My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
truly own such a thing.
Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
objects that might be made of wood.
They are so much more alive than a hutch.
I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
Soul tunes.
My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less than
he is.
Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
conclusion.
Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
books on the making of a guitar.
Fear kept me away from the making.
I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
Tom Watson - WoodDorker
tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
Tom Watson wrote:
> Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
> objects that might be made of wood.
Next to pool cues. :-)
http://www.showcasebilliards.com/showcase_cues/individual_cues/01032_cue.html
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21212&item=7177114513
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21212&item=7178644104
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21212&item=7188081618
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21212&item=7187658830
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=21212&item=7189829292
LRod wrote:
> On 9 Nov 2005 16:05:47 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>
> >
> >Tom Watson wrote:
> >> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 ...
> >---snip---
> >>.... the making of a guitar.
> >>
> >> Fear kept me away from the making.
> >>
> >> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
> >
> >
> >I think it's a truism that the best musical instrument makers play, but
> >aren't the best musicians.
>
> Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach are
> instrument makers.
which leaves me even lower than dirt- I can't play, teach or build
instruments- my hearing is too far gone.
Tom;
I heartily recommend it! I've been building solid-body guitars & basses
for about 4 years now, and up until this winter I'd been saying "I can
do this, but an acoustic instrument--no way!"
Then last Fall I watched a 4-episode show on DIY Network called
"Handmade Music" which chronicles the building of a D-28 style guitar by
Lynn Dudenbostel, a luthier who lives in Chattanooga TN. I recorded all
four episodes on my Tivo, and watched them again. And again. And I said
to myself, "Shoot, I can do that!"
Here's the results:
Number One:
http://www.cyrguitars.com/AG_ShesGotStrings01.JPG
Numbers 2 and 3:
http://www.cyrguitars.com/ABG5_TheTwoABGsTogether_small.JPG
Number 4 (Still under construction):
http://www.cyrguitars.com/AG12_NeckOnBody3.JPG
http://www.cyrguitars.com/AG12_NeckOnBody01.JPG
Number one was in a sense a kit. I bought a pre-carved neck, and had
the sides pre-bent. The top was a Martin-factory reject with the rosette
already installed. The rest were scratch-built except for the sides,
which I bought pre-bent.
There are a lot of resources on the Web that provide all kinds of advice
& counsel on guitar building. You'll find that you'll be making all
sorts of special tools and jigs, and that's part of the fun!
Take a look at these pages on my web site:
http://www.cyrguitars.com/AcousticProjectPage.html
Good luck!
--Steve
Tom Watson wrote:
> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>
> It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
> truly own such a thing.
>
> Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
> objects that might be made of wood.
>
> They are so much more alive than a hutch.
>
> I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
> chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
> Soul tunes.
>
> My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less than
> he is.
>
> Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
> conclusion.
>
> Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
> books on the making of a guitar.
>
> Fear kept me away from the making.
>
> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>
>
> Tom Watson - WoodDorker
> tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
> http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
Odinn wrote:
> On 11/9/2005 8:53 PM Steve mumbled something about the following:
>
>> Odinn wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> DIY just had a show on handmaking a D-28 replica. I just finished
>>> watching it. Lots of work going into it, but looked to be well worth
>>> it.
>>>
>>
>> Was it the one that featured Luthier Lynn Dudenbostel? If so, it's
>> the show that inspired me to build mine.
>
>
> That's the one and the same. Ever since I got my first Grizzly
> catalogue, I've been itching to build myself a 6-string to go along with
> my 12-string Ovation as well as an electric. I've got some nice red
> maple that I think would make a nice hardbody (after I spalt it, of
> course).
>
Do you mean something like this one?
http://www.cyrguitars.com/12-String-001.jpg
Or did you mean an acoustic 12-string?
BTW, that DIYNet program was the thing that inspired me to try building
an acoustic instrument, after building solid-bodies for three years.
--Steve
Tom Watson wrote:
> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>
> It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
> truly own such a thing.
>
> Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
> objects that might be made of wood.
>
> They are so much more alive than a hutch.
>
> I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
> chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
> Soul tunes.
>
> My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less than
> he is.
>
> Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
> conclusion.
>
> Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
> books on the making of a guitar.
>
> Fear kept me away from the making.
