Sam Price

Thanks for the welcome. Yeah I guess I've found something I really enjoy doing for a change, instead of packing it in after a few months...

/\ 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.

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 It has been said that the building methods in the book is outmoded and outdated, but I love the user-friendly language, and the concern for the student builder with few tools.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.

Hi there....I was doing some web research on guitarmaking today, and came across this site. I thought I'd visited all the luthierie sites up 'till now... I live a few mins drive from the Welsh Border, UK, and have been building guitars for about 18 months now. I am currently on my second build..... Build Blog Look forward to chatting with ya!!