since I've been lurking for a while. Really have enjoyed this web site, lots of good info and encouragement.
I started building musical instruments 30 years ago, in 1976, when I bought a cheap plywood dulcimer kit and managed to produce something that actually worked. Made a few more dulcimers through the 70's, made my first guitar in 1980 - a 12 string with a 3-piece spruce top and mahogany back & sides. The best I can say about it is the person I eventually gave it too seemed to like it
Given that the reference material at the time consisted of the Sloane and Young books, I was pretty happy with it though. Made a couple more acoustics, a couple of electrics, a couple of mandolins... and then got wrapped up in computers for about 10 years. I got the jones back to build when Benedetto's book came out - I bought one of the first copies and found some wood locally and started building. Took me 2 years start to finish, but I still happily play that guitar every day.
About 3 years ago I met a wonderful lady and bought a house. It took us a while to get a workshop in place, just in time to start working on an acoustic guitar for one of my stepdaughters. I had some quilted maple and a nice englemann top that had been acclimating for about 6 years, so we went after it. The guitar is almost done now, my wife has been a huge help and has really taken to this luthing stuff.
