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Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
Considering building guitars
I have been playing Flamenco guitar for maybe 6 months. I also got into woodworking a few years ago and so far have built some gates out of cedar, my own router table and will start soon on some bedroom furniture including a bed, nightstands, and dressers. I have been building my tool collection, skills and knowledge of woodworking and that will continue. I also have come to appreciate working with hand tools such as chisels and hand planes. Some years ago I bought a book called guitar making by William Cumpiano and Jonathan Natelson. At that time I read part way through the book and thought that a guitar must be the most difficult thing you can make out of wood and decided I would never attempt it. Now I think it might be possible, but I am 57 years old and have a lot to learn. So for those experienced Luthiers here, is this something I should take on? How long should I expect it to take before I can build a descent guitar? How many guitars did you have to build before having one sound and play good? I would expect the first one would be just a learning experience and perhaps not playable. How may specialized tools would I need to buy and how much would they cost? How do you find wood that results in a good guitar? I have noticed that there are not that many Flamenco guitar builders and the good ones are very expensive. I realize the market for these guitars is not huge compared to classical and acoustic guitars but maybe it could be a retirement career and/or hobby for me. My current guitar was built by a local guitar maker in his factory in Tijuana, Mexico I might be able to get some help from him when I run into problems.
Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Cervantes)
Hi Joel,
Good luck with your venture. I tried it once, but made a lot of mistakes and didn't have the time to keep it up. I found Courtnall's book helpful and only bought a few specialised tools, thumb plane, nice saw, some chisels, router attachments, lots of clamps etc. I made my own jigs.
If you haven't seen it, you might want to watch my documentary about the building of my guitar by Anders (from the forum) to put you in the mood. It's on YouTube in two parts.
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Cervantes)
Many many questions. Please do a search because its been up many times. Also on other forums.
You forgot one very important thing: You should build in a controlled atmosphere. Ask Escribano what happens if you dont. I have seen the result :) :). (it was a good try) Especially the assembly part, from when you start gluing sticks on the plates untill you have the neck, soundboard/back/ sides assembled is critical with respect of humidity. And then again when its time to glue the bridge.
Just two comments. It took me 3 - 4 month to build my first guitar with very few hand tools and it still sounds and plays like a pro instrument. It looks decently good, but not like what I build now.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
Anders,
Thanks for the tips. When you say controlled environment does that mean both temperature and humidity? Is there any specific humidity level that is ideal? I live in southern California so there usually is isn't big changes in either over the course of a week, but if a Santa Ana condition occurs the humidity can drop quite low for a few days. Would doing that part of the build inside the house instead of the garage be better / sufficient? I do know that when I buy hardwood from the lumber yard it is recommended to let it sit in the shop a few weeks before using it to reduce warping due to humidity changes between the lumber yard and my shop.
Posts: 149
Joined: Jul. 14 2011
From: Newark, DE, USA
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Cervantes)
62 here, very much an amateur and too busy still with work to build more than a couple a year. Age is no issue, have no fear. (Unless arthritis sets in, tap on wood). There is no reason for your first guitar to not be playable. It's not likely to fulfill all your sonic desires, but it will be fun because you did it, and if you take care, it can come out looking very nice as well.
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Cervantes)
Cervantes,
If I were you and had the time and could put together the cost of the trip, I would make a beeline to Stephen Hills' guitar workshop in Herrradura and skip all the bullcrap of learning on my own.
Here is why:
The cost of the trip will be the same as buying a ton of tools you'll eventually need and you will come away with your first guitar being pretty darned good. You will learn a great deal in a short amount of time and be able to ask questions and see how it works first hand.
You will meet fun people, eat good food, have a good teacher and it will one of the experiences of a lifetime. Then after that trip decide if you want to continue and your entre' into building will be much, much better.
Seriously go, don't wait and don't waste time muddling around on your own. Life is too short.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Cervantes)
Jim,
Thanks for the encouraging words.
Stephen,
That workshop sounds like a great experience, but its a long way to go from California and it is a hefty amount of money. I don't know how serious I am about this yet and I have a lot of furniture to build first. After that my skill level should be good enough to try guitars.
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Cervantes)
I will advice you to read a lot first. You can start at the Mimf forum library. Its pretty decent material and you´ll find answers to your very basic questions like tools, humidity etc. Its been discussed a million of times and no need to write about it again.
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Cervantes)
The things I would do ideally from the start: Make dust extraction in the shop a big priority. If you are going make furniture and then guitars, get a huge Jet vacuum system and install hoses to every machine and get the dust out of your life. Humididy control, dust, hearing protection...
And then learn to sharpen chisels and planes so they scare the crap out of you because they are so sharp.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Anders Eliasson
I will advice you to read a lot first. You can start at the Mimf forum library. Its pretty decent material and you´ll find answers to your very basic questions like tools, humidity etc. Its been discussed a million of times and no need to write about it again.
I did find that forum, looks really useful. I started looking into hygrometers, seems to be a lot contention about how accurate they are. Looks like you can get one that can be calibrated and not too expensive.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to estebanana)
quote:
ORIGINAL: estebanana
The things I would do ideally from the start: Make dust extraction in the shop a big priority. If you are going make furniture and then guitars, get a huge Jet vacuum system and install hoses to every machine and get the dust out of your life. Humididy control, dust, hearing protection...
And then learn to sharpen chisels and planes so they scare the crap out of you because they are so sharp.
Yeah dust is a big problem. Right now I have a shop vac I can connect to some tools and I wear a 3M respirator. Works great for fumes when applying finishes, no smell at all. I have some experience with sharpening and think I am pretty good. I have water stones and a leather strop. Of course there is always room for improvement.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: Considering building guitars (in reply to Escribano)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Escribano
Hi Joel,
Good luck with your venture. I tried it once, but made a lot of mistakes and didn't have the time to keep it up. I found Courtnall's book helpful and only bought a few specialised tools, thumb plane, nice saw, some chisels, router attachments, lots of clamps etc. I made my own jigs.
If you haven't seen it, you might want to watch my documentary about the building of my guitar by Anders (from the forum) to put you in the mood. It's on YouTube in two parts.
I started watching and I am inspired, fascinated and intimidated all at the same time. I was wondering if Anders could answer some questions?
What is that large chisel you use to carve the heel?
What kind of glue do you use and how do you keep it off the finished surface of the wood? It looks like you apply it to only one side of the pieces being glued together instead of both. I try to minimize squeeze out by not applying too much glue and then remove it with chisel or scraper after about 30 minutes while glue is still soft but not liquid. Also blue painters tape to protect the wood from the glue helps.
Why do you have somebody else do the French Polish? Is it very hard to learn it, you don't want the smell of the varnish. I guess it makes sense if you know somebody and it doesn't cost too much so you can spend your time on building guitars.
It looks like I will have to build my own bending jig, I did a search online and one designed by Charles Fox seems to be popular.
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