First Timer

[Patrick Cameron]

Hey guys I'm new to this whole forum thing and not really sure how it works but I need some help if you could be so kind. I want to start and make my first guitar, I am thinking a parlor style guitar preferably, its just the thing is that I really don't have much knowledge in how to make a guitar in the first place. If anyone could give me any pointers like best wood to use, dimensions or anything at all you think would be useful it would be greatly appreciated. I'm hoping to get started as soon as I can and will update with pictures once I do. Thanks for the help guys!

[Charlie Schultz]

Hi Patrick and welcome.

If you haven't already, please look at our beginner's FAQ here: http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=4

[Patrick Cameron]

Thanks Charlie I will! And I think I might want to make a dreadnought instead.

[Ryan Mazzocco]

Hi Patrick. welcome to the forum and to guitar building.
You will find a wealth of information here to help you along in anything you need, either by searching the library and just asking questions. You'll also learn a ton just by watching the forum every day and picking up little tid bits from other people's conversations. That's why we never send questions through private messages. this information is for everyone reading.
I would also very strongly recommend you buy a book. I used the Cumpiano/Natleson book and still use it. You will come up with your own ways to do certain things but it's good to have something like that follow along with during the whole process.
Building a guitar is hard work, but it is so rewarding. I enjoy the journey as much I enjoy the destination. Just don't forget to have fun!

[Doug Shaker]

We had a discussion on this very topic, not too long ago. Try taking a look at:

http://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=1984#p18414

and then, if you have questions, ask. We love to spout off on our own wisdom.
Or at least I do.

[Patrick Cameron]

I did read that actually thanks Doug and I think I am going to go out and purchase a book tomorrow after work. Just wondering though what type of wood you guys would prefer to work with or give off a nice sound?

[Trevor Gore]

Just wondering though what type of wood you guys would prefer to work with or give off a nice sound?

There's a wide variety of woods that work well, but the sound you get is more a function of the guitar's design than the specific materials it is made from.

Here's a little light reading for you.

[Bryan Bear]

Welcome aboard! There are many ways to get started and many options for selecting materials for a first guitar. Approaches range from buy really nice traditional woods and full on binding purling schemes and just trudging through it, to using very inexpensive timbers and simplifying all the decorative elements to focus on how an instrument goes together. Naturally, there are a million points in between. This is just my opinion -- I would start off not worrying too much about the tone of specific species. Find wood that is either cheap or appeals to you and get started making mistakes (I mean instruments). Learn about brace wood selection and top wood properties. There are inexpensive top and brace-woods available at low cost If you can tolerate a little "cosmetic character." If you put in the effort, your first will almost certainly sound nice. Many people find that their first doesn't look as nice as they would like; you will be so proud of the instrument you make that you won't really bother you until you have made a few more. . .

Read as much as you can about guitar making. Slowly it will all start to click together. Be prepared to read many varying options on just about everything, take them all in and start to form your own approach.

[Rodger Knox]

The first few will be woodworking projects, you'll make some mistakes that you'll have to fix. So using cheap wood makes some sense, but on the other hand, you will spend a LOT of time on the first few, and my opinion is the cheapest wood is never a good idea, even for your first. Get the C&N book, that's where many of us started and it covers the woodworking aspects of building a guitar. Once you can do the woodworking, Mr.Gore's book covers the math, physics, and mechanics of materials aspects of guitar design and construction.

[Doug Shaker]

I would go with a spruce top. The other choices - koa, redwood, cedar, Port Orford cedar - have special issues that just too much for a first guitar. I don't think it matters much what kind of spruce. I would get a second-grade top - the dings that made it second grade will be nearly invisible compared with the finishing glitches that are nearly inevitable on a first guitar.

And then, I would just get a back/side set that looks good to you. Something not too expensive and relatively easy to bend. Mahogany? Maple? Walnut? Myrtlewood? My experience is that the choice is mostly visual, not acoustic, so get whatever appeals to you. There are some vendors that post photos of individual back-side sets. If I go to their websites and look at sales, specials and close-outs, I sometimes find things that
I love, but they think are ugly.

[Nick Dingle]

As to a book, I started with Kinkade, and still find it useful as a reference. Plenty of pictures and clear instructions for the most part. Check the math, tho...

[Patrick DeGreve]

Hi Patrick: welcome to the forum. I also started with Kinkade's book, and my first build was the OM from the free plans included in the book. And it was a "'woodworking project", but I love it and play it all the time. I broke the first set of mahogany sides and replaced them with some walnut I had. I almost stopped working on it a couple of times. Instead I pushed on and finished it. I am so glad I did. Once you play your first build, you are hooked. As far as woods, there are several companys that sell "student" grade or 2nd grade spruce tops ( Lmii.com, RCtonewoods.com and others). Check out our sponsor Alaska Specialty Woods.com,they have some very nice bearclaw spruce. For your back and sides set, there are several great (sounding) woods that are not the standard woods that "clients" want that make wonderful guitars. I like walnut very much (and you can get a good set without spending a fortune), I also like bubinga, limba,mahogany,, etc.). Lmii.com sells EIR (East Indian Rosewood) 2nd grade very reasonably. You can sometimes get good deals on Ebay for guitar tonewoods. You don't have to spend a fortune to make a good guitar. Lmii.com also has a series of guitar building videos you might view. You can also find quite a few guitar building videos on youtube. Take your time, and have fun.Please keep us posted on your progress, and ask questions.