Build Your Own Guitar
Build Your Own Guitar - Are You Up To The Task?
This is a very natural question most prospective luthiers ask themselves. For the casual observer, it must take an awful lot of skill to actually build a guitar. In looking at the completed product, being a finely crafted guitar, one would without doubt be led to think just that.
As I found out, the talents involved to build your own guitar go far beyond your abilities as a woodworker. Sure that is outstanding to have capability with working with wood, but the set of personal skills you need are much more far-reaching. Here is what I mean.
Are You Passionate About Building Your Own Guitar?
Do you have a love for music, or more specifically a love for guitars? It genuinely does not make much difference if it is acoustic guitars, electric guitars, classical guitars or a combination. This drive will take you a long way in the guitar construction trade. You know you are hooked when you receive tingles upon the beginning few strums of a fine handmade guitar.
To Building Your Own Guitar You Need Patience
Believe me when I tell you that I have failed at this more than once. This is kind of strange for me, because I'm normally very patient, but if something does not go as expected, I become frustrated. If you have patience, you will go far with many of the fussy aspects of making your own guitar.
This is a very natural question most prospective luthiers ask themselves. For the casual observer, it must take an awful lot of skill to actually build a guitar. In looking at the completed product, being a finely crafted guitar, one would without doubt be led to think just that.
As I found out, the talents involved to build your own guitar go far beyond your abilities as a woodworker. Sure that is outstanding to have capability with working with wood, but the set of personal skills you need are much more far-reaching. Here is what I mean.
Are You Passionate About Building Your Own Guitar?
Do you have a love for music, or more specifically a love for guitars? It genuinely does not make much difference if it is acoustic guitars, electric guitars, classical guitars or a combination. This drive will take you a long way in the guitar construction trade. You know you are hooked when you receive tingles upon the beginning few strums of a fine handmade guitar.
To Building Your Own Guitar You Need Patience
Believe me when I tell you that I have failed at this more than once. This is kind of strange for me, because I'm normally very patient, but if something does not go as expected, I become frustrated. If you have patience, you will go far with many of the fussy aspects of making your own guitar.
Title.
Ultimate Guitar Plans
Equip Yourself with Fine Luthier Tools:
To produce a great guitar, what type of tools are required. While it is possible for a skilled luthier to produce a notable guitar with a few specialized hand tools, you may need to make your job easier by means of having a few more tools on hand.
This is a very select group of individuals who have received extensive training, or have gained these talents over many years of experience. That was not in the cards for me. I did have the good sense to purchase a great set of hand tools and learned how to work with them.
Build Your Own Guitar - Have a fantastic Set of Guitar Plans:
Just about the first thing you should purchase before you build your own guitar is to purchase a outstanding set of guitar plans. If you like, visit Ultimate Guitar OnLine or Ultimate Guitar Building, where there is a guitar plan for just about any need to build your own guitar.
Being an architect, I know what is required to provide the necessary detail and completeness for a building plan. The plans I produce are very complete and include all dimensions, notes and sections to product a fantastic guitar.
As an added benefit, you will have access to hundreds of guitar building articles to help you to build your own guitar. This will help you with many of the questions you may have.
To produce a great guitar, what type of tools are required. While it is possible for a skilled luthier to produce a notable guitar with a few specialized hand tools, you may need to make your job easier by means of having a few more tools on hand.
This is a very select group of individuals who have received extensive training, or have gained these talents over many years of experience. That was not in the cards for me. I did have the good sense to purchase a great set of hand tools and learned how to work with them.
Build Your Own Guitar - Have a fantastic Set of Guitar Plans:
Just about the first thing you should purchase before you build your own guitar is to purchase a outstanding set of guitar plans. If you like, visit Ultimate Guitar OnLine or Ultimate Guitar Building, where there is a guitar plan for just about any need to build your own guitar.
Being an architect, I know what is required to provide the necessary detail and completeness for a building plan. The plans I produce are very complete and include all dimensions, notes and sections to product a fantastic guitar.
As an added benefit, you will have access to hundreds of guitar building articles to help you to build your own guitar. This will help you with many of the questions you may have.
Title.
Build Your Own Classical Guitar
What skill Levels Are Required?
This point is rather subjective, so I have saved it for the last. First of all, you will need a understanding of woodworking tools - that is a given. You of course realize that is a prerequisite.
If you do not have a knowledge of tools, you can hurt yourself and ruin your project with one wrong cut. First, seek the advice of fellow woodworkers and luthiers. They can give you pointers and advice to help you on your way.
Another fantastic source of understanding are Community Education Programs. Although it may be unrealistic to discover guitar building classes per say, you will be able to find classes where you will learn to build fine furniture. If you can build a fine piece of furniture, you certainly will be able to build your own guitar.
The Self Confidence to Build Your Own Guitar:
This one is not difficult for most people who build their own guitar. After you finish your first guitar building project, you will be bursting with self-confidence. Here are the basics you should follow:
This point is rather subjective, so I have saved it for the last. First of all, you will need a understanding of woodworking tools - that is a given. You of course realize that is a prerequisite.
If you do not have a knowledge of tools, you can hurt yourself and ruin your project with one wrong cut. First, seek the advice of fellow woodworkers and luthiers. They can give you pointers and advice to help you on your way.
Another fantastic source of understanding are Community Education Programs. Although it may be unrealistic to discover guitar building classes per say, you will be able to find classes where you will learn to build fine furniture. If you can build a fine piece of furniture, you certainly will be able to build your own guitar.
The Self Confidence to Build Your Own Guitar:
This one is not difficult for most people who build their own guitar. After you finish your first guitar building project, you will be bursting with self-confidence. Here are the basics you should follow:
- First of all - Take Your Time: There is no hurry here to finish this job in record time.
- Are you goal oriented? I know I am, but resist setting goals for yourself - at least for your beginning few guitars.
- Be Sure to Work With Sharp Tools: Adhere to that old saying. My father always told me it was much easier to hurt yourself with a dull tool than a sharp one. You ought to search out as many articles on tool sharpening and tool safety as possible. Keep in mind that we have many articles addressing these issues too.
- Work With Plenty of Lighting: I can't stress this enough. For the elaborate tasks required in building your own guitar, you will need plenty of point source and general shop lighting. also don't discount the importance of natural lighting.
- Become Knowledgeable On This Subject: Read as many books on building your own guitar, woodworking tip and strategies, and read the articles here and learn as much about each step in the building procedure as you can.
