Brother, that speech caught me while sanding the heel of my first build completely alone, just over 2years sober, and you just brought me right back into an inner peace and gratitude I had let slip away for a little while. i forget to remember this is a jorney that i am so grateful to be doing alone and loving every stroke of the saw, every bit of color of grain. This is a truly magical awesome journey that profits, deadlines, and time can all magically disappear for just a few hours before bedtime and that alarm clock goes off again. Just a little peace, ease and comfort is all we really need, thank you for bringing it. This helps more than you could imagine.
its all about the journey... sounds like the pragmatic luthier is a friend of bill w. i just celebrated 24 years clean and sober and looking forward to my 5th guitar build... good to hear from you and best wishes
I'm an aspiring luthier and I've watched pretty much all your videos @DriftwoodGuitars been battling with neck angles and bridge placement on some project guitars and I definitely needed these words of encouragement thanks to both of you for making my dream so much easier to achieve by sharing your knowledge. Seriously don't know where I would be in this journey without people like you two
Thank you Kevin for a great reminder of why we do this. Sometimes I fall prey to the pressure to get it done. I have to remind me that this is something I should be enjoying.
I spoke to a luthier once and asked j him how he started out. Well I was at school and had no money so I used what I could scrounge. My first guitar was built from tomato boxes and while it was terrible by comparison to what I build now it actually worked. I asked what the most important things are to consider when building a guitar. He said you want to pick something soft like a form of pine for the top and something hard for the sides and back. Use a hard wood for the fret board and something resonably hard for the neck. The neck will likely be the harderst to build because it easily becomes chunky. Then the only other thing you need is patience and lots of it and always remember a guitar or other instrument is a tool, you may become to attatched it but it's still a tool and so long as the tool does what it's supposed to do, shine and asthetics are secondry.
This is why i started with Stratocaster. One can find them for cheap. Its been a joy. I give most of my guitar's away, no profit. Finally got a Taylor k26ce to work on. Lots to learn. Thinking of getting a Dan Erdowin book. Ty
So true... I remember my first build, I overthought and stressed too much. It turned out to be a nice sounding instrument and I enjoyed the build but looking back at it, should have let things flow a little bit more. My advise to new builders is like yours, just start building. Make due with what you have, don't buy everything and anything. You learn so much with the first build, most important, if you want to build another. Thanks for the videos, great channel!
Thanks for the reinforcement. I’m kind of semi-retired residential carpenter slowed by a faulty back and love my carpentry but large scale projects you do as a residential carpenter I don’t do as well or efficiently as needed. So I thought I’d try to build some instruments as I love to play guitar and mandolin. I built a D-28 style dreadnaught from a Stew- Mac kit 23 years ago and since have always wanted to build a from scratch guitar. I decided I’d start with a solid body electric basically a Strat type but with 3x3 headstock scarf joint type, came out pretty good. So I got a couple back and side sets, two bubinga which were inexpensive and two East Indian Rosewood which was more expensive but a good buy from what I’ve seen, and some engelmann spruce top sets. A couple of months ago I completed my first from scratch acoustic an OM Bubinga back and sides, It sounds and plays pretty well it has some glitches. But now I’m on number two an East Indian Rosewood OM body is done just fitting the neck now, on number one I did all the thicknessing by hand plane this time I had a safe-t plane on the drill press so much better and consistent also got radius dishes for shaping braces and clamping of them. Yay unbelievable improvement I think and hope, can’t wait to get into my tiny shop today. Number 2 should be done by July I’m thinking of a mandolin by November. But like your video work with what you have and make small improvements to your shop and skill as you go. Thanks
I agree with your statement about not letting business get in the way of building. People ask if I sell my guitars and my answer is, "Yes I will, but I don't market them." I've seen people's hobbies and passions ruined by turning them into businesses.
Thank you for that message. I’m building my 5th guitar. When I started I knew so very little about building a guitar. I read Jonathan Kinkead’s book and after the 10th time of reading it thought maybe I could build one. I inherited some tools from my dad and grand fathers. What you have to say is very encouraging. I’m 74 and hope to continue this craft as long as I can.
Very wise advice. I've made about a dozen now and I'm still scratching the surface. The one thing I would add about the 'journey' is the need for resilience. There will be times of acute frustration (you make a mistake that is hard or impossible to fix) and chronic frustration (a process you just can't get to your satisfaction in a repeatable way - step forward finishing!). You have to be able to recognise these for what they are - parts of the experience. It may well be you find them unwelcome (I know I do), but it it's like any other journey. Last week I had a train cancelled on my way to a 50 year reunion and had to wait hours for the next one, but I didn't go home, because what was waiting was worth the effort. Thanks for putting this out there.
