Page 1 of 1

Guitar plans question

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 4:19 pm
by Morecowbell
I'm looking at scratch building an OOO or OM, started looking at the StewMac plans and was about to order them - when I talked to StewMac about their OOO plan I was told the bracing was based on the Collings OOO, which is played by Chris Smither, one of my music heroes - so I was sold! Until I saw a Martin OOO-28VS plan on Georgia luthier supply that looks to be more detailed, have also seen plans on LMII, etc. So was wondering if folks have preferences or if there are differences, advantages, disadvantages to various plan sources?

Thanks

Re: Guitar plans question

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 7:37 pm
by tippie53
DO NOT BUY GEORGIA LUTHIER PLANS Martin has been trying to shut them down.
Here is a good plan and it is free
http://www.grellier.fr/en/downloads
These are pretty close as Martin really doesn't have plans available

Here is what I can tell you. There are good plans out there. Stew mac 000 plan is ok and these plans on this link are good. Dan MacRostie has a number of plans he drew up. Antes plans have been around a long time and are way over built and not accurate to any martin.

Hope this helps. I sell bracing templates and halos that are based off pre war guitars that I have had in my hands. Martin had changed the design a few times through the years so be aware that a plan may be accurate to a time period not today's designs.

Re: Guitar plans question

Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2019 11:03 pm
by Morecowbell
Thanks John - much appreciated!

Re: Guitar plans question

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2019 3:54 pm
by Guitarpeggio123
HiJohn, I am a newbie to this forum, and am working on my second build, an OM. I saw the link to the Grellier plan and downloaded the OM plan there. But I do not know how to properly print it off to the right size. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks! Pete

Re: Guitar plans question

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2019 4:07 pm
by tippie53
The pdf file can be downloaded to a thumb drive and taken to staples
they have large printing available.
Also call them they may be able to do it from an email pdf

Re: Guitar plans question

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2019 4:41 pm
by Guitarpeggio123
Thanks, John! Do you if the electronic file is preset to print off actual size? I can’t tell from the pdf. I was at FedEx office the other day and noticed different size options for large printing.

Re: Guitar plans question

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2019 8:13 pm
by tippie53
I think full size

Re: Guitar plans question

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:39 am
by nkwak
FYI, here's my experience with buying plans:

1: if you get hard copies of blueprints, have copies made and work from them. Consider it insurance.

2: double check any measurements against the printed outlines; depending on the printing process (laser or ink) is imprecise and there can be some distortion. Paper is like wood; it moves. More than you'd think.

3: templates (like John sells) are better references when working with the actual materials.

PS: if you even get the chance, try out John's methods for making your own templates. In a nutshell, get your hands on an example of the guitar you're looking to build; get some wax paper; lay the guitar on it; trace half the outline; then transfer it on to either a piece of plexiglass (to make a template) or on a piece of 3/4" plywood or MDF (to make a mold). For me, making the jigs is about as fun as making the guitar - plus I get my screw ups out of the way early on lol. Plexiglass and plywood are cheaper than rosewood and spruce!

Bottom line: you're never going to 100% recreate the inspiration for your project (especially if you're new to building.) It's nice to try but you can drive yourself crazy if you have even a smidge of OCD. Save that for the decorative parts of the process! Nobody else will notice what's going on "under the hood" and only the most glaring of mistakes will visually present themselves.

Re: Guitar plans question

Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 4:47 am
by robinsonb5
nkwak wrote: 2: double check any measurements against the printed outlines; depending on the printing process (laser or ink) is imprecise and there can be some distortion. Paper is like wood; it moves. More than you'd think.
As a printer, I'll second that! With either inkjet or laser printing it pays to know the direction of travel of the paper - the printer's likely to be less accurate along that dimension than the other.

Re: Guitar plans question

Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:29 am
by tippie53
also as a machinist tool maker plans are called ( Representational views ) what this means is the shape may be close but not 100% to scale so always use the measurements not the picture.
Prints to be accurate are drawn on plotters in industrial settings.