Got Wood?

2/18/14

Or I mean got Would?

I am not entirely certain that I will ever settle on this decision.  There are limitless combinations of tone woods available and even more limitless tone wood grain structure. 
Since this is my first guitar and I am a long way from claiming any sort of knowledge in the subject I am going to select an Adirondack (red cedar) sound board and Mahogany for the back and sides.  Although Curly Port Orfard Cedar is a close second.  Since my only resource so far is the book and online blogs and forums this is going to be kind of a shot in the dark but at the same time sticking with what I already know sounds good. Plus the wood is easy to work with and bend, which will be a very important fact in keeping Brimley out of the picture.

Resources

I intend to update this post as I move along with additional resources I find useful.

First off though I am using the book "Guitarmaking:  Tradition and Technology" by Jonathan Nateleson and William Cumpiano as the definitive reference to everything I am doing.  This project is a steel string dreadnought style guitar, they also have plans for a classical.

What really got me started was reading this Fellow Type 1 diabetic's blog on the same topic.  Maybe I should contact him and see if he ever went Brimley style over certain frustrations of the process.  Those who don't know, I use "Brimley Style" as a way of describing the incredibly agitated state of having a high blood sugar and wanting to destroy everything around you in that moment.  I can only imagine frustration doesn't help "Brimley Style".

Long journey big reward?

Yes the heading is the question. 

The result:
A personally designed and constructed hand made acoustic dreadnought guitar.

Reason:
     I understand that I have started a lot of things in my life so far and most of those things sit piled up in the stacks of my mind, unfinished. I think most of the reason for these things being shelved is due to a lifelong battle with inner demons that had a tendency to sidetrack not just my hobbies and projects, but my career, my health, my direction, and most importantly my relationships.
But for today... those inner bastards are at bay.  So what is a better time than now to start a new goal that's seemingly unattainable?  I guess I will never know.

Expectations:
     First off I expect this to be time consuming and for that reason I am not putting a goal completion date on this. From all of the blogs and forums I've read this seems to be the common theme. Lots of time!

     Secondly, and probably most important, is I expect (and am in fact guaranteed) to learn a lot. I have very little if any carpentry experience. Especially in the realm of fine carpentry and finishing. Therefore, see first reason.

     Third, I hope to gain a new level of patience. Most things I do I will tend to rush and do a shabby job at. There is no rushing the process of slowly bending the woods for body curvature or the finishing process. I think everything involved will require a deep level of patience that I am completely unfamiliar with.

     Last but not least, I need to realize that what I am creating is probably not going to be a luthier's dream. It is more than likely going to be a mess, to the likes of a cheap walmart guitar, but I still get to say I built it.

So, to start this off, this fine February of 2014, I am going to post my resources and initial plan. There is an unbelievable amount of information and help out there, even from very established luthiers. It seems they are just willing to help, after all I doubt they are concerned someone like me will steal their business! Please also know that this blog is for me and my writing is sub par. Also my language can be sharp at times and sometimes downright offensive. This isn't intended toward any person, just the venting of frustration. I know this about me, I'm working on it.