www.KitGuitarsForum.com

I am wanting to build a guitar and stumbled onto this website. I have not purchased a kit yet, but I Have a few questions:
1. Do I need to do this in a conditioned space or can I do it in the garage?
2. Is one particular kit better than another, ie Martin/StewMac/blues Creek and why?
3. If I want a 1 3/4 nut do I need to address that when buying the kit or can I make that decision later?
Thanks in advance!
Clay

I guess #1 depends a lot on where you live. If you live in Hawaii, inside and outside are pretty much the same thing anyway. Here in Maine, it's currently snowing sideways and the idea of working in an unheated garage isn't very appealing. One would also have to think about it being too cold for finishing or gluing, perhaps.

#2, I don't know. (There is also LMI http://www.lmii.com in case you need a fourth choice!). I am confident, however, that any of the kits are capable of being turned into a good guitar. I think a lot depends on what YOU want.

#3 Depends on how close to finished size the neck is. You'll have to check each kit's specs, I imagine.

Thanks Maine! I guess it would help to provide a little more information, I am in the Austin Tx area. Garages are relatively comfortable in the winter, summers are another story. Temps can hit 110, this past summer did not get over 100 until August and then we had 20+ days of 100+ before it got back below 100. Unfornately, we consider that a mild summer. That being said the humidity levels are somewhat stable most of the time.
After making the original post, I found Bill Cory's books. It looks like it might be a good idea to read those before buying anything. Anyone have experience with these?
Thanks again!

You'll find Bill Cory's manual very useful. And for best results you want to try to keep everything in a room where the humidity is between 40-50%. That may mean you'll need both a humidifier and de-humidifier.

Ben-Had wrote: That may mean you'll need both a humidifier and de-humidifier.

And if you're really bored, you can put them both in the same room, turn them on, and watch them fight.

Sure can be frustrating when you spend 10 minutes writing a response hit submit and it goes to la la land. Sorry clay I had much to say to you. Perhaps I'll write it again another day.

Kevin, I just attempted to respond to you and it disappeared as well. I appreciate your attempt!

I see your post is from almost a month ago, but I thought I'd give you my 2 cents.

John Hall from Blues Creek put together a custom kit for me. I already had the back and sides, so he helped me by putting together a kit that would compliment the Peruvian walnut. The top wood had a couple of pitch holes, and he immediately replaced the wood. Also, he's a fountain of information and is always available on the phone, if you need help.

This is my first build and I'm planning a second build. I'm most definitely having John put together another kit for me.

Also, if this is your first build, I'm going to give you the same advise that another member of this forum gave to me. I was advised to find an old trashed guitar and take it apart and work on it. Before starting my build, I picked up a $9 old Silvertone guitar from Ebay. I had to replace the top, and fingerboard, and I had to repair the sides and back, then refinish it. It never had building, so I also installed binding.

This was absolutely, the BEST thing that I could have done before tackling a build. I made a lot of mistakes on the Silvertone, including having to trash the first top I made. But, it's made building my OM much easier and more precise. Man, if I had made the mistakes with this Carpathian spruce top that I made with the first practice top, I would have been devastated.

BTW, that little Silvertone sounds amazing now! I have 2 people that want to buy it from me.

Hope this helps.

Diane

Diane Kauffmds wrote: I was advised to find an old trashed guitar and take it apart and work on it.

<snip>

This was absolutely, the BEST thing that I could have done before tackling a build.

You're welcome!

JLT wrote:

Diane Kauffmds wrote: I was advised to find an old trashed guitar and take it apart and work on it.

<snip>

This was absolutely, the BEST thing that I could have done before tackling a build.

You're welcome!

LOL.

I couldn't remember who advised me to do it. Now I'm giving the same advise to everyone else.

THANK YOU!