samedi 17 août 2013

Guitar Plans: How To Buy The Best Set Of Blueprints

By Kathy Lambert


If you've ever thought about building a guitar, this article is for you! One of the most important, and overlooked, decisions of the guitar building process is the purchase of a set of guitar plans. Not only is it one of the first decisions you'll have to make, it's also one of the most important. Building your own instrument can be extremely rewarding, and result in an instrument that will be handed down for generations. However, without the proper materials and preparation, it can easily turn into a disaster. Trying to build a guitar with a poor quality set of blueprints will have you frustrated in no time at all! Read on to learn how to choose the best possible set of plans.

Type of Guitar: Before you can even begin to look at plans, you'll have to decide what type of guitar you'd like to build. Start by deciding whether your guitar is going to be acoustic or electric. Once you've gotten that far, you'll need to decide exactly what guitar you'd like to build. Do you want a 6-string guitar? Maybe you'd like to build a 12-string instrument. Do you want a large-bodied instrument or something smaller? If you don't have a clear idea of the guitar you'd like to build, take time to research and learn about different guitars that interest you. Your finished project will hopefully be an instrument that you'll cherish and play for a lifetime so you want to be sure to build something you'll enjoy.

Pay Attention to Drawings: You will learn very quickly that when it comes to guitars, having exact dimensions is very important! Choose a set of guitar plans that have been drawn in a professional CAD system and you will increase the likelihood that your plans have all the dimensions you need and that they are drawn to scale. When it comes to something as particular as building an instruments, hand drawn plans or plans that don't include every dimensions just won't do.

Full-Size Guitar Plans: Do not fall into the trap of buying a set of plans that is less than full size just because they cost less money. You'll want as much detail as possible and in order to see all the detail on your plans they need to be a full-size set. You are looking for plans that are 36" x 48". You can often buy plans electronically and have them printed yourself or you can purchase plans that are already printed for you. Either way, you will pay a bit more for large scale plans - the printing cost plays into this higher cost - but it's well worth the money spent!

Dimensions & Construction Notes: Take the time to check out the guitar plans you are planning to purchase. Make sure that they include all dimensions as well as plenty of construction notes and building tips. Also, check how the dimensions are noted. Are they in both inches/fractional inches and millimeters? Ideally, all dimensions will be shown in both which allows you to choose how you prefer to work. A good set of plans will also include construction notes and tips for building. Sometimes drawings alone aren't enough to give you what you need. You'll want some direction from the plan designer to help you along the way.

You'll make lots of decisions as you build your guitar. Things like wood type and finish are very important but before you get to that point, you'll want to select the best guitar plans possible. You'll increase your chance of a successful and low stress build and you'll end up with a guitar that you will play and enjoy for many years!




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