Official Luthiers Forum!

Question for everyone:

Do you keep a log of all your builds? If so what all do you include in the log, how do you keep it (paper, spreadsheet) and has it proven useful?

Thanks,
Carl.

I keep track of all of mine with excel spreadsheets. Works well for me.

I do a "Build Sheet" for each guitar.
At the end, I hand write in a small spiral notebook all the details along with any changes made during the build. Also has customer name, serial number and completion date.
When I'm dead and buried, maybe someone will give $5 on Ebay for the written record.

(Tried to attach a copy of the Build Sheet for your perusal but the forum system won't accept a "doc" file)

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Hank Mauel

me too

i have all the material attributes on the front sheet, all the critical dimensions on the next, and on the last sheet a record of my time. its stapled to the front of a file folder and any receipts of other papers go in there along with the invoice.

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brendan 3.0 new and improved, with better interpersonal subroutines

I put everything on the label. Takes up the whole inside. You need a mirror to read it all.

Yes...I also log each build in a spiral notebook. I have also mixed epoxy on the cover.

Kent

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

I've started a detailed set of build sheets for each new guitar. Especially since I now do extensive testing
of the wood properties and the vibration modes for both top and back, it's become imperative to keep
accurate records if I'm going to learn anything from all this data. Part of the record- vibration mode shapes,
bracing, pictures of finished guitars, I keep in folders on my PC.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

A growing number of us are using a commercially-available software product developed specifically for this purpose. It allows you to document materials, dimensions, weights, deflection measurements, resonances, finishes, finish schedules, build notes and image files in a single centralized database. There are a number of features of interest to the professional builder or repair person too. There's a free 30-day trial version available if you care to track it down.

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Cheers
Pete

What's it called? It sounds interesting. Not that I'm a professional builder by any stretch, but I'd be much more likely to keep things more organized if it was on my laptop than a bunch of sheets waiting to someday be filed in a binder. Ask my boss. She'll tell you I'm lousy at filing progress notes on my clients.

Matt

There's 2 excellent solutions here. http://www.whistlingfishsoftware.com.au/Products.htm

The guy who designed the software is a good guy too.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Yes, about thirty years ago I found one of those blank ledger books, you know, with the greenish tint pages and the black and burgundy binding cover. I reconstructed the info for the first couple dozen guitars that I had made and have logged in every one since.
I include the configuration, materials description, serial # year and season (summer, fall etc) of construction.
I'll also include any other bits of info that might have made the guitar unusual, who it was made for etc. Often when these guitars surface again years later I'll go back and note current owners etc.
Particular construction notes are kept in a portion of the back of the book regarding binding and purfling schemes as well as general info on dimensions for the various parts. Also there are a few tables to remind me of which bearing sizes produce what size cuts etc.

So far...no.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Yup.
What it was, where it went, what I got for it. More these days as I'm doing deflection testing and recording resonances etc.
6.00. Please take your time though, really, I'm in no rush....

I started that with this build(second scratch build). I print out a Build Log Schedule that lists the different steps in building, and tick them off as I build. I include time,any specs for the particular build, woods, scale, etc.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Mike,

Any chance I could talk you into sharing your Build Log Schedule?

Thanks,
Carl.

Yeah. It's simply a list of the order in which I build. I check off everything as it gets done, with any notes on how things went, how much time it took, etc., to the right of whichever step I'm on. There's enough room to the right to make note of woods, body and neck style, nut measurement, # frets, type of frets, scale length or anything else I want.
Here's a sample.

BUILD LOG SCHEDULE.

1-Make body and top carve templates
2-make neck joint template
ORDER BRIDGE TO DETERMINE TOP ANGLE/INCLINE
3-cut out body
4-rout body outline
5-rout rear body roundover
6-rout body carve
7-rough shape body carve
8-plane top angle
9-complete sanding of top carve
ORDER TRUSS ROD
10-rout neck mortise
11-locate and rout pup cavities
12-locate and drill vol/tone/switch holes
13-rout rear cavity
ORDER TUNERS
14-make neck scarf
15-thickness headstock area
16-glue up head plate
ORDER FRETWIRE
17-draw neck on blank
18-rout truss rod slot
19-cut out neck shape
20-cut neck tenon
21-sand sides of neck to size
22-cut headstock shape
23-sand/shape headstock(sides)
24-drill tuner holes(use CLAMPED backer board)
25-layout and score fret locations
26-slot fretboard
27- mark position marker locations. REMEMBER THE 12TH FRET IS NOT ON CENTER
28-drill/rout for and install markers
29-size fretboard
30-radius fretboard
31-recheck fret slot depths
32-install neck binding and radius to board
33-install last 5 or so frets
34-install truss rod
35-if compression, install filler strip
36-glue fretboard to neck
37-install all remaining frets
38-bevel fret ends
39-shape back of neck , heel and headstock
40-install heel cap
41-join neck to body
42-locate and drill bridge mounting holes
43-drill strap button locations
44- recheck bridge location/position
45- level and crown frets
46-final sand before finish
47-stain, if desired
48-begin finish process
PURCHASE PICKUPS, POTS, SWITCH, JACK AND ALL REMAIN HARDWARE

I store this generic file on my desktop, and just print one out for every build I do. I use a thumb tack to tack it up over my bench so it's easy to find.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.