Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology Paperback – August 1, 1994

Full Disclosure: I'm not a real luthier as yet - I've only built three guitars. Guitar Player magazine like this book, and I do, as well. This is not promotional content. It is ALL MY personal opinion. I bought the book. I like the book. Deal with it.One could go into the shop with this book in hand and a perseverant attitude, follow it explicitly, and exit the shop with a very nice guitar. It is detailed, step-by-step, with lots of photographs and illustrations. I would characterize it as having a prescriptive do A - then B - then C approach.By way of contrast, Siminoff [The Luthier's Handbook...], and Forbes [Acoustic Guitar Making...] as well, are NOT prescriptive, do-it-this-way now-you-have-a-guitar books on how to build a specific guitar. If you want to build a guitar, THIS is a great book. To build a GREAT guitar, you may need the latter two books, and others, as well, as a great deal more detail of "why" a specific approach might be appropriate can be very useful.Please note that this is not intended as a criticism of Natelson's book, which is excellent for the audience described.

While searching for information on building acoustic guitars, I found this title referenced so often that I had to order a copy. While there are many ways to approach the different steps of building a nylon or steel string guitar, the authors of this book are very open that they are presenting the way that they have found works best for them, and they provide specific details concerning their choices.Rather than using elaborate (and expensive) body molds for shaping the sides of the guitar, this book advocates "free" building, using a guitar-shaped work table for construction rather than a form that constricts the sides into shape. If you watch the YouTube videos of Steve Dickie building a guitar, you will see this method of building.I'm impressed with the level of detail provided while still covering the very basic knowledge that a new builder may need. Both steel string and nylon string building techniques are covered, and they are clearly notated as to which is which. If I could only own one book on building an acoustic guitar, this would easily be the one.

Without getting long and drawn out; if you are interested in Guitar building (a steel string or a classical) and you believe in yourself and your ability and not shortcut systems this is your book. As the title suggests this is traditional guitar making. You will learn how to free bend sides which is just the way it has been done for many many years successfully. My suggestion is to get this book before you can’t.

I also have Alex Willis's book on guitar making, and am using his full size plans and instructions. For some task in Willis's book that I consider are not the best or easiest ways to accomplish, I consult the Guitar Making: Tradition and Technology book to see possible other ways. It is very complete and I'm sure you could build your first guitar based on this book alone, but make sure to check out William Cumpiano's website, as there has been some revisions and a couple incorrect numbers that I'm surprised have not been corrected in print. Also he's developed an easier and better way to join the neck so check that out if this is the only book you plan on purchasing! All in all, aside from the lack of plans, this book is very thorough. So thorough infact that I had to skip the whole first chapter describing woods properties and talking about sandpaper and abrasives. And I thought to myself, 'If you aren't familiar with that type of stuff perhaps you shouldn't be building a guitar!'

I am an ukulele builder not a guitar builder. The book "guitarmaking TRADITION AND TECHNOLOGY" was written with the guitar builder in mind. With this said, I found answers to a great many questions I had about ukulele building and basic wood concepts that I could not find in any of the books I have dedicated to ukulele design and construction. I found this book to be quite facinating reading and very useful to my needs as a woodworker and ukulele builder. I think someone dedicated to guitar building would be at a disadvantage if they did not have this book in their library.I HIGHLY recommend this book for the beginner or master guitar builder or just someone who wants to know what goes into the construction of a guitar. It helps you to understand why well built custom instuments are expensive and why they should be.JWS

Purchased this to see what it takes to build a guitar. Amateur woodworking is a hobby and I decided to dabble with being a luthier on top of it. This book is an easy read and easily understood without requiring an engineering degree. Fairly easy to construct a guitar using this book and make a nicer instrument than a cigar box guitar with the finished product. If you have the tools on hand (hand or power tools either one) the steps in this book make it fairly simple to construct a decent to nice instrument depending on your abilities and talent. My first attempt wasn't the best but they're getting progressively better. I would recommend pine or a "cheap" wood so you're not out too much if you mess up rather than a figured wood or veneer for your first attempt...speaking from experience!

This is by far the best resource on building either a steel string acoustic or classical guitar that I've ever seen. It is well illustrated with many photographs and drawings to help with each step of building an instrument. The authors not only tell you what you need to do, step by step, to build an instrument, but explain the 'why' of each step in the process.

Great read. Fantastic resource. Great condition.

Logo na introdução do livro, ele já me ganhou. As fotos são todas em preto e branco, o que pra mim é uma desvantagem em comparação com outras publicações, mas o nível de detalhe compensa, e muito. Excelente obra, muito bem estruturada e escrita.

Das Buch scheint ein Ausführliches Lehrbuch für den Gitarrenbau zu sein. Die vielen Handzeichungen und schematischen Skizzen, die andere Rezensenten bemängeln stören mich überhaupt nicht, genau solche finden sich auch in meinem Werkstattbuch, wenn ich mir handwerkliche Vorgänge oder Konstruktionsprinzipien notiere. Die Gliederung ist sehr übersichtlich und didaktisch gestaltet (zumindest für jemanden, der das Handwerk von der Pike auf lernen will). Charmant finde ich auch, dass (bis auf die Mechanik) a priori keine vorgefertigten Teile (Rosette, Binding, Brücke etc.) verwendet werden, sondern dass sie Anfertigung all dieser Teile detailliert beschrieben ist. Das scheint mir in Zeiten, in denen das Handwerk der Gitarrenbauerin zu einem Baukastenspiel zu verkommen droht, besonders bedeutsam. Wie praxistauglich das Buch tatsächlich ist, werden (für mich) wohl die nächsten Monate zeigen…

Te enseña doblemente, todo para guitarra española y para acústica. Explicaciones duales

This is simply the best book for learners there is.