>
> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>
>
> Tom Watson - WoodDorker
> tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
> http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
About the time I started building my first acoustic guitar in January, I
found this web site, which has step-by-step illustrated instructions on
building an acoustic guitar. It was very helpful to me.
http://www.hoffmanguitars.com/building_a_guitar.htm
Take a look--this is a great resource for the beginning guitar builder.
Also, you might consider a kit. They're available from Martin, from
Stewart-MacDonald (www.stewmac.com), and Luthier's Mercantile
(www,lmii.com). And there's at least one vendor on Ebay that sells
acoustic guitar kits as well.
--Steve
Glen wrote:
>>
> Steve,
>
> What a fantastic site. You do beautiful work. I intend to study your
> pages because one of my dreams is to build my own solid body bass. I
> have been reading up on it, and it seems so complex that I am literally
> afraid to put the time and money into it for fear that I will end up
> with some rather expenive firewood. Your site gives me hope.
>
> Glen
Thanks! I started by assembling instruments from purchased parts, but
graduated to making them myself almost 4 years ago. I've only bought
one body since--for a customer who wanted a Strat with a quilted maple
body and a transparent red finish. It was more economical for him to
purchase a body than for me to make one for him.
I'm conviced that anyone with good woodworking skills and an
understanding of how these things are put together can do it!
BTW, Stewart-MacDonald (www.stewmac.com) has a book that describes how
to build solod-body electric guitars in detail--you might want to get a
copy.
--Steve
On 11/10/2005 12:13 AM Steve mumbled something about the following:
> Odinn wrote:
>
>> On 11/9/2005 8:53 PM Steve mumbled something about the following:
>>
>>> Odinn wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> DIY just had a show on handmaking a D-28 replica. I just finished
>>>> watching it. Lots of work going into it, but looked to be well
>>>> worth it.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Was it the one that featured Luthier Lynn Dudenbostel? If so, it's
>>> the show that inspired me to build mine.
>>
>>
>>
>> That's the one and the same. Ever since I got my first Grizzly
>> catalogue, I've been itching to build myself a 6-string to go along
>> with my 12-string Ovation as well as an electric. I've got some nice
>> red maple that I think would make a nice hardbody (after I spalt it,
>> of course).
>>
>
> Do you mean something like this one?
>
> http://www.cyrguitars.com/12-String-001.jpg
>
> Or did you mean an acoustic 12-string?
>
> BTW, that DIYNet program was the thing that inspired me to try building
> an acoustic instrument, after building solid-bodies for three years.
>
Err, I have an Ibanez 12 string acoustic, not an Ovation. One of my
ex's kept the Ovation I had and I have no recollection of what happened
to my Martin DM12 other than possibly selling it for drugs in my younger
days.
I want a hardbody 6 string, that's what I was thinking for building from
some spalted maple. I don't think maple would make a good soundboard
for an acoustic.
--
Odinn
RCOS #7 SENS BS ???
"The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never
worshiped anything but himself." -- Sir Richard Francis Burton
Reeky's unofficial homepage ... http://www.reeky.org
'03 FLHTI ........... http://www.sloanclan.org/gallery/ElectraGlide
'97 VN1500D ......... http://www.sloanclan.org/gallery/VulcanClassic
Atlanta Biker Net ... http://www.atlantabiker.net
Vulcan Riders Assoc . http://www.vulcanriders.org
rot13 [email protected] to reply
On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 18:42:54 -0500, Tom Watson <[email protected]>
wrote:
>My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>
>It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
>truly own such a thing.
>
>Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
>objects that might be made of wood.
>
>They are so much more alive than a hutch.
>
>I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
>chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
>Soul tunes.
>
>My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less than
>he is.
>
>Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
>conclusion.
>
>Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
>books on the making of a guitar.
>
>Fear kept me away from the making.
>
>I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>
>
>Tom Watson - WoodDorker
>tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
>http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
Tom, the D-28 is a beautiful thing, you are lucky to have it. I
couldn't agree more that wooden instruments are one pinnacle of the
art, better still if you can play worth a damn, which I can't and
never could. Certainly not worthy of a D-28.
I've always wanted to try building one, but have been fearful of the
size of the task...do I have anywhere near enough patience, let alone
skill?
But Martin does sell those kits...maybe a way to test the water and
build confidence.
Best of luck if you take the plunge.
Paul
"Odinn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> I want a hardbody 6 string, that's what I was thinking for building from
> some spalted maple. I don't think maple would make a good soundboard
> for an acoustic.
