Post by jon on Jul 8, 2019 19:28:16 GMT 12
I've been seeing this course advertised on a yearly basis and have made the usual excuses to not do it I have no wood working skills (seriously)
I can't play a guitar It's too expensive
This year is to be their last for a bit... The course tutor is relocating to Nelson however he did say he'd come back every year to run the course.
So I went and booked it.
He is a fully qualified luthier, I understand, and this is his web site. So I arrived and everyone else played the guitar or the ukelele (the alternative instrument) or had massive wood-working skills (at least compared to me). One guy wants to make a tenor guitar (4-string version). 2 of the guitar makers are going to make nylon string backpackers (the internal ribbing is different to steel string guitars)
Me? I want to learn a bit of woodworking - I have zero woodworking skills, make an instrument for my boy and have a week doing something different!
So along the way, I got to use
a coping saw (powered) a band saw (that broke)
and various other items like a Go-jig, planes, chisels, drills. So at the end of the first day I had this:
The base and sides are of cherry and the top plate is cedar. I've started in on the the neck too.
I had a lot of fun, learnt a lot about woodworking and the importance of sharp tools. Realised that woodworking is not scary however it can be very precise (I'm tending towards the precise end when making the guitar,I understand). In short it was hugely enjoyable.I'll post more on my journey - which should be done be the end of the next weekend
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 8, 2019 21:43:59 GMT 12
Bravo! Looking forward to seeing more...
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Post by jon on Jul 9, 2019 6:58:43 GMT 12
I had a moment to look at the other quick snaps and found this one... the Go-jig  It has an adjustable base (to increase/decrease pressure) and the sticks are a bamboo floor tile chopped up. So bendy and splintery.
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jul 9, 2019 8:00:34 GMT 12
Youre a braver man than me, but good on you for giving it a go. Might be an incentive to learn a few chords and start to play yourself. Ive found guitar playing to be a great hobby over the years, I come and go with it a bit, and have no desire to perform (having done it a few times over the years). Of course like any hobby it can get expensive the more involved/carried away/obsessive you get with it, but can also be more social and active than just listening to music too. One of the things I have enjoyed about it is how it gives you a greater insight into a song or artist that you previously hadnt noticed. A good book about luthiery is "Claptons Guitar" by Allen St John.
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Post by jon on Jul 9, 2019 20:00:19 GMT 12
more pics. The top plate has all the bracing in place and shaped. I had a boo-boo doing the head on the neck... correctional work to fix that.  
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 9, 2019 20:15:34 GMT 12
Awesome! Looks like there'll be a Truss Rod down the neck - as per usual?
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Post by jon on Jul 9, 2019 22:49:16 GMT 12
Yes, I'm doing a steel string guitar so the truss rod will be inserted. The nylon backpackers don't need it.
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Post by jon on Jul 10, 2019 18:38:10 GMT 12
More progress! The face plate is in the jig ready for tomorrow. The neck (apart from the head stock) is complete. Hand carved by me! Tomorrow I start gluing the top plate and the neck together (after I complete the head)  My back aches, I'm off to have a spa.
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Post by jon on Jul 11, 2019 22:26:13 GMT 12
The next day's work... The neck has been glued to the front plate. The sides have been added in so now it's looking more like a guitar.  Things done not shown: 1) Fret board has had inlay dots inserted, sanded down and polished (you can see just to the left of the jig) 2) Head boo-boos have been finished and new shape created. 3) Bridge has been designed and created. More work needed here Lots still to do...
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Post by colinf on Jul 11, 2019 22:58:51 GMT 12
Reading your posts with interest here. I play a violin and always wondered how they could be made.
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by jon on Jul 12, 2019 20:25:39 GMT 12
Almost complete... This morning the sides and base went on! The 4 clamps are for the heel and the three internal pillars. The bungee chord keeps everything in place.  Then after a pile of sanding to remove blemishes and so on I glued the fretboard and bridge into place  That's Dave, the Course Tutor, by the way. He owns Goldbeard guitars. www.goldbeard.co.nz/
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 12, 2019 20:31:28 GMT 12
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Post by jon on Jul 13, 2019 16:17:09 GMT 12
I like the cam clamps, too. Almost there. Guitar has been sealed, finished to 800 grit and then oiled. Tomorrow I install the pegs, nut and bridge components, string her up and she'll be ready to play 
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jul 13, 2019 17:14:38 GMT 12
Excellent work, looks just like a bought one. Might I recommend D'Addario EJ26 strings for it, which are my favourite strings atm.
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 13, 2019 17:17:26 GMT 12
Are you installing a whammy bar?  Seriously... what wood is the neck?
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jul 13, 2019 17:25:21 GMT 12
Mahoghany is the usual material for acoustic necks.
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Post by jon on Jul 13, 2019 17:27:18 GMT 12
Yes, mahogany neck, cedar top plate, cherry back, and katalox fretboard. All sorts of wood inside
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Post by jon on Jul 13, 2019 17:36:12 GMT 12
As to strings, I'll take your word for it. Having built this, I will learn to play...
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Post by cartridgeguyonline on Jul 13, 2019 18:51:32 GMT 12
Ultimate guitar tabs for chords and lyrics. Id suggest you start with something like Johnny Cash, nice simple G, C and D chords (cowboy chords...) and progress from there. Add an Em to those and thats the beatles repertoire pretty much, add an Am and thats the eagles add a Dm and thats Dylan. Thats a simplification but not by much. Enjoy !!
Oh and on a HiFi note: its interesting to play your guitar in your music room and note how loud an acoustic instrument really is. Turns that whole absolute sound theory of an instrument in your lounge into complete twaddle IMO
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Post by jon on Jul 14, 2019 10:46:27 GMT 12
Well, she's done! I am immensely grateful to Dave Gilberd of Goldbeard Guitars for leading the course, showing us what to do, providing rescue services frequently for me when I made a mistake (lots of those). Thanks, you are amazing!  Still to do: Get a strap and a mini gig bag.
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Post by Citroen on Jul 14, 2019 10:50:02 GMT 12
Well done Jon, it looks great.
How does it sound?
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Post by Owen Y on Jul 14, 2019 15:26:11 GMT 12
Excellent! Youtube video with sound, please 
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Post by colinf on Jul 14, 2019 21:35:25 GMT 12
Very nice, must be so satisfying to make an instrument yourself. Now all that's left is to learn to play it! Cartridgeguyonline could help you.
AMR-iFi R&D
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Post by jon on Jul 15, 2019 7:56:10 GMT 12
It was really an amazing experience.
However before I start to learn how to play I have to recover from "chisel" hand...
Thank you all for your comments too!
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Post by jon on Jul 15, 2019 8:16:19 GMT 12
Just had a semi-pro jazz guitarist assess it.
His opinion... very true guitar with great intonation. A good student guitar.
I'm really pleased!
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Post by Owen Y on Aug 29, 2019 19:47:03 GMT 12
Welcome to our forums @harura! 
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