Making a Laminated HollowBody Electric Guitar

Some other reviews slammed this book. I have to disagree with them.I will agree the book can be hard to follow and some of the methods are crude. The author points out he no longer uses most of the methods he began with and has updated his process for completing a build. He also states this is not a bible on how its done. This book is a nice tool for a person interested in laminate hollow body construction.I would not advise a complete beginner in using this book to attempt building a guitar.If you are worried then maybe find a used copy here on Amazon. I have my original and refer back to it often to spark up new ideas

Not in-depth at all. The author assumes a lot from the reader, and expects a lot from the reader. If you know nothing, you might find it interesting. For someone with actual experience - this book is worthless. Get the Bob Benedetto book for real wisdom and knowledge.

Great book though I had to return the first one because only half the pages were printed. Return process was seamless however, and Amazon shipped out a new one right away. They let me print out a return form and mailing label. I had the new one in a couple days and a confirmation of reciept of the defective book. This was the most efficient return process that I've seen. It's good business. Thanks Amazon :)

I bought this book mainly learn how to make an arched veneer back. The author's method of making a plaster mold from an extant guitar (what happens if you don't have one ?), cutting a section out afterwards with a handsaw so it will fit in a case, and then gluing it all back together , then using your van as a veneer press leaves a bit to be desired, although it must work for him. He does tell you to buy your top and back from StewMac if you don't like his methods. To be fair, there is some good information and the cost is reasonable.The author says"Tablesaws are notorious for cutting off fingers"- PLEASE don't say things like that!!! Such a statement would be taboo in any shop that I have worked in- like telling someone on a ladder "not to break their neck", you just don't do it. The usual warning about the danger of power tools would be sufficient, IMO.

Jim English wrote this at the behest of his mentor, Robert Benedetto. It is well written and very informative, especially if one has Benedetto's own book. While he doesn't give plans or layout for the archtop, he does answer many important questions about the construction process, as well as some inciteful work-arounds for items that one might not have or be able to buy, but will definitely need. Thank you, Jim...

Doubt you could actually make a guitar from this book but the background info gives you the understanding of the steps. Since most guitars are from solid blocks the laminated woods approach can mean making a lighter and stronger guitar, less likely to warp or crack then solid woods can do.

This book is great for learning how to use laminates in guitar construction. The basic principles can be use in the building of other styles of guitars. It is a good one to have in the guitar builders library.

Some good tips.

I was drawn to buying this book from my love of Chet Atkins and his music. Jim English made a guitar for Chet Atkins which is pictured in Chet's biography, "Me and My Guitars", and he is quite complimentary about it. It is one of the best looking guitars I have seen.This book describes in some detail how Jim English makes his laminated archtop guitars with dimensioned drawings of specific parts and the jigs he uses. Drawings are included of his tail and head blocks, his neck tenon and locking system, and there are comprehensive chapters on all the aspects of guitar-making.The text is excellent, well-presented and easy to follow but some of the black and white photos leave much to be desired.An excellent and informative book for anyone interested in making guitars; highly recommended.

At first look it's seem to bee a good reference book, but for some parts the author don't give a lot of information, specialy at the beginning for the way of laminate the top and back. I see there a lack of information that can be very important for doing a good job in the right way .

Very informative can't wait to try out

This book contains instructions with detailed measured drawings... but only 43 black- and -white photos...it's a problematic point of the book! Nevertheless this is the only book on this type of construction. Includes 17 chapters, here is the table of contents:Chapters: 1) Work area, gaining background, 2) This matter of wood,3) Making the top and back, 4) Making the sides and building the body, 5) Installing the headblock, tailblock, tone bar, kerfing, 6) Installing the back, strapblock, pickguard bracket block, jack hole, nec-loc pin, spray lacquer, label, 7) Making the neck, 8) Making and installing the truss-rod, 9) Fretboards,10) Installing the headstock veneer, fretboard and frets, 11) The neck-final shaping, 12) Fitting the top, cutting and binding `f' holes, installing bracing, 13)Installing the top, cutting the pickup holes, binding the body, 14) Drilling tuner holes in headstock, finishing the frets, installing the neck to the body, 15)Applying the finish, 16)Final assembly, install electronics, tuners, truss-rod cover, tailpiece, strap buttons, pickguard, nut, bridge, 17) Set up.

Der Titel ist nur allzu wörtlich zu verstehen: der Autor beschreibt in erster Linie den Bau EINER Archtop nach EINER Methode.Was er dabei für beschreibenswert hält, ist recht selektiv. Z.B. beschreibt er ausführlich, wie wichtig eine gute Werkstatt ist, dann kupfert er die Form der Gitarre 1:1 von einer alten ab. Kaum Žwas zum eigenen Entwurf, sinnvollen Abmessungen oder so. Das Laminieren des Tops ist auf einer Viertelseite abgehandelt. Nichts zum Anpassen oder Fügen der Furniere, dann aber ein seitenfüllendes Foto, wie er seinen Van als Presse benutzt.Das ist keine Anleitung, sondern eher ein Baubericht. Da hilft es auch nicht, das Ganze mit übergroßer Schrift und großen Graphiken auf 130 Seiten aufzublasen. Inhalt gibtŽs maximal für 50 Seiten.Als erster Einstieg in das Thema ist das Buch o.k., deshalb ein Gnadenstern, ich würde aber gleich zum Buch von Martin Koch greifen....