Not sure how good maple would be for a solid body. A maple cap on mahogany
makes for a nice look and nice tone, but maple itself, I'm not so sure
about.
--
-Mike-
[email protected]
On 9 Nov 2005 21:51:35 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>
>LRod wrote:
>> On 9 Nov 2005 16:05:47 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >Tom Watson wrote:
>> >> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 ...
>> >---snip---
>> >>.... the making of a guitar.
>> >>
>> >> Fear kept me away from the making.
>> >>
>> >> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>> >
>> >
>> >I think it's a truism that the best musical instrument makers play, but
>> >aren't the best musicians.
>>
>> Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach are
>> instrument makers.
>
>which leaves me even lower than dirt- I can't play, teach or build
>instruments- my hearing is too far gone.
At least I can still hear (sorta). Last Sunday I heard BB King in
concert. Again.
"Tom Watson" wrote in message
> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>
> It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
> truly own such a thing.
Check out page 6 of November 2005 "Acoustic Guitar" magazine ... a full page
ad using SWMBO's '77 Collings Custom OM cut-a-way.
Another beautiful piece of wood .... but it's got too damn many strings for
me.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/05
On 11/9/2005 8:53 PM Steve mumbled something about the following:
> Odinn wrote:
>
>>
>> DIY just had a show on handmaking a D-28 replica. I just finished
>> watching it. Lots of work going into it, but looked to be well worth it.
>>
>
> Was it the one that featured Luthier Lynn Dudenbostel? If so, it's the
> show that inspired me to build mine.
That's the one and the same. Ever since I got my first Grizzly
catalogue, I've been itching to build myself a 6-string to go along with
my 12-string Ovation as well as an electric. I've got some nice red
maple that I think would make a nice hardbody (after I spalt it, of course).
--
Odinn
RCOS #7 SENS BS ???
"The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never
worshiped anything but himself." -- Sir Richard Francis Burton
Reeky's unofficial homepage ... http://www.reeky.org
'03 FLHTI ........... http://www.sloanclan.org/gallery/ElectraGlide
'97 VN1500D ......... http://www.sloanclan.org/gallery/VulcanClassic
Atlanta Biker Net ... http://www.atlantabiker.net
Vulcan Riders Assoc . http://www.vulcanriders.org
rot13 [email protected] to reply
A number of years ago, I attended some one-week summer classes at a college
in West Virginia. The classes were mostly about music & dancing (mostly
making the former and doing the latter), but they also has a number of
"craft" classes, ranging all the way up to building a log cabin (they built
it right there on campus). The classes were almost all about one week's
duration, but there were so many that the whole program lasted about four or
five weeks. Each week had some sort of "theme," such as "Dance Week" or
"Blues Week" or "Bluegrass Week." This was a total immersion learning
experience--you stayed in a dorm room, ate at the school cafeteria, went to
classes during the day, attended evening concerts given by the instructors,
practiced and/or played in jam sessions around campus 'til the wee hours,
drank at the campus pub (where EVERYBODY played and sang better), rolled
into bed, then got up and started all over.
Finally getting to the point, I remember that over the years there were a
number of different instrument-making classes. In fact, one of my most
wonderful memories was a concert in which the instructor in the
guitar-building class was up on stage with a fellow named Robin Kessinger,
and they just sat there and played off one another (flat pickin') still
smoke started coming off their fingers. When they finished, bowed, and left
the stage, the applause JUST WOULD NOT STOP (there was a STRICT no encore
policy in effect). Well after a while, the Program Director came out on
stage and asked the audience to please sit down and stop applauding so that
they could get on with the program. Well, that didn't work, so after a
while, they came out and asked again. When it STILL didn't work, they
finally relented and sent the two of them back out for an encore. I'll
never forget that.
My recommendation here is that you look into Augusta Heritage
http://www.augustaheritage.com/index.html or some similar program. I think
you'll be delighted that you took the time. Who knows? Maybe your wife
will sign up for a class too. Believe me, it's worth your time.
BruceT
"Tom Watson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>
> It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
> truly own such a thing.
>
> Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
> objects that might be made of wood.
>
> They are so much more alive than a hutch.
>
> I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
> chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
> Soul tunes.
>
> My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less than
> he is.
>
> Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
> conclusion.
>
> Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
> books on the making of a guitar.
>
> Fear kept me away from the making.
