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I'm in the process of getting my shop ready, researching, etc. Had planned on building a classical, when it occurred to me that maybe SS was the way to go for a first guitar. Or is it six of one , half a dozen of the other?

Any book/plan suggestions?

I should note that my woodworking experience has been mainly with furniture and spinning wheels.

Many thanks in advance

J.R.

JR....I'd strongly recommend getting Cumpianos "Guitarmaking -Tradition & Technology", which explains in detail the building of both a classical & a steel string. Both have "wrinkles" you need to know about & this is really a great book with lots of info.

What guitar type do you favour playing??

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Dave
Milton, ON

I should have mentioned that I play mostly folk fingerstyle for vocal accompaniment and a little classical. I was thinking either a concert grand or a classical . But wasn't sure if one or the other was a better jumping off point with regard to level of difficulty. From what I'm gathering they both have pros and cons (to my mind). But that's why I'm here: to pick the collective brain of experience...

Thanks again,

J.R.

Choosing a steel string or a classical depends on what you are going to play.  I don't mean music repertoire, I mean which instrument will you reach for, pick up, and play most often?

For me, its the classical guitar.  Even though I can't play the repertoire at all.

C&N is a good place to start, but if you're keen on the classical instrument, then other books (Courtnall) might be a better choice, or at least excellent additions.

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

Build what you play.

Classicals are in a class all their own. Flat wide fretboard.

SStrings are radiused fretboards and taper much more.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Hi J.R.

You'll enjoy building an instrument. If you decided to build a steel string,
I would recommend at the very least, John Mayes' two voicing videos.
Voicing is what makes a guitar a guitar in my opinion, and C&N is very
vague on the process due to the limitations of text. John's videos are very
informative and help you begin to understand the concepts behind what
you're doing, as well as give you examples of voicing the guitar for
different outcomes. Completely worthwhile.     

I also think you'd be better off with the Kinkead book than Cumpiano and
Natelson if you decide to build a steel string. C&N works through a
classical with you as well as a steel string, but Kinkead is more up to date
as far as techniques go.

http://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Own-Acoustic-Guitar/dp/
0634054635

And again, I think the Bogdanovich text is more up to date than C&N if
you decide on a classical.

http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Guitar-Making-Approach-
Traditional/dp/1402720602/ref=pd_sim_b_title_4

Any way you decide to go, I hope you have fun and enjoy learning about
what goes into a guitar!

JR-
For books- Kinkead (or Williams) for SS, Bogdanovich for classical would be my recommendations, though I suppose the Courtnall is a better guide to 'traditional' classical construction. Bogdanovich is a bargain.

I've built a few guitars, and still find C&N hard to follow and understand.

John

I prefer Cumpiano over Kinkead. Cumpiano is more like a text book, while Kinkead is kind of a "how to book" with lots of pretty pictures. Probably best to get both, they both have tons to offer.

I've found that the easiest guitar I've built was a 12 fret 000 (I've built two of them). The easy part was due to the waist being not as tight as the one you might find on an OM - which is pretty much what you'd build if you follow the two books mentioned above.

But, as has already been said - build what you play. No point building a great sounding, pretty guitar, if it doesn't inspire you to pick it up and play every time you look at it.

Oh, I should point out that the advantage of a not so tight waist = easier to install binding.

J. R. if you are interested in videos, check out Smartflix. They have a rather broad selection and a surprising number to pick from in the lutherie section. Rent them and check them out before you buy them.

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Aoibeann

While there is a difference in building techniques between a Spanish heel constructed classical and a Mortise and tenon Steel string, there is nothing that make one easier for the a first timer. Each require attention to the way each work. Steel string require more reinforcement to deal with higher bridge and neck loading. Classical require more attention to to avoid over building.

Read all you can before you make up your mind. understand all the process as much as reasonably possible for a first build.

Personally I think kits are a great way to start, so keep that in mind. They allow you to focus on the assembly processes for your first build and not worry with bending and neck carving. the on a second build you can still go with a kit but with an uncarved neck or maybe unbent sides.

