wood is good Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Ok guys, I have now become interested in building an acoustic guitar. Thing is, I can find NO information anywhere on the web. There isnt just info like for building solid bodies. There are plenty of Tuts for those. I have searched all night tonight, and really havnt found anything helpful. I would get the sides pre bent, and the rest would be done by me. My main questions are about the neck attachment, and how you make it fit perfectly, and a ton of other stuff. Big question: Where did you guys learn to build acoustics? There has to be some free info out there somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDub Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Get the book "Guitarmaking:tradition and technique"(I think thats the proper title) by William Cumpiano. It's the acoustic bible. Also check out the OLF at www.luthiersforum.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaycee Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 (edited) Here's his site you tube has a lot of acoustic build videos, and it's also worth checking out the larger acoustic manufacturers web sites for video's on there, taylor, martin for example. Edited February 27, 2009 by jaycee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar_player Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 There are some websites I don't have any of the links though. It would be a good idea to look around MIMF and the library there has tons of info on building acoustics. I would suggest getting some books, the one RDub mentioned is great and Build Your Own Acoustic Guitar by Jonathan Kinkead is great too. I am in the middle of building one now and before I started I bought and read every in print book about it, not that you would have to do that but has been helpful because now I know of many different ways to do things and can find the one I like best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToneMonkey Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 I've got the Cumpiano and Natelson book "Guitarmaking". I found it really good, loads of photos. ISBN: 0-8118-0640-5 - Stick that up your search engine and smoke it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Herr Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 I know I am in the minority but I feel that The Cumpiano book is not a good stand alone resource. (It is a great book, and probably the best single book out there) Much of the stuff is outdated, or can be done eaisier/better for beginners with other methods. If you build from that book, definiteley check out his website for some updates. If any individual step seems difficult, or doesn't work well with the tools you have, then find another resource. There are so many ways to skin a cat. I also have the Irving Sloan book and one by Jim Williams. Check your library for what they have. I can find NO information anywhere on the web. Did you look? There is quite a bit. Here are a couple photo essay type sites. There are also several really good forums. http://www.proulxguitars.com/buildup/build1.htm http://www.geocities.co.jp/MusicHall-Horn/...ke/ooomakee.htm http://home.comcast.net/~kathymatsushita/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDub Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 I agree with you Mike, that some of cumpiano's methods are out dated, but I still think it's the most important book. Kincaids book is also a great resource. As I found out when starting to learn about acoustics, thre's many ways to skin a cat. I ended up reading any books I could find, and researching different methods before I started, and ended up using a compilation of different peoples ideas, to adapt to the tooling I had. But those books are the best place to start. To the OP. Take your time learning about the reasons behind the way an acoustic is made before just diving in. Then you'll be able to tailer your method to what works best for you. Another site to check out, especially if you want to build a kit, is www.kitguitarbuilder.com . The guy who runs it built all the popular kits, and there's some great info to help you decide what's right for you. And his forum over there's good too. And be sure to use the search function on the forums. Most likely any question you might have has been asked before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wood is good Posted February 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 WOW! Thanks for all the info guys!! I promise, I did search, A LOT! I think its just because an acoustic is much different than an electric, and I dont really know WHAT im searching for to search for acoustic info. Those all look like great resources! Thanks once again, I will spend much time going thru all of what i can. I really appreciate it guys, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truckjohn Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 If you are going the Kit route.... There is another forum out there (Kit guitar forum) that caters to the kit guitar builds. They published a couple books on the subject -- geared specifically towards completing Kit builds. Those books are also available on Amazon. Good luck John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToneMonkey Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Ooooh interesting, I hear good things about the Stew Mac ones. One day when I can justify the spend, I might get one. Might breeze past that place first though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Let me just throw this out there. Please understand that I have no affiliation with or personal interest in this resource, but John Hall at Blues Creek Guitars is a really awesome guy. We've emailed back and forth a good bit, and he really has a heart for helping other builders. If you ever find yourself looking into a kit (or a number of other things), his stuff is worth checking out: http://www.bluescreekguitars.com/ -Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodWood Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 (edited) Let me just throw this out there. Please understand that I have no affiliation with or personal interest in this resource, but John Hall at Blues Creek Guitars is a really awesome guy. We've emailed back and forth a good bit, and he really has a heart for helping other builders. If you ever find yourself looking into a kit (or a number of other things), his stuff is worth checking out: http://www.bluescreekguitars.com/ -Dave You should ask: What has been updated on Cumpianos/Kinkeads book. You can also get the guitar making book by Kinkead, which is good. There is a classical guitar building site: Moldmaking at OLF forum you need to look into the tools for building an acoustic, it can be extensive. Geting the sides pre-bent is a good idea. You can also get a precarved neck on ebay. Cumpianos book is good for plate glue up, thicknessing by hand if you go that way, neck carving. He added a bolt on neck instead of the oldstyle thing he used to do. Alot of the back and top radi stuff is done in dishes, but those run89.99 apiece with sandpaper and shipping. John Hall is well known for taking alot of phone calls from beginners also... he worked at Martin for a while. Edited March 4, 2009 by GoodWood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Herr Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Alot of the back and top radi stuff is done in dishes, but those run89.99 apiece with sandpaper and shipping. http://www.axehandle.net/gpage1.html Ebay also has them for reasonable, but if you consider it fun to make your own tools, they can be made. If you consider toolmaking a means to an end, then my vote would be to buy them if you want 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaycee Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 Check out the forum on the 13th fret it's dedicated to acoustics and the forum is frequented by a lot of top class builders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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