>
> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>
>
> Tom Watson - WoodDorker
> tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
> http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
Steve wrote:
> Tom;
>
> I heartily recommend it! I've been building solid-body guitars & basses
> for about 4 years now, and up until this winter I'd been saying "I can
> do this, but an acoustic instrument--no way!"
>
> Then last Fall I watched a 4-episode show on DIY Network called
> "Handmade Music" which chronicles the building of a D-28 style guitar by
> Lynn Dudenbostel, a luthier who lives in Chattanooga TN. I recorded all
> four episodes on my Tivo, and watched them again. And again. And I said
> to myself, "Shoot, I can do that!"
>
> Here's the results:
>
> Number One:
> http://www.cyrguitars.com/AG_ShesGotStrings01.JPG
>
> Numbers 2 and 3:
> http://www.cyrguitars.com/ABG5_TheTwoABGsTogether_small.JPG
>
> Number 4 (Still under construction):
> http://www.cyrguitars.com/AG12_NeckOnBody3.JPG
> http://www.cyrguitars.com/AG12_NeckOnBody01.JPG
>
> Number one was in a sense a kit. I bought a pre-carved neck, and had
> the sides pre-bent. The top was a Martin-factory reject with the rosette
> already installed. The rest were scratch-built except for the sides,
> which I bought pre-bent.
>
> There are a lot of resources on the Web that provide all kinds of advice
> & counsel on guitar building. You'll find that you'll be making all
> sorts of special tools and jigs, and that's part of the fun!
>
> Take a look at these pages on my web site:
>
> http://www.cyrguitars.com/AcousticProjectPage.html
>
> Good luck!
>
> --Steve
>
Steve,
What a fantastic site. You do beautiful work. I intend to study your
pages because one of my dreams is to build my own solid body bass. I
have been reading up on it, and it seems so complex that I am literally
afraid to put the time and money into it for fear that I will end up
with some rather expenive firewood. Your site gives me hope.
Glen
"Lyndell Thompson" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Definitely check out www.grizzly.com . I got a chance to see their
> MO showroom and it has a dedicated luthier shop. They have even more
> in their catalog.
> Good Luck Lyndell
>
>
> "Tom Watson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>>
>> It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
>> truly own such a thing.
>>
>> Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
>> objects that might be made of wood.
>>
>> They are so much more alive than a hutch.
>>
>> I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
>> chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
>> Soul tunes.
>>
>> My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less
>> than he is.
>>
>> Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
>> conclusion.
>>
>> Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
>> books on the making of a guitar.
>>
>> Fear kept me away from the making.
>>
>> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>>
>>
>> Tom Watson - WoodDorker
>> tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
>> http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
>
>
Greetings....
I know what you mean about the beauty of musical instruments...I bought
the grizzly classical kit, and have been tinkering with it for a while
now...it plays pretty good and sounds pretty good, and was easy to
complete...mine had a very nice spruce top, with maple sides and a poplar
neck...for the money I think you can turn out a decent instrument....
just my 2 cents....
DCH
On 11/9/2005 6:42 PM Tom Watson mumbled something about the following:
> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>
> It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
> truly own such a thing.
>
> Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
> objects that might be made of wood.
>
> They are so much more alive than a hutch.
>
> I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
> chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
> Soul tunes.
>
> My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less than
> he is.
>
> Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
> conclusion.
>
> Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
> books on the making of a guitar.
>
> Fear kept me away from the making.
>
> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
DIY just had a show on handmaking a D-28 replica. I just finished
watching it. Lots of work going into it, but looked to be well worth it.
--
Odinn
RCOS #7 SENS BS ???
"The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never
worshiped anything but himself." -- Sir Richard Francis Burton
Reeky's unofficial homepage ... http://www.reeky.org
'03 FLHTI ........... http://www.sloanclan.org/gallery/ElectraGlide
'97 VN1500D ......... http://www.sloanclan.org/gallery/VulcanClassic
Atlanta Biker Net ... http://www.atlantabiker.net
Vulcan Riders Assoc . http://www.vulcanriders.org
rot13 [email protected] to reply
On 9 Nov 2005 16:05:47 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>
>Tom Watson wrote:
>> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 ...
>---snip---
>>.... the making of a guitar.
>>
>> Fear kept me away from the making.
>>
>> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>
>
>I think it's a truism that the best musical instrument makers play, but
>aren't the best musicians.
Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach are
instrument makers.
