Guitar Construction book

[Tim Douglass]

I have been thinking for some years that I would like to try building a guitar, and the availability of kits at reasonable prices is making me think about it more and more.

I want to read a book on the subject but am not sure what would be a good overview. The only book I can find at the local library is "Classic Guitar Making" by Arthur Overholtzer, but it seems to be permanently checked out. Does anyone have a recommendation of a book that would give a good overview of the procedures and skills needed? Preferably something with lots of pictures ;-)

TIA

Tim Douglass

[Lee Michaels]

[Wolf Lahti]

*The* guitar making reference is titled, appropriately enough, _Guitarmaking: tradition and technology_, by Cumpiano and Natelson, published in 1993 in paperback at $29.95. It is very complete, probably all you would need if you have reasonable woodworking skills. It is a well-illustrated step-by-step guide to building a classical or steel-string uitar.

[mark]

And it will scare the bejeezus out of you. :) A table just has to LOOK nice. A guitar has to look nice and PLAY nice. Great book, though.

[Anthony VanCampen]

You might want to check out the books page at

I'm told that it is easier to go with a kit, and the Grizley kits have a good track record on the music news group that I'm on.

Tony

[Mike]

As some others have suggested the Cumpiano book is a good one. You might ask your question at rec.music.makers.builders. I'm sure some other suggestions would be forthcoming. Also, mimf.com is a useful resource for instrument makers. They do want you to register but there is no cost.

Mike

[TJTalbert]

I have built guitars from the Overholtzer book. I highly recommend his methods and procedures, however, the book itself is hard to follow, not very well written. He was much more the builder than the writer.

Tim

[Tim Douglass]

In the knife-making world they refer to "knife-like-objects", things that look like knives but won't hold an edge. I figure if I can build a "guitar-like-object" or two and sell them in a pawn shop I might learn enough to be able to actually build an instrument.

Tim Douglass

[Tim Douglass]

The Griz kits are among those I've been looking at. I planned to start with a kit for sure.

Tim Douglass

[Dave Hinz]

C.F. Martin, makers of _excellent_ guitars, has kits with great instructions available. Maybe you can buy just their manuals? Techniques and materials are _very_ different depending on if you're building a classical, a steel-stringed, or an electric guitar. No point learning how to support a top for the wrong type, so if you narrow down your goals you'll be able to find more directly applicable information. Me, I'm planning to go with one of Martin's kits when I build one.

Dave Hinz

[U-CDK_CHARLES\Charles]

Guitar World (iirc) had an April Fools issue 20-ish years ago when brass parts were all the rage.

They machined a Stratocaster copy from solid brass. Their comments were:

"The heaviest strap wasn't much use, and besides, at over 70lbs, it proved impossible to hold it in playing positiong. So we used a Hurst engine hoist instead."

"Yeah, it was heavy, but you shoulda heard the SUSTAIN!!"

[Tim Douglass]

At this point my interest is in an acoustic steelstring. I don't have much practical interest in electric guitars (as instruments to play) and classical is not really my musical interest, so...

Tim Douglass

[GrayBeardPhil]

Tim:

Have you seen the site:

Mercantile International?

They seem to have great Kits for reasonable prices. Try building a guitar from a kit just for "practice" and then when you read up on the "how to" you can relate.

Phil

[TJTalbert]

Martins are among the best factory made guitars, but do not compae with hand made guitars.

Tim

[Dave Hinz]

True. I have a Lowden that I just love, but if I was going to buy a factory-made, it'd be the Martin HD-28. You just can't match the hand-made ones, though.

Dave Hinz