If you choose to scratch build your first then there is plenty of help around here to get you through with a kit or scratch build.

To be quite honest I don't recommend you over concern yourself with learning voicing during a first build. Voicing is something hard to grasp in a single build. I am not saying to not attempt voicing but rather to not over focus on it on you first build. There is no two ways about it!! Voicing is a hands on learning process and it will take several builds just to start cutting your teeth voicing.

For great Steel String kits check with John at Blues Creek Guitars. LMI and Steward McDonald also sell very good kits and Martin puts out good kits as well but their instructions have a bit to be desired.

Any way you go stay slow and patent don't try to rush. Make sure you have studied each process and understand that process, as well as the goal of that process.

Take and keep shop notes on every process, successes and shortcomings they will not mean a lot on the first build other than to keep you slow and focused. However they will mean much more on every build from there after.

Don't get to wrapped up in prettiness on first builds. Some simple IERW or Mahogany are great wood to start with an will produce great tone.

The biggest mistake you can make is to be in a hurry to finish your first guitar. Take your time. Plan things through, do multiple dry runs before you glue and clamp anything. Read, read and read some more. Then when you do get started keep copious notes. I buy a new spiral notebook for each guitar I build. I go back read them regularly to review my successes and difficulties.

Oh and always keep in the back of your mind that to become a a great craftsman you must first make all the mistakes before you can learn not to make any.

J.R im tooling up too. i would take the advice on the Cumpiano book. Its a great book to start with. My first will be a 14 OM style. I also bought most of the other popular books including Slones steel string. He also has a classical book that i did not get yet. The kinkade book is quite good and so is the williams book. There is a new book called guitar making by alex willis thats pretty good. He builds guitars with a spanish type heal like a clasical.

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Guitars, guitars and more guitars.

Hi JR,

I, too, am tooling up.  I decided to go with a 14 fret OM, as it seems to be a "standard", and there is alot of info on this model available through this forum and books.  I would recommend studying the archives here at OLF - which is what I am doing.  I have the books mentioned here, but I would also recommend the following:

 - Finochio videos: I find these to be very straight forward and very helpful

 - Robbert O'Brien Build a Steel String DVD

 - Robbert O'Brien Finishing DVD:  I am very concerned with a few areas of guitar building.  Finishing was certainly one!  However, I recently viewed this entire DVD, and have at least come up with a direction: French Polish.  Robbie describes this in ways that are understandable to a beginner.

Mayes Videos:  I bought a few of these, and plan to buy more, as I think John also explains things extremely well.

You can spend alot of $ on these videos and books.  However, I like to think of this as an excellent investment, and well worth the money.

Glenn

I just wanted to take the time to thank everyone for your time and advice. I'm glad I asked! Since my "shop" is unheated I'll have plenty of time to continue reading, researching and will have plenty more questions in the future I'm sure.

Thanks a bunch and blessings to all,

J.R.

I built my first guitar with the help of an experienced builder. Though I did much of the work in my own small basement shop, major work like plate thicknessing & side bending were done with help.
If you can find someone to help with your first build, you can avoid some of the more frustrating (& expensive missteps)
Be prepared to pay for the luthier's time. It'll be time & money well spent.
Not that you can't produce a fine instrument on your own... A more experienced hand can just smooth the way.
Have fun with your first project!

J.R.,

You could also consider paying a builder to teach you at their shop. Bill Cumpiano and others do that with some regularity. It gives you the ability to learn and not have to make a huge investment right off the bat on big power tools and the like. Perhaps if you live near one of the fine builders who frequent this forum, they would consider offering you instruction.
I think that you would probably prefer to start with a steel string since they're somewhat less challenging than a classical. Once you get one of those under your belt, then try a classical. From what I've gathered over the years, it's easier to get make a great sounding steel string than a great sounding classical.
The other option of course is a guitar geared to be played with silk & steel strings. That could be fun.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

J. R. consider a kit - you will have plenty of things to screw up and learn even with a nice kit.