Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs

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VietFlamenco

Posts: 140
Joined: Aug. 1 2010

Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs

Hello,

Recently i've been obsessed with wanting to build my own guitar. Currently doing some research at the library and reading plenty of guitar construction books. To be honest though, i'm not much of a handiman. My toolset consists of a screw driver, a hammer, and some nails...

My question for you professional luthiers out there is this. How much will I be spending on tools if i'm serious about building a well made guitar? Assume that I have no tools.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2010 19:56:59

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to VietFlamenco)

you could spend a lot.

or a little.

Ultimately that's up to you. You don't absolutely need a router, or power tools. but they often help.

You do need:

a plane with a good blade and a strong sole.
a set of chisels that is decent
sharpening stones or sandpaper and a guide for grinding your tools
a good sharp saw
a good sharp knife (not like the kind you normally think of)
scrapers
glue
some clamps,
a bit of rope or inner tube
patience

almost every task can be done with those, it would really benefit you to have some accurate measuring devices as well. straight edge, calipers and that sort of thing

you may want:
a router, trim router that is
a bunch of plywood
some really nice chisels and planes
a bandsaw
a scroll saw
a table saw
a bunch of the junk in the bogdanovich book
sharks w/w/o lasers
a workbench
turkey sandwich
drill press, and drill bits with brad points
various reamers and things
a grinding wheel
a buffing arbor
belt sander
etc

so for the cheap way, you might be able to get out for a grand

the expensive way... sky is the limit!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2010 22:12:52

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to VietFlamenco)

Don't forget fretting tools...

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2010 22:15:51

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to VietFlamenco)

he could buy a preslotted fb and just pound em in without leveling or crowning lol

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2010 22:25:23

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to HemeolaMan)

quote:

he could buy a preslotted fb and just pound em in without leveling or crowning lol

lol true I guess but you still probably need a fret hammer

At bare minimum that and a 3 corner file w/ safe edge for rounding the ends. And some kind of clipper to cut em.

I'd put a big emphasis on accurate measuring tools

A couple of rasps and files are handy

And a bending iron if you want your sides bent (I keep thinking of more..

)

A vise will make your life 10x easier

_____________________________

Andy Culpepper, luthier
http://www.andyculpepper.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2010 22:48:02

rodpacheco

Posts: 80
Joined: Apr. 19 2010
From: Mexico

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to VietFlamenco)

clothes pins!! from the dollar shop, etc. about a hundred to glue the linings or "caprichos" which will be glue at the edge of the sides to the Top and Back. Very usefull and pretty cheap.

and masking tape for when you glue bindings to the guitar (under the rope or inner tube mentioned above).

a very good thing to have is a circle cutter attached to a dremel tool for example, for inlaying the rosette and cutting the soundhole. it goes for 10 bucks on the internet, if you can borrow the Dremel, etc. This can be done by hand making yourself a gramil to mark in position and cleaning the channel with Chisels.

a soft carpet door mat for when doing fretwork or protecting the wood at final stages.

Straight edge, square ruler, small ruler and Caliper are a most have too, at least for me. Those are the tools I will most likely keep on my work table/bench.

I have read many times that whatever money you spend on tools, will be better put to use if you continue building more guitars ofcourse, if you want to get into it... Or borrow/rent or use the services of woodshops in the area. However, don't worry too much about not being so handy YET, just make one and take it from there!

Congratulations for your determination on your project!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2010 23:13:58

rodpacheco

Posts: 80
Joined: Apr. 19 2010
From: Mexico

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to rodpacheco)

I will also recommend you check this out:

http://mysite.ncnetwork.net/resr7g3w//

You will be able to see the tools required for the job at each step. And will see the use of JIGS.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2010 23:21:14

CuerdasDulces

Posts: 277
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Toronto

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to VietFlamenco)

Hi VietFlamenco,

I too am very interested in learning how to make my own guitar and like you I have been reading and doing some research. I found this video online that you can buy that seems to have some good info about Tools, Wood and stuff you will need to start off with. Here is the link http://www.hotstringsguitar.com/dvd-wood-tools-plans.php
Also there is another video by Benito Huipe where he shows you how to make a guitar without buying expensive tools http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Video,_DVD/Acoustic_guitar_building/Classical_and_Flamenco_Guitarmaking.html
What do you luthiers on the foro think about these videos? Would they be any help to start off with guitar building?
I have not seen any of these videos so if anyone here has please give your opinion about them.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 5 2010 23:48:59

Armando

Posts: 302
Joined: May 27 2005
From: Zürich, Switzerland

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to VietFlamenco)

Hy VietFlamenco

Well the tools that you have at hand at the moment will not really be of much use to you if you want to build a good quality instrument.

O.k. selfmade guitarmaking is not availlable for free regardless of your ambitions.
I have spent quite some money in tonewood and tools. Actually i have started to build guitars because i could not afford to buy a good one. Meanwhile i have spend more money into all the tonewood and equipment as the guitar of my dreams would have cost. However, the difference is that i have built my guitars by myself and believe me, that gives you another feeling when you play it. Secondly i'm now able to build as much guitars as i want. It's just a matter of time.

According to your synonim i guess you are vietnamese. So if this is the case you will usually have to deal with different problems such as lack of money for expencive tools, the high air humiditiy in your area and the lack of adequate wood for soundboards. O.k, don't worry, there are other luthiers on this planet facing similar problems. For instance, mexican luthiers from Paracho come to my mind. So if you want to make first quality instruments without spending a fortune i recommend you to study the Paracho way of making guitars. There is a video or dvd from the Paracho luthier Benito Huipe sold thru www.fernandezmusic.com

The cost of for the setup of a workshop will be limited as long as you go with the Paracho way of building and your aim is to build guitars for the local market only.
As soon as you want to export instruments you will have to deal with additional issues.

Nowadays even the Paracho luthiers such as Benito are using air condition in their workshop in order to avoid damage of the intruments when exported to countries with dryer climate.

best regards and good luck

Armando

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 11 2010 17:55:57

Pgh_flamenco

Posts: 1506
Joined: Dec. 5 2007
From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to VietFlamenco)

Craigslist is a great place to find used, quality power tools at low prices. I picked up a used Hitachi vs jig saw w/case and accessories for $20 (worth about $160 new) and have seen table saws go for $40 that were only a few years old. It's a good idea to learn the difference between the various brands--esp. the stuff Harbor Freight sells. HF has a few good items, but their power tools aren't very good. I constantly see ads on CL for HF power tools.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 11 2010 19:02:21

VietFlamenco

Posts: 140
Joined: Aug. 1 2010

RE: Guitar Constrution Equipment Costs (in reply to VietFlamenco)

Thank you for the great info here guys. It seems like I have to hold onto my guitar building ambitions a little while longer. Being a full time college student and trying to pay for school and construction equipment is nearly impossible for me right now. I'm slowly buying tools 1 piece at a time. Hopefully by the end of the year i'll have all the materials needed.

@Armando

You're right, I'm Vietnamese, but I don't live in Vietnam. I live in California where the weather is much cooler. Don't plan on selling any guitars I make. This is strictly a hobby/obsession. ;)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 11 2010 19:27:09