D.I.Y. Acoustic

[~Vintage~]

I don't know why lately I've been wanting to build my own acoustic guitar. A regular 6 string standard, nothing fancy.

Does anybody know of a good online supplier that sells kits or something? I don't have a workshop or a bunch of guitar working tools so I just want to have fun putting one together from like a kit or something.

I have a couple el cheapo acoustics (Kay, Rouge, Delta and a no-name it's so cheap!)

Taylor, Martin, Gibson, etc. are freaking ridiculously priced!:bigeyes: It's like, really? 4 grand for an acoustic? Why don't I just give you my left nut too?:crazy: Jeez:bigeyes:

Any advice and input is greatly appreciated!

 

[MrTondo]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

Perhaps Stewmac has something you like? They are a bit on the expensive side perhaps and require a bit of craftsmanship still, but should be fairly doable.

 

[~Vintage~]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

Perhaps Stewmac has something you like? They are a bit on the expensive side perhaps and require a bit of craftsmanship still, but should be fairly doable.

Oh cool, duh! I was looking at Warmoth and saw only electrics. I was thinking there was a guitar parts supplier with kits. I forgot about StewMac. Thanks!

 

[Bludave]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

I don't know why lately I've been wanting to build my own acoustic guitar. A regular 6 string standard, nothing fancy.

Does anybody know of a good online supplier that sells kits or something? I don't have a workshop or a bunch of guitar working tools so I just want to have fun putting one together from like a kit or something.

I have a couple el cheapo acoustics (Kay, Rouge, Delta and a no-name it's so cheap!)

Taylor, Martin, Gibson, etc. are freaking ridiculously priced!:bigeyes: It's like, really? 4 grand for an acoustic? Why don't I just give you my left nut too?:crazy: Jeez:bigeyes:

Any advice and input is greatly appreciated!

Without having appropriate tools, I would say its going to be hard to get anything you put together play well. You have to cut a nut, do a fret level, glue in a dovetail neck joint and possibly put a finish on. Its hard to do this without the correct tools. Consider getting a set of nut files, and set of fret leveling tools as well as crowning tools. Otherwise save your money and buy a good guitar. I own 4 Martins, 2 Santa Cruz guitars and a few others. They are all in great playing condition and they are worth every penny I paid for them. yes they are expensive but you get what you pay for. That typed The Stew Mac kits are pretty good.

 

[~Vintage~]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

I just got done reading all the reviews on StewMac's dreadnought kits and they include everything precut (slotted and shaped nut and bridge) the whole nine yards! There are plenty of people who built their first one with no special shop tools at all! The common concensus was they would get the bolt on neck instead of the dovetail for ease of assembly. I might do one and see how it turns out. Some things I might start collecting are a file/chisel set and a bunch of different clamps.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

Without having appropriate tools, I would say its going to be hard to get anything you put together play well. You have to cut a nut, do a fret level, glue in a dovetail neck joint and possibly put a finish on. Its hard to do this without the correct tools. Consider getting a set of nut files, and set of fret leveling tools as well as crowning tools. Otherwise save your money and buy a good guitar. I own 4 Martins, 2 Santa Cruz guitars and a few others. They are all in great playing condition and they are worth every penny I paid for them. yes they are expensive but you get what you pay for. That typed The Stew Mac kits are pretty good.

+1 on this. The specialized tools needed for acoustic building is way more than electrics. Clamps. So many clamps. Many many clamps. How many clamps do you haNOT ENOUGH. YOU NEED AT LEAST 47 MORE CLAMPS.
Seriously. Clamps all up in this binitch.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

For a first I'd try one of the cheaper ebay jobbies.... That's the practice, then you can have at a nice stewmac kit. Better to make all your mistakes while learning on the cheap one than damage a quality set of wood like stewmac provides
Same reason why lots of guys start their guitar building journeys on a pine Tele before they mangle some mahogany
My 2c

 

[~Vintage~]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

For a first I'd try one of the cheaper ebay jobbies.... That's the practice, then you can have at a nice stewmac kit. Better to make all your mistakes while learning on the cheap one than damage a quality set of wood like stewmac provides
Same reason why lots of guys start their guitar building journeys on a pine Tele before they mangle some mahogany
My 2c

Lol, I look forward to effin' some stuff up!
Do you think one of these projects ever reaches completion without a single cuss word being uttered? I can guarantee it never happens. lol

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

Grizzly.com has kits too
they are a woodworking tool supplier
whose owner is a Guitarist

 

[kilphody]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

Check out LMI
It's a daunting task for the initiated. Check out Falbo's bridge bracing.
PC

 

[BloodRose]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

Martin sells kits too. I got on thier email list and they spam me daily!!!! But yeah, they sell kits.. Im sure they would at least be top notch parts!

 

[Grenade]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

This.

 

[kilphody]

Re: D.I.Y. Acoustic

This changes the game. Swapping pu's and mags. You sniffing glue or cutting braces between Sitka and Ad'rondak. Who's bending sides?
With all due respect my friends, keep it electric.
PC