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Hello all. I'm a newbie here and very excited to start my first build. I've been looking at all the all the different kits available out there and was hoping I could get a recommendation. I'm looking to build a classical. I know LMII comes highly recommended and I see JSB includes molds and templates. Thanks in advance for your help!

Chris

Look over to the left of this page for Blues Creek Guitars. That's John Hall/tippie53, the owner of this forum.
You can't do any better than a custom kit from John.
Welcome to the KGF.
-tommy

You cannot go wrong with John Hall at Blues Creek.

My first kit from him was an HD28.

Fantastic support!! Always there when I need him for a quick question.

I am on number twenty and still ask his advice.

Rick Gunn

When I started this madness about 2-1/2 years ago I found that all of the conventional sellers offered either a dreadnaught or a 000 guitar. I own a 000 and am not interested in a dread.

Then I found John Hall. He put together a kit for a mid-twenties Gibson L-1 - a lovely little parlor guitar - in maple with a 3 piece neck, and I ended up with one cool guitar.

Whatever kit you end up with, you will want Bill Cory's second book - I have forgotten whether that is the one that has "Martin" in the name or not. See the sidebar on the left.

If you keep the first one simple without much bling, you won't need lots of tools to get going, and you will learn whether you like this stuff or not, and what level you might want to take it.

Ed

And with John, you get a free hat!

I noticed that Chris was looking for a classical kit.

LMI puts together a good classical kit that can be serviced to the level that you need based on your current set of tooling. The LMI kit does not have any instructions so you would need to find some. JSB has a great book, plans and he does sell the many of the molds and jigs you need for his construction process. Robbie O'Brien has a complete online classical guitar construction course that include a building process that minimizes the numbers of tools and special jigs required to build a classical guitar. Robbie course targets LMI's classical guitar kit.

If you're building a classical guitar, I'd recommend Bill Cumpiano's book Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology: A Complete Reference for the Design & Construction of the Steel-String Folk Guitar & the Classical Guitar. I found it invaluable when I was making a sorta classical guitar (classical soundboard and fingerboard, but with a lute-like neck and body). There are a few other books on classical guitar construction, but none as comprehensive as this one.

John Hall from Blues Creek put together my kit. I'm not sure if he can put together a classical guitar kit, but I would ask him.

I already had the back and side wood, so he made a custom kit for me. The top wood ended up having a couple of pitch pockets. He immediately replaced the wood for me. He's also available on the phone and is a virtual fountain of information. He has so many videos that I've had no problems building my guitar, including setting the dovetail neck.

I'm planning a second build for an 00 size guitar and I'm definitely getting another kit from John.

If John doesn't do classical guitar kits, I think I'd look into LMI. They have a great program where you can customize almost everything to make your own kit.