--
LRod
Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite
Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999
http://www.woodbutcher.net
Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997
On 11/11/2005 7:55 AM Mike Marlow mumbled something about the following:
> "Odinn" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>
>>I want a hardbody 6 string, that's what I was thinking for building from
>>some spalted maple. I don't think maple would make a good soundboard
>>for an acoustic.
>
>
> Not sure how good maple would be for a solid body. A maple cap on mahogany
> makes for a nice look and nice tone, but maple itself, I'm not so sure
> about.
>
http://www.specimenproducts.com/instru/blue.html
1955 Les Paul TV model specs: Maple body, full 24.75" scale, neck meets
body at 16th fret. By mid to late 1955 mahogany bodies are the norm for
this model (serial# 5 57xx maple, 511xxx mahogany).
From Godin's website
We use premium grade rock maple in the Detour, Radiator, SD, Exit 22,
Freeway Classic and Freeway 4 & 5 models.
http://www.hohnerusa.com/gbassbbass.htm
http://www.carvin.com/wood_finish/
Lot's of companies use maple for the body. It's all about the sound you
want to get, and the weight you want to end up with.
--
Odinn
RCOS #7 SENS BS ???
"The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never
worshiped anything but himself." -- Sir Richard Francis Burton
Reeky's unofficial homepage ... http://www.reeky.org
'03 FLHTI ........... http://www.sloanclan.org/gallery/ElectraGlide
'97 VN1500D ......... http://www.sloanclan.org/gallery/VulcanClassic
Atlanta Biker Net ... http://www.atlantabiker.net
Vulcan Riders Assoc . http://www.vulcanriders.org
rot13 [email protected] to reply
Trapped! Trapped! Say goodbye to the cabinets - you're a doomed man! :^)
No, really, lutherie is a gas, and I had 1/1,000,000'th of your experience when
I tried my first one. I'm glad I don't need or care to earn a living from it,
though.
Jim Kirby
Tom Watson wrote:
> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>
> It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
> truly own such a thing.
>
> Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
> objects that might be made of wood.
>
> They are so much more alive than a hutch.
>
> I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
> chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
> Soul tunes.
>
> My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less than
> he is.
>
> Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
> conclusion.
>
> Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
> books on the making of a guitar.
>
> Fear kept me away from the making.
>
> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>
>
> Tom Watson - WoodDorker
> tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
> http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
--
James T. Kirby
Center for Applied Coastal Research
University of Delaware
Newark, DE 19716
phone: 302-831-2438
fax: 302-831-1228
email: [email protected]
http://chinacat.coastal.udel.edu/~kirby
James T. Kirby said:
>Trapped! Trapped! Say goodbye to the cabinets - you're a doomed man! :^)
Know the feeling...
>No, really, lutherie is a gas, and I had 1/1,000,000'th of your experience when
>I tried my first one. I'm glad I don't need or care to earn a living from it,
>though.
Same here. But when a friend shows me his new acoustic guitar, I flip
it up and peer inside and see a tiny little sticker that says Made in
Korea - can't help but feel kinda sad... But you still have to smile
and strum a few strings and comment on how nicely it wounds.
Can't help but remember the first time playing a Korean piano.
Tight sound, good action, shy in the bass region, but not at all what
I was _used_ to hearing. It was so... sterile... I suppose it's a
personal thing. Like the wood was a little TOO tightly grained...
Yeah, give me some of that old, sloppy grained American wood.
I want harmonics!
So I may take a stab at it - it couldn't sound any worse than my
playing. Creating _nice_ sounding instruments is a black science...
Good Luck with your new obsession... <g>
FWIW,
Greg G.
On Wed, 9 Nov 2005 18:08:43 -0600, "Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote:
>"Tom Watson" wrote in message
>> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>>
>> It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
>> truly own such a thing.
>
>Check out page 6 of November 2005 "Acoustic Guitar" magazine ... a full page
>ad using SWMBO's '77 Collings Custom OM cut-a-way.
>
>Another beautiful piece of wood .... but it's got too damn many strings for
>me.
Ah, hell, ya'll bass men know that them two little bitty strings at
the bottom is only for show.
Heee.
Tom Watson - WoodDorker
tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
LRod said:
>On 9 Nov 2005 16:05:47 -0800, [email protected] wrote:
>>
>>Tom Watson wrote:
>>> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 ...
>>---snip---
>>>.... the making of a guitar.
>>>
>>> Fear kept me away from the making.
>>>
>>> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>>
>>
>>I think it's a truism that the best musical instrument makers play, but
>>aren't the best musicians.