This is such solid advice. I am finally at the stage where I am beginning to learn what I don't know. It's a great place to be. You have reinforced some of what I believe about the building process for me--it's not about money; it is about learning and hopefully creating a good instrument. I am building basically one offs with scrap wood or interesting pieces I find. Enjoying the journey is allowing me to learn the skills I need and be pleasantly surprised, even when things don't work out the way I had hoped. Each build is informed by the last one, mistakes and all. I personally started with smaller, simpler instruments and am now working with more agressive projects. Thanks for the encouragement here.
8:57 Amen! Most people should make a first guitar that’s a rectangular box. When it’s done and they hear how good it sounds they will relax, imagine how much nicer it might have sounded of it was more conventional (ha!) then launch into making a guitar that they will be proud to show off in an entirely different head space. Very few details of a conventional guitar are important to the way it sounds, assuming it isn’t massively overbuilt. Shape, wood species, and size don’t matter as much as a solid neck attachment and a really good setup. All the spicy little details that make guitars delightful can come later in their careers.
I'm not a new builder but this is very good advice for those who are. I'm still collecting tools for guitar building even though I had a full cabinet wood working shop to start with. And it is very rewarding building guitars. It really is next level wood working.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge, it's the greatest thing human beings can do to pass on the immortal baton. Really enjoying your videos subscribed and liked👍🏼👍🏼
I would like to thank you for the approach you take in communicating your experience and knowledge. I am very appreciative of your channel and the information contained therein.
Agree 100%. Just enjoy your time in your shop making saw dust. My worst day in the shop has always been better than my best day at work. On a different note, (see what I did there). I started with cigar box guitars and had an absolute blast making them and playing them. Short money and time to complete a playable instrument. There's basic woodworking, there's fretting, there's intonation, there's nut making, and on and on. You can get as complicated as you want. You can even spend time carving the neck if you want to try that out.
Very encouraging. I'm relatively new, working on my first mostly full blown acoustic build (sides were pre-bent) and I'm definitely learning along the way. I really appreciate your videos and the learning.
Thank you, I agree with your words to 100%. My journey started in 2019. Because I have a job, I have to make the journey by side route. Sometimes I make slower progress than I would like, but step by step I learn very interesting things along the way. I also made an important experience along the way: that the initial hype gave way to a more objective view.This ultimately saves a lot of money and thinking time. I thank you very much for your pragmatic views that you share with us and which confirm to me in retrospect that I chose the right direction on the compass.
You know as I have told you, that I am working on my first build and I look for your videos all the time. I only follow you and one other builder, because many give just enough information to try and rope you into a $5,000 dollar class in some other state in their shop. This is SOLID advice. I am retired and on a fixed income. I have found that there are tools I need, (some of them basic, some not), that I have had to buy over the "last year". But I have waited to buy tops, back and sides that are already thickness sanded because I have to wait to buy a table saw and thickness sander. I am NOT building a kit and have a blue print for what I want. I will get there! I have almost completed gluing up my top and installing the rosette.(very basic rosette), I know other people would build the sides and back first, but I don't care. I am still working on building my side bender and then will need the stainless steel slats. I have the heating blanket. I still need to make or buy my radius dishes and for this build it is 20 ft and 28 ft. Even though I have a fortune in carpentry and electrical tools, some do not transfer over to shop tools. many do and that is good for me. Thank you again.
I built my first 10 or so guitars without stainless slats, I made a pair of aluminum slats from dryer ducting when I attempted a cutaway. I don't use radius dishes, nobody did 30 years ago. Look up older ways to do things that don't use a lot of modern tools that some want to sell you.
I have wanted to build a guitar for a long time but have a limited budget so I was left to watching RU-vid of great luthiers building wonderful instruments. One day I stumbled across cigar box guitars which would be affordable I didn’t live in Australia where the boxes cost $25 plus $60 freight. So I made my own box out of an old wardrobe and a piece hardwood for the neck. I still had to learn about scale lengths (Fender by the way). I learned fretwork and to my surprise and a lot of others it sounds amazing. I built some more and on the last box I book matched, thickness and had to brace the top. Sounds way better than the previous ones. It could end up as really cool wall hanger. But what I learned means I have the confidence to build a real guitar with bent sides and a truss rod. I don’t know if I will be any good but I’ll never know if I don’t have a go. The guy is spot on, for me it’s been a fun journey so far and when it stops being that I’m getting of the bus.happy days.
