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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 12:44 pm 
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First name: Steven
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I was wondering what you experts consider to be the best J-45 plans. This one from StewMac looks good. Any comments or suggestions? Thanks!

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plan ... ws#reviews


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:14 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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I'd say stewmac is a reliable source for plans. I have that plan, and Halcyon #50 is being made from it....



These users thanked the author meddlingfool for the post: Steven Bollman (Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:07 pm)
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:44 pm 
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Koa
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I have that plan too. It looks excellent and appears to be accurate. I haven't built one from it yet, but it has everything you need.

One of the best sounding guitars I've ever heard was a lightly built J50 (blonde J45), with a ridiculously thick 60s type pickguard, and a big ceramic saddle. The saddle wasn't adjustable, and seemed original. Anyone no anything about this? Most ceramic saddles had the silly adjustment screws, AFAIK.



These users thanked the author Greg B for the post: Steven Bollman (Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:07 pm)
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 2:46 pm 
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I've built three from the Stewmac plans. They are great. Very detailed.

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These users thanked the author jac68984 for the post: Steven Bollman (Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:07 pm)
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 3:08 pm 
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Thank you, everyone. Thats what I was hoping.


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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 6:55 pm 
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Not going to promise anything but our own Steve Smith was kind enough to let me into his very well equipped shop the Friday after Thanksgiving. And take some detailed measurements/tracings/photo's of a pre 1955 J-45 one of his relatives handed him in a bag :mrgreen: As I understand post 1955 triangular profile tapered bracing that the Collings plans shows and pre 1955 scalloped…..somewhat. If I can get it cleaned up and some copies made we will pay it forward. Once again thanks Steve Smith.


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These users thanked the author Clinchriver for the post (total 2): Steven Bollman (Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:06 pm) • Bri (Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:20 pm)
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:15 pm 
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Koa
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It appears that the Stew Mac J-45 plans don't have a side profile for a side template. Is that so? ...and why not?

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PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:35 am 
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Clinchriver wrote:
Not going to promise anything but our own Steve Smith was kind enough to let me into his very well equipped shop the Friday after Thanksgiving. And take some detailed measurements/tracings/photo's of a pre 1955 J-45 one of his relatives handed him in a bag :mrgreen: As I understand post 1955 triangular profile tapered bracing that the Collings plans shows and pre 1955 scalloped…..somewhat. If I can get it cleaned up and some copies made we will pay it forward. Once again thanks Steve Smith.


Anytime. Any afternoon spent talking guitars is a good one in my book, especially when I get to learn some things [:Y:]

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"Music is what feelings sound like"


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 1:44 pm 
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Koa
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...side profile for a side template... am I missing something?

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www.swiftcreekguitars.com


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PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:32 pm 
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The Michael Collin's plans are great

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PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2013 8:27 pm 
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sdsollod wrote:
...side profile for a side template... am I missing something?

It does show you the side profile. This is all you need. I don't know any plans that give you a side template that you could trace onto your sides...mike

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:58 pm 
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Location: Port Clinton Ohio
First name: Lee
Last Name: Walker
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Country: Usa
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Hi. I have made two j45s from stewart Mac plan. One is red spruce top Honduras back and sides the second is Sitka and Honduras the red spruce one sounds better and the are both very good. I just repaired a j 50 had the back and neck off if I build another j45 I will copy the shape and size of the X braces etc the are very light( 3/8 x5/16 triangle shape) compared to the plan. Also for what it is worth don't do the gibson thing with the X braces one brace was one piece and the other is butted to either side with a piece of cloth glued over it needless to say that is why the back was taken off.



These users thanked the author l walker for the post: Steven Bollman (Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:28 pm)
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