[NeoMoses]

Anyone here made an acoustic 6-string? I realize this may be a very advanced project, but I'd like to try it if anyone has a tutorial.

[anoel]

I've never built one myself but have been around a few guys that build a lot of them over the years. And I've built a couple of electrics from scratch. I'd highly recommend buying a dreadnaught kit from http://www.stewmac.com or http://www.lmii.com

build one of those and decide what you can with CNC and cannot (or what is quicker to do by hand). (I am assumeing that you are wanting to kick this out on a cnc machine)

I've been dinking around with some misc guitar parts and some of the modelling is a real pain....

[lsfoils]

NeoMoses,
You will find sources for books, parts and kits at Grizzly.com. Do a search on their site under guitar and you will get several hits.

[HomeCNC]

You can also try http://www.musikit.com/ I have purchased plans for the 31 string gothic harp and the hammered dulcimer. They both turned out great! You can also get the full kit as well. They have many guitars to choose from.

[ger21]

An excellent book is Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology, available at http://stewmac.com. I've owned the book for years, just haven't gotten around to building the guitar yet.

Gerry

[NeoMoses]

wow, it amazes me @ how much talent there is in this forum. Those kits are a little pricey for me right now, I can find a pretty good used guitar for those prices. I'll prolly do that for now, and when I feel really adventurous, give something like this a try.

Thanks for all the help y'all!

[turmite]

Neo the Grizzley website has the steel string acoustic for $89.95
and the classical for $79.95. Both of these kits already have the body of the guitar assembled.

turmite

[jemmyell]

Hi,

The reason to make your own guitar is NOT to save money. It's virtually impossible to compete with the economies of scale that the large manufacturers have. BUT, if you want a finish or inlay that's not readily available, or a wood, or whatever, then look at making a guitar. If anybody is in Southern California, Orange Coast College has a Saturday class in Acoustic Guitar building. CNC is most applicable to inlay. It IS possible to model necks and bridges, but the 3D programming is currently beyond me. Inlay parts and the pocketing are not very hard to do, and results are really pro. Inlaying your own name is a good way to get people to ask about the guitar without bragging! I use VectorCAM to design and Mach1 to cut inlay parts with good success. See my picture gallery for some things I have done. Beware, this is an addictive activity. I don't know anybody who has made just one....

[wireluth]

Check out www.mimf.com. It's the Musical Instrument Maker's Forum; they have a wonderful archive with just about any subject you would want treated. Also, check out the Mandolin Cafe site, and the 13th Fret forum; all have valuable information on the art and science of luthiery.

[cncadmin]

.

[ninewgt]

I have not YET made an acoustic but will soon... I just machined an entire neck and body for an electric though - I drew it in Rhino - it looks great !!

[Mike Mattera]

This is a pretty good book if you want to make guitars of any type (Electric or Acoustic). Talks about the had tools and special jigs that will make it easier.

http://www.noahjames.com/vintagepage/ebook.html

Mike Mattera

[luthier]

I've made about 10 acoustics over the years. Check out luthiersforum.com aka OLF.

[sdantonio]

Made and sold a whole bunch, I have been doing it since the early 1980's. I've read through the posts here and your in good hands. When you have specific questions then I'll chime in.

One point to remember is that if you ask 10 luthiers how to do one simple task in the shop you will probably get 10 different answers. Everyone has their own way of doing things that they developed over years of work and their way works best for them. Read them all, pick the one that makes the most sense to you, and decide on your own course of action. But don't hesitate to ask.

I second the folks who have suggested starting with a kit with pre-bent sides unless you want to learn how to bend wood (which is pretty easy, it just takes patience and practice).

Steven

[luthier]

Also check out frets.com... a great site as well.

[anoel]

I just bent my first side set the other day and it went very smooth (and I did not choose the easiest wood to bend either, 'Wenge'). This is my 1st Acoustic build. I've just finished the Top and Back bracing, and bent the sides... Now off to gluing the neck and tail blocks and the kerfed Linings then onto assempling the box...

[sdantonio]

Nathan,

Congratulations. You will be suprised to find that the first ones usually go very smoothly. Then you will get cocky on your second set and start breaking them. Only after a couple more tries will you take the time to slow yourself down and then they will start bending well again.

Seen it countless times with my luthierie students.

[rlrhett]

I have built a few acoustics, and am not sure that they are well suited to CNC. Resawing 1/8 in sides and back, thicknessing them to size, bending the sides, gluing radiused bracing, cutting and inlaying the binding channel and rosette, etc. Those are the difficult tasks (for me) and don't seem suited to a CNC machine.

On the other hand, I would love a CNC machine to make bridges, radius and fret the fingerboard, shape the back of the neck and the heel, and doing intricate inlay on the fingerboard. Carving an archtop would also seem uniquely suited to CNC.

I will also second that building an acoustic is NOT a way of saving money. There is a reason that hand-made acoustics cost $3,500+. Having built both electrics and acoustics I can say that acoustics are an order of magnitude more time consuming and complicated than an electric. You tend to use many more specialized tools and varieties of exotic woods. Of course that is why they are SO addictive to build!