Using a mould vs. "Free Assembly"

[John Ficken]

Hi, all...first post here, and as you can see, I haven't even begun and I'm confused! I had been given to understand that using a mould around the body as you build it is crucial. Today, reading my new copy of the Cumpanio and Natelson book, I find they eschew a mould, in favor of what they call "free assembly. " Let's assume I've never built a guitar before. ...what would you recommend?

[ken cierp]

Hi John,

Welcome!

First -- that book is a nice reference for some aspects of design -- but the methodology is outdated and even the author admits he abandoned the procedures even before the book was published. And there has never been a re-issue printed.

I'd suggest that you review the info here:

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/kitmanual.html

I can't begin to tell you how many guitars have been assembled/constructed using our info (thousands) Yes an outside mold is a better path.

I'll shamelessly suggest one of our kits as a stepping stone in this great craft -- we'll get you going in the right direction and save you the frustration of asking this same sort of question over and over and over again --- you need a proven construction system and that's one of the things that KMG provides.

[John Parchem]

The mold sure helps keeping the blocks square while profiling the rims and maintaining the alignment while gluing on the top and back. The proper neck angle is really set on the body itself. Life get hard in a lot of ways after the box is closed and the relationships with the plates and the rims are not correct.

[John Link]

I second the KMG recommendation. Have never seen a kit in the flesh, but have read the online instructions several times and find them quite useful, even though I don't use kits. Given all the time and money you will invest in the project, KMG kit seems like the best guarantee of getting a very good result, at least as good as a high end factory product.

[Paul C]

Definately recommend the kit and the mega mold. I have said this before I wish I had gone that route and I still am!. And the price is close to the same or better depending on the type of wood you want.

[John Ficken]

Thanks all for your responses! I have downloaded and am reading Ken's kit guitar instructions, and I feel back on level ground again. I'm saving my pennies for the "Success Kit" and I'll build however many it takes to learn this amazing craft. The goal is to be able to scratch build my own designs, but obviously that's years down the road. I have been greatly impressed by the instruments the craftsmen on this website have been posting. Their art is a great inspiration to a new guy like me!

[peter havriluk]

I think the idea of scratchbuilding being 'years down the road' might be a bit overlong. If OP does the right thing and starts with a 'success kit', with which I have no experience whatever, I suspect study of that kit would yield up enough information to scratchbuild something of his own, if he took good notes and pictures. I think he'd have good examples of what parts need to look like before finding success with any particular piece of a project. A good kit is overflowing with all kinds of dimensional and geometrical information as well as a demonstration of what a part needs to look like before it's used for a next step.