Great points. I’ll add something about tools. You don’t need much. I built my first instrument in my bedroom as a teenager with the most rudimentary toolset. The point about the journey is so true. Even all these years down the road I find a sense of wonder at the start of each build. Now I’m looking forward to the next video in this series, How to talk yourself out of going into the guitar business! That thought occurs to most of us after making four or five instruments. Haha!
This is an awesome video. Takes a lot of stress and the overthinking Cause you’re exactly right We’re not a factory and it really is a journey I lost my workshop many years ago due to health issues so my 3/4 built guitar is in storage till one day space arives For me I would love it to be a little side business cause I don’t want it to become work to make ends meet cause that’s what it will become Mainly want it to be a side business cause I can’t just keep making and storing nor can I aford to keep making
Thank you so much. This a a nice video. I am a couple months away from beginning my first acoustic guitar build and I can't wait. I have been a woodworker for a good long time, but I have never built an acoustic guitar before. It is going to be a lot of fun. I am sure there will be some trepidation along the way, but like you said, it's a learning process. I was nervous when I built my first electric guitar amp from a kit. Soon after, i was building them from scratch and now i don't think twice about it. I think guitar building will be similar. I have a pile of guitars now, but how cool would it be to have and play one that i built? You know the answer to that. I can't wait to find out for myself! Thank you.
once again sir, words of inspiration and wisdom. thank you. make it work to your liking. i've only done 6 so far. flat top. but i form the back with a big bulge . likely no influense on tone but looks cool. have fun and let your imagination run. merry christmas.
Thanks for the simple encouragement. Gonna start my first build on a j 45 style. Any advice will be deeply appreciated. Just talked to Luke with Appalachian tone woods today. He's gonna try and hook me up with some starter wood for 2 or 3 guitars. Will most likely be flat sawed stuff. Keep up the good work my friend.🙂👍
Thank you for your comment. My persistent goal is to put out practical, accessible, doable content with encouragement for those who want to engage in guitar making and woodwork.
Thanks for all your advice. Your views on guitar building align with mine very closely. Just a small suggestion - I think if you monetize your videos, the algorithm will promote your content more. It'll help get the word out, and get more eyeballs on this incredible content.
I have considered monetizing my videos many times, but have refrained from doing so because I am committed to being independent and not at all beholden to anyone with an agenda, an axe to grind or something to sell, At the same time, I admit that I know almost nothing about monetizing my videos and have remained ignorant because I'm given to understand that there are hundreds of pennies to be made by doing so. I sincerely appreciate your offer to help get the word out. Your words have a lot more value than money.
@@thepragmaticluthier I agree in theory, but there's one issue! RU-vid is a literal money making machine, and the algorithm is constantly asking itself "what's in it for me?" whenever deciding to promote a video. If a video isn't monetized, it loses a big pile of points on whatever scoring system they use back there. All it takes is a couple hundred pennies for RU-vid, some great content, and the audience grows. You can donate to the cause of your choice if you don't want your share. I really love your content, I love your style, and I wish you were my shop teacher way back when. Thanks for doing what you do!
Do you have a video on how to thickness your guitar top without a thickness sander? I have about everything else I need but a thickness sander is well outside my budget.
I do not, but I'm sure there are several out there. You'll need a dead flat surface to put the plates on and a combination of a Jack Plane, a Smooth Plane and a Scraping Plane to perform the task. If you can find a copy of "Guitar Making Tradition and Technology", Cumpiano and Natelson, there is an excellent section on hand planing the guitar plates and sides.
Your comment reflects an entirely different message than what I advocate in this video and it is even a departure from the subject all together. I choose to use Northeastern hardwoods and I encourage others to use them, but I do not and will not DISCOURAGE anyone from using exotic woods. If you're serious about your comment, take ownership of it and post it and advocate it under your own name elsewhere and refrain from the implication that I subscribe to it. I refuse to be included in this pseudo-envronmental, pseudo-philosophical twaddle.
I´m sorry if i offended you. It never was my intention to criticize your message going out to young luthiers. And of course one can use exotic woods. I didn't express myself clearly. Not all exotic woods are on the red list but some do come from endangered rainforests in poor countries. Devastating for the locals and their environment. Sure, most of that wood is used for furniture and interior decoration. My next new guitar will have local woods but thats just my opinion and everybody is free too use and buy wich wood they admire for their dream guitar.. respectfully to delete my posts if you wish so (which i kind of understood in your comment below.english is not my 1 language) @@thepragmaticluthier
Thank you for this reply. II sincerely appreciate your apology, but want to extend my apologies for coming so strongly. I would much prefer a positive RU-vid acquaintance/friendship if you are amenable. Again, my sincere apologies.
