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I have just purchased a Stewmac dreadnought kit and to my surprise my two daughters bought me a LMI OM kit. This is my first build and was wondering if I should build the kits one at a time or would it be okay to build the two kits along side each other at the same time.

Terry

Terry,

Sounds great! I vote two at once. I have not done two at a time, but I would like to. It allows you to practice the same skills in a short amount of time. I learn better this way.

A drawback I see would be needing twice the amount of some tools; say maybe clamps or go-bar deck. You might be able to get away with a semi-tandem build, by separating similar tasks by a few days.

Hi Terry, you are a lucky dog!
Here's the deal. The materials in the two kits are going to be pretty much the same, but probably the binding in the Stewmac kit is plastic, and the binding in the LMI kit is wood. Also you will find that the neck blocks are going to be slightly different in how you have to deal with them prior too and during assembly, so the processes may differ if you are doing them "side by side", so to speak. Cutting binding channels and installing binding is going to vary some.
All that to say, it may be easier on you for your first time do concentrate on one, do the best you can do, then build the second and improve your skills.
That is how I would do it. I am working on two scratch built guitars at the same time...but finished the box on one before starting the second, and I'll make the necks together.

Just decide and get started...take your time and ask lots of questions. I believe you will find alot of satisfaction and enjoyment from this hobby.

Kevin

Although building two kits at the same time is appealing in many ways, I think I'll have to side with Kevin on this one. Build one at a time and hone your skills and lessen your mistakes with each one. You know how the saying goes "Build your first one for your enemy, Build your second one for your friend, and build your third one for yourself".

David L

I agree , one at a time. Once you get your process dialed in , then multiple builds are good. If you make an unknown mistake early ,you will have it carried onto the 2nd guitar.

I did that. Got all enthused & decided I wanted to build an acoustic. My wife had bought me a Martin kit for Xmas. I wasn't nuts about the cmpnts , so I sent it back. In return, she got me a kit from Tippie...A very nice high-end kit. At that point I figured, why not get a few more...I could into this. So I bought 4 more. Having never constructed an acoustic B4, I began building the kit from John & found many of the processes to be fairly complex & me being unsure exactly how or what my next step should be, but I moved forward, mistakes & all. Most of all, I didn't want too mess anything up along the way, since this was potentially going to be...a beautiful looking guitar. It is almost all done, save for a few things & I've put it aside & decided to focus on one of the other kits that I got & gain more experience under my belt.

In retrospect, I should have began building on that 1st kit my wife had bought from Martin. It would have made a great learning tool & I would've gained more experience & knowledge about what's involved in putting an acoustic together & possibly make fewer mistakes on future builds? I don't regret going about it the way I did, but sometimes we can get ahead of ourselves...ymmv

I'm building my Stewmac kit completely as a learning experience. If I mess something up, I'm pulling it back apart and redoing it. It's like school...I know my first build isn't gonna be a masterpiece, but I'm learning what tools and skills are required. My hope is that when I'm done with this one, the second one will be better because of what I've learned.

that is a good sound plan Send pics and you will learn much and discover that mistakes are often the best learning tools

Thanks guys. I am going to build one at a time, starting with the stewmac kit first then the lmi.