Acoustic Guitar Construction

Hello Fellow Luthiers,
I’m starting my first guitar build. I didn’t really want to start a construction log, but I do have one nagging question. Whose plans should I use, or trust, or look to for the best advice?

I’ve spent the last 30 years building giant scale radio controlled airplanes. As you can imagine there are hundreds of plans for every conceivable size and type of airplane to build. In the last 20 years, I have come to build mostly from Nick Ziroli plans. His plans are straight forward, relatively easy to build, are very scale and produce a great flying model. There are a couple other good designers, but Ziroli’s are the best.

So my question is…Is there a guitar designer who sells plans for a guitar with a very proven design? A “Nick Ziroli” of guitar plans, if you will. I’m staring with a GenOne plan, but have gotten stuck seeing so many different ways to do the soundboard bracing. I’ll just keep building from the GenOne plans

I’m already thinking about my second build which will be a Grand Orchestra size as close to a Taylor 714 as I can find. My 714 is my absolute favourite guitar so naturally I’d like to try to build one next.

All opinions, and especially links would be appreciated.

Thanks so much.
Cheers!
Andris Freimanis,
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada.



So

Hi Andris, Welcome!

The Genone supply offers great plans. I used several from them. They never gave disappointments. I cannot recall discovering flaws in their plans.
They used to be Georgia Guitar supplies, but obviously they renamed.
Do the download and let it print on A0 paper and you got a somewhat real scaled plan.
Most of the time I just printed the front page. Hang that on the wall of your workshop. The other information can be looked up on the computer when needed now and then.
IMO no need to look further for plans, but they are also sold by Stewmac.com.

For a first build the most given advice here is: Go with a proven plan. One that will work. Along the way you will meet challenges enough.
Save alterations for a next build.

You can come here for advice of all kind. You will meet friendly helpful people here.
Good luck on this one
Herman

Welcome! I use the Genone plans for most of my steel string guitars as they are very complete. Their bracing plans are good. Ultimately you will need to learn to voice the top as brace dimensions in plans are always on the stiff side, patterns are good just generally too tall. I would suggest the DVD Voicing a Steel String Guitar DVD --- Kent Everett, or Robbie O'Brien has a steel string guitar voicing online course.