Step-By-Step
Guitar Making
by Alex Willis
Softcover
225 x 285mm
309pp
Published by Fox Chapel Publishing Co, PA, USA
R.R.P.$39.90
ISBN 987-156523-331-7
Extract from back cover of book:
Making an acoustic guitar is much easier than most people suppose, and this straightforward guide shows you how. Fully illustrated instructions take you through the whole procedure, from choosing materials to stringing and setting up. With basic woodworking skills, a modest work space and only a few specialist tools, you too can make an instrument fit for the concert platform.
The guitar described in this book is the ever-popular steel-stringed OM cutaway model with 14 frets to the body joint. This pattern is ideal for the fingerstyle player, giving good projection in bass, middle and treble ranges.
The book includes full-size plans of the whole instruments as well as details of individual parts. You will learn how to tune the soundboard, to place the frets accurately, and to adjust the action for comfortable playing. There is nothing mysterious about making a musical instrument: it is a skill like any other, and with the aid of this book, and the full-size plans enclosed, you can learn it.
About the Author: An all-round craftsman with experience of everything from boat building to house renovation, Alex Willis now makes fine custom guitars full time. Hs range includes both classical and steel-string models, all handcrafted from the finest materials.
Photos: Colour
Units of Measurement: Imperial and Metric
Contents
Introduction
Part
One - Planning and Preparation
-
Guitar anatomy
- Tools and equipment
- The workshop
- Health and safety
-
Building methods
- Schedule of operations
- Wood selection
- Adhesives
-
Fittings and accessories
Part
Two - Guitar making step by step
-
The templates and solera
- The neck and endblock
- The soundboard
- Ribs
and linings
- The back
- Assembly
- Purfling and binding
- The fretboard
-
Shaping the neck
- The bridge
- Finishing
- Final stages
Glossary
Fret
position table
conversion table
about the author
Resources
Index