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metalman22105
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What's a good place to get a decent entry level acoustic-guitar kit? My buddy wants me to help him build an acoustic guitar. Is there a place like "an acoustic Warmoth" company?
DangerousR6
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Ebay is the only place I've ever seen such....... :dontknow:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ACOUSTIC-GUITAR-PROJECT-KIT-ZEBRA-WOOD-LUTHIER-KIT_W0QQitemZ300358749157QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item45eec6cbe5
I forgot about LMII
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=++Instrument+Kits&NameProdHeader=Other+Stringed+Kits
http://cgi.ebay.com/ACOUSTIC-GUITAR-PROJECT-KIT-ZEBRA-WOOD-LUTHIER-KIT_W0QQitemZ300358749157QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar_Accessories?hash=item45eec6cbe5
I forgot about LMII
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=++Instrument+Kits&NameProdHeader=Other+Stringed+Kits
erogenousjones17
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StewMac sells kits too. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits.html
Nightclub Dwight
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Funny this should come up. I'm dieing to try one. I bought my brother a ukelele kit from Stew Mac for his birthday, and got to thinking I've got to try this. Here are a few I've found. I don't have any insight as to which is best, as I'm still looking. Very addictive it seems.
http://www.lmii.com/ (This one lets you customize the kit to your preferences)
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=a444270a004b7dd52d435811dff143a1
http://www.aiguitars.com/acoustic%20kits.htm
I'd be interested in hearing anything you learn. I'm sure theres more out there, but I'm still in the research phase.
http://www.lmii.com/ (This one lets you customize the kit to your preferences)
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=a444270a004b7dd52d435811dff143a1
http://www.aiguitars.com/acoustic%20kits.htm
I'd be interested in hearing anything you learn. I'm sure theres more out there, but I'm still in the research phase.
I've seen accustic guitar kits every once in a while while searching for other things, so I know they are out there, I would be tempted to try the stu mac kit, as I am impressed with everything I have ever ordered from stew-mac.
Dwight, I am sure I speak for all, we wanna know how the brothers ukelele turned out.
My whole existance here on the warmoth forum and having built Warmoth guitars, started from researching building accustic guitars, as good as we think we are assembling high quality parts made by real pros, I think building an accustic guitar
would really test and proove our skills. And while solid bodies were supposed to be a stepping stone for a real build, I am glad I went this route, I still intend to build a carved archtop or whatever, someday, i just need some space.
I think a REAL lutheir builds accustic guitars. the rest of us are just working in that direction
Dwight, I am sure I speak for all, we wanna know how the brothers ukelele turned out.
My whole existance here on the warmoth forum and having built Warmoth guitars, started from researching building accustic guitars, as good as we think we are assembling high quality parts made by real pros, I think building an accustic guitar
would really test and proove our skills. And while solid bodies were supposed to be a stepping stone for a real build, I am glad I went this route, I still intend to build a carved archtop or whatever, someday, i just need some space.
I think a REAL lutheir builds accustic guitars. the rest of us are just working in that direction
Nightclub Dwight
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My brother hasn't started his kit yet, he's saving it for a winter project. I opened up the package when it arrived, and the woods looked top notch. Way better than the usual uke you see for $100, which is what the kit cost.
I noticed in the new Stew Mac catalog they are now offering a larger tenor uke (as opposed to the "normal" sized soprano like I got for him.) I have a strong urge to get that tenor kit. There's also an F5 mandolin kit I am lusting after, but its significantly more cash, so I suppose its best to start with the uke to be sure its within my skill level.
From my research, the guitar kits can produce a very high quality instrument. There are testimonials from pro luthiers who said that they were able to sell their kit-assembled guitar for several thousand dollars. Its similar to what we see with Warmoth--a careful job and some shop skills can yield a fine heirloom, but you also see plenty of unfinished "project" Warmoths on ebay from people who couldn't get it done. I believe I read of one luthier who financed a workshop by selling a few completed kit guitars before moving into scratch building. Or maybe that was a suggestion, but still, thats what they say about the quality of the kits.
The LMI website seems to be geared more towards the professional. They allow you to change any aspect of the kit, upgrading woods to whatever you want. Since its a luthiers supply company, presumably thats one place where you'd be getting the wood anyways, even if you were scratch building.
Like anything else, if its approached as a fun project and learning experience, then the price paid seems very worth it. If you're looking for a collectible investment, it might be better to speak with George Gruhn to invest the money. Woodworking skills are probably even more important than in building a solidbody, and it might take a few more specialized tools or a good dose of ingenuity.
Winters coming!
I noticed in the new Stew Mac catalog they are now offering a larger tenor uke (as opposed to the "normal" sized soprano like I got for him.) I have a strong urge to get that tenor kit. There's also an F5 mandolin kit I am lusting after, but its significantly more cash, so I suppose its best to start with the uke to be sure its within my skill level.
From my research, the guitar kits can produce a very high quality instrument. There are testimonials from pro luthiers who said that they were able to sell their kit-assembled guitar for several thousand dollars. Its similar to what we see with Warmoth--a careful job and some shop skills can yield a fine heirloom, but you also see plenty of unfinished "project" Warmoths on ebay from people who couldn't get it done. I believe I read of one luthier who financed a workshop by selling a few completed kit guitars before moving into scratch building. Or maybe that was a suggestion, but still, thats what they say about the quality of the kits.
The LMI website seems to be geared more towards the professional. They allow you to change any aspect of the kit, upgrading woods to whatever you want. Since its a luthiers supply company, presumably thats one place where you'd be getting the wood anyways, even if you were scratch building.
Like anything else, if its approached as a fun project and learning experience, then the price paid seems very worth it. If you're looking for a collectible investment, it might be better to speak with George Gruhn to invest the money. Woodworking skills are probably even more important than in building a solidbody, and it might take a few more specialized tools or a good dose of ingenuity.
Winters coming!
LMII is a stone-cold wonderful company, everything I've bought from them has been top-notch and their customer service once sent me a new fingerboard because they slotted one wrong, just on my say-so. Stewart-MacDonald is frustrating - they have some great stuff, particularly weird tools that you just don't see anywhere else (some kinda too weird), but they also skimp on quality in a number of areas - pots, switches etc. When they carry a name brand, fine... They sell a slotted ebony fingerboard for $35 that you could get from LMII for $22 (and I'll bet they do :laughing7
. They sell the Mighty Mite finished solidbodies - Fully-Finished! Less than 200 Dollars!
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_necks,_wood/Electric_guitar:_Bodies/Flametop-S_Rear-routed_Guitar_Bodies.html
I'd want to know, somehow, that their kit guitars aren't that grade.... :-\
You have to pay LMII for what you get though, just like Warmoth, USA Custom, Rolls-Royce etc. If you're just going to butcher up the first few.... :rock-on:
. They sell the Mighty Mite finished solidbodies - Fully-Finished! Less than 200 Dollars!http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bodies,_necks,_wood/Electric_guitar:_Bodies/Flametop-S_Rear-routed_Guitar_Bodies.html
I'd want to know, somehow, that their kit guitars aren't that grade.... :-\
You have to pay LMII for what you get though, just like Warmoth, USA Custom, Rolls-Royce etc. If you're just going to butcher up the first few.... :rock-on:
O
old_metal_head
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