Too Start Off.. Research.

Starting in May and ending in late August (my "summer break") was a time i spent in deep research about Guitar Building, i Even built an Ukulele to get a feel of the art that turned out well though my wood choice was poor, and i dont want to talk about it... Any way, i kept a constant bookmark folder of all the websites i found useful for both supplies and or information. So i share:

Supplies:

http://www.lmii.com/  -  an excellent place for woods, hardware and varnish. I bought everything from Strings to neckwood and headplate veneer there. Except the soundboard which i bought at....

http://alaskawoods.com/   -  They have great prices for topwoods and excellent figured Sitka. And one of the few places where you can buy Alaskan Yellow Cedar, the wood i used.

http://www.stewmac.com/  -   an amazing place for not only supplies but for research, they supply excellent kits and plans, as well as tools and everything in between, though i only bought varnish there, i spent more time on it than most sites.

http://www.exoticwoods.com  -  Excellent prices on woods.

http://www.allenguitar.com/padauk_photos.htm   -   an amazing place for woods and much more. (love that Padauk). Sales on bearclaw woods all the time and parts you wont find anywhere else.

Information:


I would Strongly recommend  the Book:

Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology

Because unless your a woodworking God then forget about making a guitar unless you read a book on it and this one is the best. Step By Step Guitar building is also supposed to be an  easy to follow book.  But:

Also:

http://www.grellier.fr/plans.php?lang=en   -    FULL SIZED plans! Its a pain to print buy worth it. Its Free =). I made my own plans so that is would be MY guitar but these helped a boat load. \

http://gicl.cs.drexel.edu/people/sevy/luthierie/guitarmaking_guide/building_flattop.html  -   an awesome pictured blog on how to build a steel string. amazing reference, i learn more each time i skim it. 

http://acousticguitarbuild.blogspot.com/  -   First time builder makes a blog about it here on blogger, i love reading this story/prosess. lots of good tips there. 

http://www.youtube.com/user/bobloblaw1701  -  An almost complete vid tutorial on building a guitar, VERY helpful. 

All in all, i do not recommend taking on this task without researching the crap out of it. yo uhave to be confident in every step in order to come close. i still wake up at night and think..'wait, how will the top set right if the sides are trimmed to make an arch down but leave a dip at the front' and i pick up my Book and it apears all i have to do is sand, i think.