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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | NOT that I'm planning to do this, have not got the time or the talent ... but just curious if anyone has built one of those StewMac kits or other such "some assembly requried" kits.
It looks interesting, especially the uke and mando kits. But I just wonder if 1) in addition to the cost of the kit, you end up buying another 500. worth of tools. I guess that's the StewMac business model. and 2) no matter how good job you do in the end it's a piece of crap and you just toss it and chalk it up to the "fun of the experience".
Anyone? |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | I have been pondering making a guitar. I talked to the Luthier I used and he went to this school.
http://www.galloupguitars.com/school.htm
He took the Journeyman program. They made an electric and an acoustic guitar. Pretty intensive 8 weeks program. I would love to take the course and learn how make/work on guitars the correct way, but alas the time and money right now are an issue.
The kits sound interesting but I would rather learn the how and why as well. BTW he has been at it for 2 years since he took the course and he figures he has just now recouped the costs of the school and tools. (and he is always backed up with work) |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Dave - check out this link:
Kit Guitar Forum
I've been thinking about it as well and have read up on this forum. It does seem like the investment goes beyond just the kit... but if you're a tool guy, you'll look for any excuse anyway. |
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May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | Good point. Never embark on a project unless you can use it to justify buying some tools. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | We also have a guitar building school in the area (Big Rapids) where your main project is to build your own. I have thought about how fun that would be many times, but I too am at the mercy of the "schedule from hell" ... Nice Dream. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Vince,
I think that is the Galloup school. I think it is about 6K for the 8 week program. You live eat and breath guitars for the entire time. They have weekend classes for tech type stuff. It is suppposed to be one of the better ones in the country. Just a hop, skip and a bunch of $$ from us. |
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August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | Fantasy camp for guitar nuts? |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Therre are several of them out there.
Dave, I built one of the StewMac dreads. I did it at a friend's house down here who is a wood worker. Yes you do need to wind up spending a bunch more on tools. You also spend more on other stuff too cause you don't want to use just the "standard" binding and inlays, etc. I took about 4 months to put it together. I could only worked mornings in Charlie's shop. A lot of the trickier routs and cuts I let him do since he's used to doing that stuff, some of my knowledge of life before the gas station came into play in the assembly and "tweeking" of the design.
It turned out pretty good, I gave it to Charlie when we were done. It sounded pretty good, a mahogony dread, about 80-90% of the 39's sound.
You can see it whe you're here in March if you'd like. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | 
Now that is going up on the wall in the Man Room! |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Tools, no problem...work in Michigan...problem... |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I built 4 of the CF Martin Dread kits back in the early to mid 90's: one was a 12 string...they turned out pretty nice: I wasn't set up w/a spray booth so I used hand applied stains and finish...several were for friends and two were sold...quality kits and the owners were very happy...
I don't have the time now to do it again...I also built several electrics from parts: lots of fun and they arrived with custom finishes so that part of the process was made simple... |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Rich, You ARE right about that being the school. But for less than that 6 grand I could have bought Mike's 47RI, then I wouldn't care about building a guitar anymore. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Vince,
I may have to give it serious consideration in a couple of years. I can't play well but I can can woodwork OK. Even though I own my business, I am in the union and eligible for a 30 and out in 3 years. Maybe then. Right now I have a Wood Pattern Shop with a 2 joiners, large planer, 2 overhead routers, 5 or 6 other routers, 5 band saws, 4 disc sanders, 2 bridgports, a metal lathe, steel lathe,a couple of drill presses, countless steel layuout tables, a CMM, boxes of hand tools, etc...AND NOTHING TO BUILD!
Ahh, gotta love this economy. Hurry up and start buying cars. Does not matter which brand, we build fixtures for all of em. |
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November 2009
| I built a StewMac Strat years ago, not from a kit, just the parts and I assembled them. It's a fine instrument that I still use. I would never attempt an acoustic. |
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December 2009
Posts: 2
Location: Clinton, NC | I have built the guitar kit, it wasn't difficult, as much time, work, and money I spent on it, I kinda wish I just would have bought a fender or something.
But a kid at my school built the Mandolin from Stew Mac, and it came out like a three thousand dollar Mandolin.
All in the parts of the kit you get, I got subpar wood and components, but he got high quality parts. |
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Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 154
Location: Michigan | Actually was considering this earlier this year.
I'm a member of the Kit Guitar Forum, lots of other places to get the kits also. LMI you can upgrade the wood & pick out actual pieces, get some of the work predone before it sent out as a kit etc.
Would have made a nice winter time project, however like a couple others I'm in Michigan and $ are down.
However, since getting the Bassman done I've been playing more electric and of course gassing for a "new guitar for the new amp" kinda thing.
Wanted a nice "vintage like" Telecaster but couldn't come up with the cash.
But, kinda like Johnny Cash one part at a time figure we can build us one a little at a time.
Body, hardware, Warmoth just happens to have their 20% off anniversary sale going on and I scored a nice Birdseye maple neck, my choice of frets, nut width, choice of fret size & back contour for $154 last week. Down to trying to make a decision on pick ups.
Of course hanging around that Telecaster forum helps. ;)
Scored a nice piece of Ash
Wally |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Solid bodies are much easier, still fun to do, but much easier than an acoustic. |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | You guys build the guitars. I can punch out the picks. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Rich, it sounds like you already have most of what you need. Time to get started(: |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Uncle Woody's Medical Tip #37...
Don't spill the Stewmac Color Tone Stain #5030 Vintage Amber on yourself prior to a scheduled Doctor's appointment. It may lead to a much longer and more indepth examination than you were ready for. |
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November 2008
Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Where did you spill it? |
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November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Mando Kit from Grizzly...
The kit was pretty good. The completed instrument still reflects the skill and attention of the one assembling it. The materials were of good quality. The finished mando sounds very good and plays well.
(...already had the required tools) |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Originally posted by twistedlim:
Where did you spill it? Good question! I've heard of women that vacuum in the nude, how 'bout it Mike? :) |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Twist - in the garage! |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Warmoth is a great source of quality parts, however with some patience you can custom build a guitar with parts from eBay for a lot less. I bought a Peavey Falcon, strat clone, for under $200, shipped w/case. I didn't like the neck. I found a really sweet Peavey flamed maple, rosewood fingerboard neck on eBay that fit perfectly with no modifications needed. I then sold the original neck for the same as I paid for the other neck. I now have a "custom" guitar.
Solid body electrics don't require any real skill so long as the parts are made to fit together. Pick-ups are easily changed too. It takes only about 15 minutes of practice to be able to solder things together. Warmoth has built a nice business based on that. Building an acoustic or a mandolin though requires real skill and the right tools. Unless one has the time to devote to it and has taken a course on how to do it right, I can't imagine the results being worth the time and expense. |
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Anybody Built a StewMac Kit Guitar ?
