Riffraff,
I don't think Mickgaurd was singling you out or even jumping on you. I think he was addressing a broader issue.
There are some of us that are on these forums who do guitar work and building for a living. I have supported myself for 30 years now with this craft.
There are people with all different skill levels, ages, and backgrounds on this forum and others. Forums are a great way to exchange info, and are a great educational platform.
I learn new things every day, and I also teach others every day.
What will tend to happen though on any forum, is the blind leading the blind sometimes.
Also, it is very easy to give advice. Behind a keyboard, it is easy to be an expert, it is easy for a broke slob to be handsome and rich, it is easy for a female to be desirable even if in real life you would run if you saw her.
Over the years I have had some apprentices, and it takes time for them to build up the basics and skills to do guitars. It don't come overnight. It certainly does not come from reading a few posts on a subject. Hands on experience is what brings about skill
On a forum, the general rule of thumb is if someone asks how............they do not know. I have heard of many guitars being ruined from forum advice.
Not because the advice was bad, but because it was too steep of a learning curve for the person attempting the project.
I'd hate to see someone ruin their instrument because others were advising and cheering the newcomer on.
I think Mickgaurd was just trying to save you some possible agony.
Roman