Acoustic Guitar Construction

Good afternoon everyone. I am a newbie to this wonderful site. Thank you all for your contributions and hope I will be able to contribute in the future.
I'm employed full time and an active National Guardsman in Southeast TN. I don't have a dedicated work space yet. I'm pondering a small portable utility shed; not sure how many others are doing this.

What would you all do different starting out, knowing what you know now? What tools, jigs/ fixtures, sources of supply, woods to stay away from etc.

Thank you all in advance.

Hi Trevor, welcome here on this ego free site.
Lots of info is already around here.
Need help? Ask and the friends here will help you out.
Happy building.

First advice: If it is your first, start with a kit. That keeps you from the most difficult things and with few tools you can make a good guitar.
Second tip: Your first will not be your best guitar. Except that and it won't stress you. Enjoy the ride.
Herman

Thank you Herman for the advice. I'm speaking to some guitar makers around my area and just met another one at Gruhn Guitars earlier today. Gruhn Guitars is one of my favorite "candy" stores.

I think a serviced kit (some operations requiring special tools done) are the way to start out. Stewmac has good kits and LMI has a kit maker that gathers every thing into a package. LMI gives you the option to have some of the work done for you for example bent sides, partially carved necks, joined tops .... If you have the time and can find a luthier offering a build a guitar class that is really valuable. Robbie Obrien is a great luthier and a master teacher. He offers both hands on and video instructions https://obrienguitars.com/. I highly recommend his classes. Youtube has a lot of build information as well but be careful as there a lot of ways to make a guitar. Most processes come together as part of a system so there is danger of mixing instructions on different components on a guitar.

Thank you John. I like watching his YouTube videos. I have always heard great things about Robbie.

Trever