One thing I forgot to comment on was finishing I lost my workshop due to health reasons and circumstances It took me forever to find somewhere to build Unfortunately I’m still on my First so I’ve spent most of my time researching and building knowledge Anywho I found some shared space but I’ve got nowhere to finish the guitar Should I feel guilty to pay someone to put the finish on if I’ve already done everything else?
I am 62 and thinking of building my first ever acoustic guitar, having no woodwork experience of any kind. Will it be a journey of one disappointment to another? I'm still pondering about my inadequacies and whether I should just skip it? So grateful for any comments you are willing to share.
I will admit that it's a hard learning curve to navigate, but the upside is that you can do as much or as little as you feel you can and should given our assessment of your skill, patience, tenacity, etc. You might start with some simple tasks working with tools and samples of wood, for example, working with a chisel as if you were shaping braces, try some hand planing, use a power router etc. You could start with a kit that requires much less work. I believe some kits can even be had with the body fully assembled. To my mind, the most important thing is that you engage at a point where you are most comfortable and navigate your way through the experience without putting pressure on yourself to emulate or reproduce some holy grail guitar, whatever make and model that is. By savoring the journey and working toward your goal at a pace that suits you, you will learn more and the quality of what you learn will be superior. Lastly, get a GOOD book. I recommend "Guitar Making Tradition and Technology" by William Cumpiano and John Natelson. I'm, sure there are other good ones as well, but I would warn against using youtube as a primary source because it can be so contradictory. I wish you the best of luck in your journey. If i can be of further help, reach out to me through my website. www.ladueguitars.com.
@@thepragmaticluthier thank you so much, your reply is so encouraging and helpful and a good guide of the way forward, thank you, thank you, thank you, much appreciated.
@@yunowot Another suggestion would be to check out the local school board or community college for an 'introduction to cabinet making with hand tools' or similar course. Joining a local woodworking club would also be an excellent idea. While I am not a luthier (yet) the intro cabinet making course I took 30 yrs ago has been an immense help in my woodworking journey ever since, in particular with the vintage instruments that I restore as a hobby. It would be well worth your time.
Is there a functional purpose for the rosette and binding, or are the purley for decoration? What is intonation, and how do I get it right? From what I've gathered it has a lot to do w/ actually being able to tune the guitar? I'm almost ready to start building and I'll probably start with some pallet wood because I have quite a bit, and it cost me nothing to practice with. To keep it simple I figured I would skip the rosette and binding, and focus on building the body, neck and fretboard and making a functional instrument. I'll use Titebond III because of the open working time, and as I learn and gain expeireince in the build process, I can then incorporate the decorative features, and learn to use hide glue where necessary. Thanks for the info.
It could be said that a rosette, if made of strips of wood, forming rings around the sound hole, would help control checking at the end grain regions of the top, should that occur. Some seem to believe that a rosette helps reduce a certain amount of undesirable fluttering around the sound hole. I have no definitive research to substantiate that, nor do I argue to the contrary. I am of the opinion that a nicely executed rosette is a way to introduce the aesthetic theme of the guitar and if it adds some structural value, all the better, but rosettes made of multiple pieces of wood and other non wood materials would seem to have little or no structural value. As for intonation, in the nut shell, proper intonation requires that the frets be placed very precisely and the bridge (and consequently its saddle) be place correctly. If the bridge saddle is too far from the nut, the guitar will play flat; too close and it will play sharp. There are several excellent sources of information on fret placement, bridge placement and intonation. www.liutaiomottola.com/index.htm is particularly good.
You may as well monetize, YouBoob puts ads on whatever they want anyway. The flip side is a view is worth about 1/10 of a penny for the creator, so we need to be CBS or something to actually make pizza money.....
I don't and won't monetize because I refuse to be beholden to anyone and refuse to get caught up in even the temptation to convolute my videos to create "click bait".
@@thepragmaticluthier I'm with you, and thanx for the discussion, as I'm scripting some films myself just now (not about guitars, I'm working on copyright, and music production) and sorting out the same issues. I HAVE decided I will not show a product container nor VST nor their logo without permission. But I don't necessarily want an "affiliate link".
