Cumpiano And Kinkead's Books

[jaycee]

I have borrowed Cumpianos book from my local library and was well impressed with it. I have also read some good reviews about Kinkeads book and was wondering if anyone familliar with Kinkeads book could say how they feel it compares to Cumpiano's

[GoodWood]

Both are good, they compliment eachother. Cumpliano also has a webpage for more indepth info. I seem to use Kinkeads book more (more pictures, but you could probably google enough info like this

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/DaveKit/dave/L...ngtheguitar.htm

Some info is not relevent, as I use dishes to get the dish on the back and top. Both are good, with message boards, and lots of tools, and some $$ you should be ok.

One thing I had to do over was my outer mold. Neither had 'pictures', or indepth coverage of moldmaking, so I ended up blowing my first try ( not square to eachother, test wood was wobbley, etc)

So that was my first big mistake. Bending next week I hope, it should be 'downhill' from there.

Anther issue is should you get a kit? With Kinkeads book, I was too thick with my tops for some reason,- have the guy take them down to your finished thickness.

Someone said you need to thin the brace measurments, that cumpliano is over-built etc...

Anyone use that SaddleMatic" Bridge finder? Do you like it?

[jaycee]

Thanks G W I had a feeling someone may say that, but being that I can get Cumpianos from the library I may go for Kinkeads for the moment.

My Acoustic is still in the planning stages I have some 6 foot lengths of mahogany which I salvaged from a skip last summer. They used to be door frames so theres plenty of useable wood there.

I just found out that Kinkade works from Bristol in the UK which is only 45 miles or so from me so I may even take a drive over the bridge and see if I can suss out his stuff.

Thanks for the reply

Edited May 13, 2007 by jaycee

[GoodWood]

I have seen his guitars rated and they love his stuff. I would go see him for sure. Try to use quartered wood.

[rlrhett]

I have both books, and can say that the Cumpiano book is MUCH mor thorough. I still refer to the Cumpiano book all the time (half dozen builds under my belt.) The Kingkade book lays pretty much untouched. YMMV.

[WezV]

the kinkade book has much better photography but the cumpiano is just chock full of usefull info

[Mattia]

I've got the Cumpiano, and I've read the Kinkade. The latter is a lot prettier, but the former is far more detailed and in-depth. However - it's quite old-fashioned when it comes to its building techniques; I would never, ever consider building a guitar without a mold, or bother bending sides freehand (building a bender is faster and will get you perfectly symmetrical sides), and dishes are a godsend for accuracy and ease of use.

What Cumpiano's book did is give me a solid foundation and a reference for a number of processes (carving a heel using a chisel, ditto carving a neck is explained very, very well), but I have to say that it's mostly the foundation that helped; I found the MIMF.com library to be a goldmine of building info/alternative/better methods to do certain things. You can build a guitar following either book, but I'd reccomend reading up on various methods for every process, and deciding which of them seem most logical to you.

[Sam Price]

I've got the Cumpiano, and I've read the Kinkade. The latter is a lot prettier, but the former is far more detailed and in-depth. However - it's quite old-fashioned when it comes to its building techniques; I would never, ever consider building a guitar without a mold, or bother bending sides freehand (building a bender is faster and will get you perfectly symmetrical sides), and dishes are a godsend for accuracy and ease of use.

What Cumpiano's book did is give me a solid foundation and a reference for a number of processes (carving a heel using a chisel, ditto carving a neck is explained very, very well), but I have to say that it's mostly the foundation that helped; I found the MIMF.com library to be a goldmine of building info/alternative/better methods to do certain things. You can build a guitar following either book, but I'd reccomend reading up on various methods for every process, and deciding which of them seem most logical to you.

I have built two guitars from the Cumpiano and Natelson book, and will continue to do so. It happens to suit my style of building immensly, not having to rely on jigs, for I have a 7foot by 5ft workshop and little storage. I don't even own a bandsaw, for goodness' sake!!!

It has been said that the building methods in the book is outmoded and outdated, but I love the user-friendly language, and the concern for the student builder with few tools. It is indeed a book on the tradition of luthierie, but probably doesn't suit the professional builder who is having to make several guitars a year.

So, in conclusion, I would recommend every guitar builder to have this on their shelf.

I actually found all other guitarbuild books quite intimidating.

[Mattia]

Until recently, I didn't own a bandsaw; and the one I have hasn't actually been put to use yet!

I built my first acoustic (and a half dozen electrics) in a 9x9 ft room I also lived in (bed, kitchenette, etc.), with minimal extra storage space, so it can certainly be done. It's a personal thing, but I do think jigs, though a little bulky, are completely worth it for acoustics - dishes make arching a breeze, even wedged bodies, side benders ensure symmetry and increase the odds of success. The first set of sides you break pays for a heat blanket-powered side bending system, after all. And a set of dishes slides under a bed, no problem, along with the bending form when it's not in use! All it takes is a day to make 'em and a sheet of MDF to make them out of. For the record, Cumpiano builds with molds, dishes and side benders these days - I'm in it for the joy of building, and the right tools for the job do that for me.

Now I've got a little more dedicated space, though (6x9 shop/shed, with large bandsaw in place, full of wood), I'm adding a few tools - like the bandsaw, a dust collector, building myself a thickness sander because I really don't want to resaw the wood I've got and thickness with a plane, by hand. And a binding jig, because doing it by hand/using the jig I've made doesn't work to my satisfaction. I freely admit I'm a bit of a tool junkie, though, and am willing to sacrifice space to the things. Currently considering more hand tools (my true weak spot; chisels, planes, good hand-cut rasps) and a milling machine to replace the poor quality drill press and possibly let me play in a new arena (metalwork). I don't consider any of these 'luxuries' remotely necessary to build a guitar. But the mold, bender and dishes are essentials.

As I mentioned, though, this is where reading about other methods comes in. Don't lock yourself into following one particular person's methods, but read, experiment, and decide for yourself which system will best suit your needs and possibilities at any given time. Mix and match!

[Sam Price]

/\ if you don't mind me saying, that was a great post!!

LOL, there is a certain novelty in hand thicknessing tonewood...wears off after TWO builds!!!

I have been wanting to build guitars for eight years, and have been put off by the fact that money has to be spent on tools, jigs, etc. It was only through the web, and seeing a friend building fantastic guitars I FINALLY stopped procrastinating and decided that I would like to jump on the bandwagon.

It is the fact that methods and materials in guitar building is so versatile and varied these days, it makes it an easier and attractive hobby to persue. I'm a parent of three kids and money is at a premium.

Of course, a kit is a great way to get into luthierie. I "long term" borrowed 3/4's of my tools from a retired woodworking pal, and every step further into this hobby confirms my ambition and enables me to buy more specialised luthierie tools, without fear that I am going to suddenly stop.

Edited May 18, 2007 by Sam Price

[jaycee]

Great replies guys, I tend to read a lot and pick up different ways of doing things that will work for me. After all no one has the perfect way of building these instruments

[GoodWood]

I am seriously considering putting a top on my old Alvares (ply top FGS!)

Take off fretboard,

Clean up interior

Make top

Glue it in

Glue on Bridge

Glue back Fretboard

Wala, I can test out the cheap spruce this way also.