see a good video about how they're made, check this out:
LINK
LINK
Posted on 9/13/18 at 4:42 pm to LSU alum wannabe
Will probably try it at some point as well.
I've heard a kit is the way to go the first time.
ETA:
I have looked at Blues Creek Guitar Kits before. Seem reasonably priced.
I've heard a kit is the way to go the first time.
ETA:
I have looked at Blues Creek Guitar Kits before. Seem reasonably priced.
This post was edited on 9/13/18 at 4:46 pm
Posted on 9/13/18 at 6:10 pm to lsu1919
If you really want to build from scratch as in sawing your trees, plan first to spend money on plane tickets because the wood you want does not grow around here. Following the centuries-tested formulas of good acoustic wood, you'll need higher altitude spruce or cedar for the soundboard from the Appalachians, the Canadian Rockies or the Pacific Northwest (or the Alps in Europe); mahogany for the neck from South America; non-CITES-restricted rosewood for the fingerboard, sides and back from Asia or Indonesia; and if you employ an ebony fingerboard, Africa.
You'll also need to invest in a kiln if you aren't willing to wait for the wood to stabilize via drying to appropriate moisture levels naturally. Depending on the species and the size of the wood cuts, this could be several weeks, several months, several years, and even longer.
A kit is looking a lot more enticing around now, huh? LOL Even then, a well made kit presents its own challenges. It's not like a molded model car or plane where all the pieces fit together perfect straight out of the box. You will be improvising at every turn, even with a good kit. Even that StewMac kit, which is excellent, will have great challenges. Hopefully woodworking experience, general knowledge of the physics and engineering of acoustic guitars and good old common sense will assist in decisions kit instructions don't spell out or clarify. And even if you know what you're doing, you're likely going to screw up things, some little, some not so little, here and there, having you undoing and redoing, sometimes multiple times, until you get several builds under your belt.
You will also need a variety of tooling, molds, steam and heat sources, clamps galore, etc., and much of it will not be found at Home Depot or Lowe's. And it won't be cheap.
Me personally, I have absolutely no desire to build an acoustic from scratch or from a kit. I prefer to stick to finding old (as in decades old) basket case guitars in dire need of TLC, buying them at salvage prices, and bringing them back to life.
You'll also need to invest in a kiln if you aren't willing to wait for the wood to stabilize via drying to appropriate moisture levels naturally. Depending on the species and the size of the wood cuts, this could be several weeks, several months, several years, and even longer.
A kit is looking a lot more enticing around now, huh? LOL Even then, a well made kit presents its own challenges. It's not like a molded model car or plane where all the pieces fit together perfect straight out of the box. You will be improvising at every turn, even with a good kit. Even that StewMac kit, which is excellent, will have great challenges. Hopefully woodworking experience, general knowledge of the physics and engineering of acoustic guitars and good old common sense will assist in decisions kit instructions don't spell out or clarify. And even if you know what you're doing, you're likely going to screw up things, some little, some not so little, here and there, having you undoing and redoing, sometimes multiple times, until you get several builds under your belt.
You will also need a variety of tooling, molds, steam and heat sources, clamps galore, etc., and much of it will not be found at Home Depot or Lowe's. And it won't be cheap.
Me personally, I have absolutely no desire to build an acoustic from scratch or from a kit. I prefer to stick to finding old (as in decades old) basket case guitars in dire need of TLC, buying them at salvage prices, and bringing them back to life.
Posted on 9/13/18 at 7:49 pm to TheFretShack
Fret, I think you’re a little mean.
I think some small part of you took joy in crushing my dream. Lol
I am gonna build an all Tala Tree Guitar. It’s gonna be beautiful. It’s music will make men weep.
I think some small part of you took joy in crushing my dream. Lol
I am gonna build an all Tala Tree Guitar. It’s gonna be beautiful. It’s music will make men weep.
Posted on 9/13/18 at 10:13 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
I’ve been thinking about this for a while.
I considered assembling an electric guitar from parts. That's more work than I really want to do, though.
Compared to your project, mine would be like plugging in a lamp.
Posted on 9/14/18 at 7:41 am to TheFretShack
Fret - slight hijack - I kind of have the hankering for a (6-string) Jumbo. I have an Ovation Super Shallow (original American made Elite T )and a 1980 Westerly Guild D-35 (broken shoulder, cracks, but still plays like a dream).
So, I could get a dreadnaught to replace/supplant the D-35, but a Jumbo would give me something else. Any reason to consider options outside Alvarez, Martin or Taylor? What about the "new" Guilds (Cordoba)? That would be just my speed if it was up to/exceeded the old Westerlys.
So, I could get a dreadnaught to replace/supplant the D-35, but a Jumbo would give me something else. Any reason to consider options outside Alvarez, Martin or Taylor? What about the "new" Guilds (Cordoba)? That would be just my speed if it was up to/exceeded the old Westerlys.
This post was edited on 9/14/18 at 7:42 am
Posted on 9/14/18 at 9:41 am to Ace Midnight
quote:
I considered assembling an electric guitar from parts.
Compared to your project, mine would be like plugging in a lamp.
Now that's something I could probably handle.
Posted on 9/14/18 at 10:16 am to MountainTiger
All the relatively recent Guilds I have been exposed to have been very, very good, even the upper-tier imports. I'd definitely explore Guild alongside the usual candidates.
Posted on 9/14/18 at 10:25 am to TheFretShack
quote:
I'd definitely explore Guild alongside the usual candidates.
I'm a Guild guy first, anyway. While I respect the craftsmanship of Martin and Taylor, and some of the examples are just extraordinary, they have a premium, premium price. The sound is the thing and I dig the Guild sound, particularly the old Westerly models. My old broken D-35 resonates like a fantastic old grand piano. Combination of wood choice, construction and just the right amount of aging (in a humid, southern environment) have really done the old girl good.
Posted on 9/14/18 at 11:10 am to Ace Midnight
Guitar Center vintage guilds. The 1970’s when other makers were just ok seems to be a good period for guilds.
Plenty of Guilds available for decent prices. 45 day return policy. You might eat a shipping cost but that’s it.
Seems like guilds from the 70’s are lumped in with everything from the 70’s and priced “low”.
Plenty of Guilds available for decent prices. 45 day return policy. You might eat a shipping cost but that’s it.
Seems like guilds from the 70’s are lumped in with everything from the 70’s and priced “low”.
Posted on 9/14/18 at 10:30 pm to TheFretShack
Damn you fret shack! You ruined my dreams!
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