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I'm going to be doing a class build with a luthier in May - and hope to learn enough to brave the waters of building my own down the road.

I'd like to know what tools would be required for a basic build.

I'm thinking that I could pay someone to do the thickness sanding for me - and I will also most likely job out the finishing of the guitar. I'm figuring that would save large amounts of cash until I decide if this is something I am skilled at.

So - given that information - where do I find that "black book" that has everything I need to know?

Thanks in advance

Paul

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

Saving lots of money for the building is probably a really good idea. I would ask the person leading the class what you need up front, but you will certainly need a few good chisels, at least a good block plane, and preferably a good bench plane. You'll also need a drill press, or an electric drill of some type that you can control for reasonable precision. Other things might include scrapers, possibly a trim router, maybe a small band saw or a scroll saw. Some people love the Random Orbit Sanders. Thicknessing can be done with a plane and scrapers, if you can't find someone to do it for you. These are the things I think of off the top of my head. I'm sure I'm forgetting some stuff. The book that most recommend is "Guitar Construction, Tradition and Technology" by William Coumpano(sp?), as it covers, both classical and steel string construction basics, and the author has updates on his website. Depending on your interests in types of guitars, there are many other books.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

String and sealing wax and other fancy stuff

Seriously though you could theoreticly build a guitar with a sharp knife, some jello,water, wood and strings. but I woun't not want to.

To define the absolute minimual tools required is a fruitles exersize, It will vary with you wood working experiance. There are several threads in the archive on this very subject. Read those and you will get the many varied opinions.

I always assumed it was ceiling wax - but knew that made no sense at all.

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P A U L   B U R N E R
http://www.wheezetones.com
http://www.slidearts.com

I wish I was my daughter's dog. THAT would be the life!

little Jackie Paper

String is kin to rope and rope, was made from hemp and is a cannabis

Sealing wax was used to seal paper together.

Now you know where the infamous inference to the song talking about smoking pot came from

next conspiracy theory?

Michael, you have been confusing the snot out of me today! Have you been standing around a pile of burning rope?

Paul, Welcome to the OLF!! I too would agree that the first place to look for these answers is with your instructor. There are some who build guitars entirely hand tools, meaning nothing with a motor attached, others who have very well equipped woodworking shops with a wall full of specialized guitar making jigs and everything in between. So take your course and think through each process as you do it asking yourself, "how would I do this in my shop". I know that I have a lot of 'woodworking biases' that I bring to almost every piece of wood I touch. 30 years of my experience is not really going to help you out, you need to gain your own.

Good luck, have fun, be active and again WELCOME!!

Shane

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Canada

Paul, if you're talking a basic build to get yourself started I think the old Sloane book on Classical Guitar Construction will have the minimal hand tools necessary and you can go from there. You can add light bulbs or a heating blanket to his style of bender. If you're building a steel string guitar you just have to make some adjustments, but mostly they are easier. I like a small laminate trimmer for binding but check out the archives for WaddyT's binding cutter. It's great. You would probably want two sanding dishes to radius the top and back and a go bar deck is quite useful for clampingl. If you already do some other woodworking many tools you have may be good for guitarmaking. Then I would check the archives for each step along the way and make sure you have what you need before you dive in. Hope this helps. Have fun.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com