Hello From Lexington MA (Birthplace of American Freedom)

[tippie53]

let me know what you want we can do custom kits

[Skarsaune]

Welcome John!

John at Blues Creek can set you up with what ever you desire. Give him a call.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Hi John and welcome. We'd all be happy to help you along your journey. We've pretty much all made the mistakes you may make and can help with the resolutions.
Kidding aside. Buy from John Hall.

Kevin

[TEETERFAN]

Hello John!
Welcome to epicenter of the kit guitar world. Lots of friendly and helpful folks, along with a ton of excellent information. Reading all the build blogs is immensely beneficial. I am over halfway through building a Blues Creek kit and it is a first class product. It makes everything a more straightforward process and less of a battle.
I hope you settle on a kit and start some fine woodworking!
Good to have you on the forum!

[tippie53]

oms have a great sound. both are good choices

[MaineGeezer]

Welcome! Don't be afraid to ask seemingly stupid questions. We've all been there, probably even more stupid.

I've built 3 OM-style guitars. all quite different. My first was walnut sides/back with red spruce top; the 2nd was a cutaway with curly birch sides/back and red spruce top; the 3rd was Indian rosewood sides/back and sitka spruce top. All the gory details of the builds are in "Blog your project." I think they all sound good and are good for fingerpicking. The third one is a bit unusual. I made the body 1/2" deeper than a "standard" OM and used my own made-up curved bracing instead of the typical Martin X bracing.

I don't have any problems bending strings on a 14-fret neck. I suppose it might be easier on a 12-fret neck. I'm not sure it would matter to me. Of course, I might built a 12-fret neck guitar sometime just to see what it was like. It's mice to have 14 frets clear of the body though.

[scamp]

MaineGeezer

I will certainly be asking many dumb questions as I go as this is my first shot at something like this.
Good to see and seasoned guitar builder willing to help out.
Also, nice to see an expert OM guy on the forum.

I'm leaning towards a OM-28 as my first kit guitar.
I really like the sound of rosewood.
Also, the OOO is easier to bend but isn't quite as bright/snappy as the OM as there is less sting tension because of the sorter scale of the OOO.

Regards
JS

[Stray Feathers]

It took me a while from when I started to understand that a short scale means looser strings. My first two were OM/000 sized bodies, but a little deeper, and modified to be 12 frets to the body, with bridge and soundhole moved lower in the body. I wanted shorter guitars for easier reach, and I seldom play up near the body anyway. I also made them short scale, to gain that extra half-inch shorter. The result was that I was bending strings unintentionally. So I ended up-for me-putting medium strings on them. I've since made a similar deeper OM/000 body but 14 frets to the neck, but with a long scale. So I don't know what you call that-but I like it. I also am planning another 12-fret version (which I like to play) but will make it long scale, so I don't distort as many notes, and so the bridge will move even further into the lower bout (which is a sound I like). Photos of some of mine are in threads on the forum but also here:

https://strayfeathersphotography.smugmug.com/Lutherie/

Good luck with yours, and let us know what you learn! Bruce W.

[MaineGeezer]

Also, nice to see an expert OM guy on the forum.

I hope you don't think I'm an expert-- on anything!