semi-hollowbody kit

[Herman]

In fact a question to Ken C.
Time ago you mention you are working on a kit for a semi-hollowbody guitar.
Is this coming along? 'cause I'm thinking about making such an axe.
Shaping the front and back is quite elaborous, so a kit is an alternative for me.

Herman

[ken cierp]

The truth is -- to a certain extent I use this forum to put out feelers to gauge interest in certain products tools fixtures and kits. I believe you are the first person in about 18 months that has expressed any interest in a arched top jazz guitar kit. So needless to say that product idea went from the back burner into the round file a while back. A tremendous amount of R&D would have been required. Plus there are some pretty cool import kits available, with a few mods in my opinion one could end up with a respectable instrument. And lastly DeAngelico makes guitars overseas sold here for under $1500 or less that are just fabulous. But of course not like a hand make Benedetto. BTW making just "one" of those is a formidable project.

[Herman]

Thanks Ken,
If that is not going to happen, I have to think how to approach my idea of building one for my own. I hesitate to buy a cheap kit from the east. That would be a big opportunity to start a disapointing story imo.
I think I'm able to make a ES335 from scratch, but I like building acoustics and I've a waiting list. So maybe I'll better stay on the road and buy a second hand Epiphone for 200 and tweak that a little. Ya, I'll sleep a night over that, or two.
Herman

[John Link]

Smith Creek Mandolin offers CNC carved plates from solid wood for jazz guitars or will carve your own wood for you.

Acme Archtop appears to remain in the business of selling laminated archtop plates and matching sides. I once emailed them and got no response, however. They have an excellent blog of building instruction.

Both places appear oriented to the Benedetto plans that are available from various suppliers.

[ken cierp]

I for one would like to see a build log for a 335 !!

I had an ES335TD 1963 trapeze tail piece brand new cost me $250 I did get the dealer discount. Stupidly I sold it -- don't want to know what it would be worth now I am sure that would be painful.

[Dave Bagwill]

I really like what Larry Carlton does with his 335. I don't know if he has stock pots and pups on his, but he turns his volume knob on the guitar to about "3" to drive the tubes enough to get that singing overdrive/sustain out of his amp.

I wonder if there are good plans out there, with wiring diagrams and such?