Anyone build a Stew Mac guitar kit?

[gnugear]

I was looking through the Stew Mac catalogue and there's a nice looking kit in the back. It looks pretty straight forward but I'm wondering if anyone else has attempted to build one.

 

Are there any other kits out there for the luthier challenged?

[Freeman Keller]

I am in the process of building a Steve Kovacik kit as we speak. I looked at the StewMac kits and they have a very good rep, but I wanting to modify it a little and it was easy to do with Steve. We discussed different sizes (00, 000, and 0000/M), neck configurations and a few other things, and Steve was willing to provide exactly what I wanted for about the same price as the StewMac.

 

I did down load the instructions for the StewMac 000 (free) and bought their plans (about 12 bucks). In addition I've purchased Cumpiano's book. I have access to the major shop tools (band saw, table saw, etc), but so far I've purchased about $150 of clamps, glue, pieces the build the mold (StewMac uses cardboard, I made mine from particle board). I will need to buy the router bits for the binding when I get to that point, and have not yet bought the finishing materials (I have access to a paint booth), tuners, nut files, etc. They say, and I believe, that you do not build a guitar to save money - I wanted to learn how it is done (heaven knows I don't need another guitar).

 

Steve has been extremely helpful with both my choices and a couple of minor things I've run into - he is a regular contributor over at UMGF and buying a kit from him was one way to say thanks for all the advice he freely gives.

 

LMI and Martin are other sources of kits and materials. If you want to send me an e-maila addy I can forward a bunch of links, copies of e-mails with Steve, and even some progress pics of the guitar.

 

Oh, by the way, here is a great link

Musical instrument builders forum

[Farmer Roy]

I've built a Stew-Mac kit and was very impressed by the quality of materials and the straight forward instructions and video. Plus the guitar sounds and plays great. It's got a few finish flaws, but structurally, I was pleased with the way it turned out. I enjoyed it so much that I'm planning to build another guitar, but this time from scratch.

 

You do need to be aware that the cost of the kit just gets you into the game. In addition, you need to budget in another $200-$300 or so for clamps, misc. tools, glue, sand paper, finishing materials, tuners, strings, and add to that the cost of a case or gigbag. It's easy to double the cost of the kit before you ever strum your first chord.

 

Freeman Keller, it sounds like you are ready to go, but one thing that you might want to get is the Stew-Mac video that comes with their kits. Very helpful!! You should also know about the cardboard forms used in the Stew-Mac process.....they are internal and placed so that you build the sides around the forms with a plywood waist clamp used to hold the sides from the outside. Once you have glued the neck and tail blocks, kerfing, and top to the sides, the cardboard form is simply cut out of the inside of the body with a box cutter and removed before the back is glued in place. If you are planning on using this method, the particle board forms will be very difficult to remove.

 

Now if you made the forms to go on the outside of the body then you'll have no problem and you can disregard my warning.

 

Good Luck to both of you!!

[ajcoholic]

The deluxe serviced kits from Luthiers Mercantile International (LMI) have to be the best kits out there, with some of the best wood. Have a serious look. I looked at all the kits available when I wanted to build my own and went with the dread from LMI, went together really well and plays like a dream.

 

http://www.lmii.com/

 

 

AJC

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by Farmer Roy You should also know about the cardboard forms used in the Stew-Mac process.....they are internal and placed so that you build the sides around the forms with a plywood waist clamp used to hold the sides from the outside. Once you have glued the neck and tail blocks, kerfing, and top to the sides, the cardboard form is simply cut out of the inside of the body with a box cutter and removed before the back is glued in place. If you are planning on using this method, the particle board forms will be very difficult to remove. Now if you made the forms to go on the outside of the body then you'll have no problem and you can disregard my warning.

 

 

Thanks, Farmer Roy

 

I built an outside mold out of three pieces of 3/4 particle board with an internal expander for the waist (uses a turnbuckle). I've also built a shim that will allow me to clamp the rim of the top and clear the curve (I'll glue the top on first while the body is in the mold). Then I'll take it out of the mold and glue the back on with spool and cam clamps.

 

There seems to be a lot of different ways to do this. I think this will work ok.

[HopkinsPlayer]

Best education you'll ever get on why it's easier to buy one. By the time you are done you will have spent so much money on trips to the store, tools and junk you could have bought a Martin. It's a great learning experience but likely you will get stuck on some major steps including the finishing at the end. Make sure and get the kit that comes with the video. A dobro kit might be an easier and better first try. If you do buy guitar kit I think the 000 kit is the nicest one.