Official Luthiers Forum!

I have been interested in building an electric guitar for 12-18 months now, and while I have read up on it a great deal, due to a combined shortage in free time and tools, I haven't completed much beyond buying the wood. I am in a position now to buy a bandsaw; while not a required machine, definitely a useful one in guitar building. Before I make a purchase decision, I wanted to make sure I choose the right saw.

What is an adequate throat depth for sawing body shapes? Would a 14" saw be sufficient, or would it be worth it to step up to a 17" saw?

How powerful should the motor be? Is 1 3/4hp adequate or should I step up to 2hp or even 3hp?

I would eventually like to try an acoustic build as well, and it seems the backs (if not the top as well) of acoustics are often book matched. What is an adequate resawing capability? Would 12" suffice or would I need to step up to 14" (or higher).

I have about $1500 to play with, I can go a bit higher, but would obviously prefer to come in under. Three saws I have been considering right now are:

Laguna LT14SUV - $1699, 14", 3hp, 220v, 14" resaw

Laguna LT14Twelve - $1099, 14", 1-3/4hp, 110v, 12" resaw

Grizzly G0513X2 $1095, 17", 2hp, 220v, 12" resaw

Any suggestions, or experience with any of the saws I mentioned (or other saws suggested) is welcomed and appreciated.

Waiting for my Laguna 1412 to show up. They are back ordered right now. I chose it over the other two in your post due to it having what I will refer to as the Goldilocks factor(i.e. Just right). It is the most powerful 115vac saw I could find, has enough resaw capacity, is heavy, but not too heavy to move around on a mobile base. Read a really good review here: http://www.wwgoa.com/laguna-1412-band-saw-a-cut-above/ I will let you know what I think after I resaw the backs for a maple guitar.

I'm the opposite end of the spectrum. I have a 14 inch Craftsman that I bought used - it has a 1/2 hp motor which is definitely too small. However, it has been fine for my solid body building as well as everything I cut for my acoustics (including necks and molds). I don't do resawing on it but buy my backs and tops bookmatched and sawn to rough thickness from any of the good wood suppliers that advertise here. I don't own a thickness sander but prefer to take my plates to my local cabinet shop who can sand to near final thickness.

Since I'm strictly an amateur part time builder I buy each tool with care - router table and routers, a side bender, drill press, belt sander, spray guns and booth, dust collection - not to mention all the special lutherie tools. The only thing worse that GAS is TAS....