>
>Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Those who can't teach are
>instrument makers.
And here I was, considering the construction of a Western style
acoustic guitar, and you post this. Played when I was much younger,
but it never sounded quite a good as a professional (whatever THAT is)
musician. I have a very old, nicely detailed solid body electric made
in Sweden, but it just doesn't have the sound that a nice acoustic
does...
Now I'm thinking, "What's the point?" It'll sound like crap when I
get my hands on it anyway...
Greg G.
On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 19:28:33 -0500, Paul Franklin
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>Tom, the D-28 is a beautiful thing, you are lucky to have it. I
>couldn't agree more that wooden instruments are one pinnacle of the
>art, better still if you can play worth a damn, which I can't and
>never could. Certainly not worthy of a D-28.
>
>I've always wanted to try building one, but have been fearful of the
>size of the task...do I have anywhere near enough patience, let alone
>skill?
>
>But Martin does sell those kits...maybe a way to test the water and
>build confidence.
>
>Best of luck if you take the plunge.
>
>Paul
Ya know what's really disgusting?
Nazareth is just up the road a piece - and I've never made the
pilgrimage.
It's sorta like the guy who grew up in Philadelphia and never visited
the Liberty Bell.
(damn - that describes me)
I really need to start thinking about getting my shit together.
Before it's too late.
Tom Watson - WoodDorker
tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 18:42:54 -0500, Tom Watson wrote:
> Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six books on
> the making of a guitar.
>
> Fear kept me away from the making.
>
> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
I made a xylophone a few years ago that I really enjoyed making and
playing, although I never practiced enough to get good at it. Finally
gave it to the grandkids.
I've got a hankering to build a hammered dulcimer next, or maybe just a
plucked one, but my project list is already long.
If you've got the time, have at it. At the very least you'll learn
something.
On Wed, 09 Nov 2005 18:42:54 -0500, Tom Watson <[email protected]>
wrote:
>My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>
>It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
>truly own such a thing.
>
>Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
>objects that might be made of wood.
>
>They are so much more alive than a hutch.
>
>I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
>chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
>Soul tunes.
>
>My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less than
>he is.
>
>Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
>conclusion.
>
>Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
>books on the making of a guitar.
>
>Fear kept me away from the making.
>
>I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>
>
Go for it and let us know how it comes out. I've thought about it
(making instruments) a number of times. Have two sons that are
accomplished musicians. Youngest plays the upright bass. he's been
through the classical, blue grass and jazz phases. Other son sticks
to the electric bass and acoustic six string and is very good.
Problem is they are better musicians by far than I am a woodworker.
And Swingman, if you read this, try to catch my neice, Rachel, at one
of those little oprys around Richmond/Rosenburg. Tiny little girl,
absolute treat.
Frank
>Tom Watson - WoodDorker
>tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
>http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
Definitely check out www.grizzly.com . I got a chance to see their MO
showroom and it has a dedicated luthier shop. They have even more in their
catalog.
Good Luck Lyndell
"Tom Watson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My wife gave me a Martin D-28 for my birthday, five years ago.
>
> It is one of the most beautiful wooden objects that I own, if you can
> truly own such a thing.
>
> Musical instruments have always been, to me, among the most wonderful
> objects that might be made of wood.
>
> They are so much more alive than a hutch.
>
> I am not a particularly good guitarist - I think that I maxed out at
> chord banging behind a bunch of guys singing CSNY and old Blue-Eyed
> Soul tunes.
>
> My attempts at being Ricky Skaggs have resulted in something less than
> he is.
>
> Wes Montgomery was always out of reach, but that is a recent
> conclusion.
>
> Before my wife put a bullet in my misery, I purchase at least six
> books on the making of a guitar.
>
> Fear kept me away from the making.
>
> I'm thinking that I might try it now, as a lark.
>
>
> Tom Watson - WoodDorker
> tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (email)
> http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1/ (website)
Greg G. wrote:
> Know the feeling...
> Same here. But when a friend shows me his new acoustic guitar, I flip
> it up and peer inside and see a tiny little sticker that says Made in
> Korea - can't help but feel kinda sad... But you still have to smile
> and strum a few strings and comment on how nicely it wounds.
Here in Los Angeles, there is a Mexican/American family, now in the 2nd
or 3rd generation, that custom build acoustic guitars.
They build them strictly for the pros.
If you have to ask "How Much?", you can't afford.
Lew