Official Luthiers Forum!

Before I start my questions on Weissenborns I neglected to introduce myself a few questions ago. I just started asking questions. Sorry.
My name is Dave. Been playing Dobro(yes I still call it that) for about 25 years but got the bug to build last year. Had a reso built for me by Carroll Benoit. He sparked my interest and was very generous in helping me. I'm not really a wood worker and have just now aquired enough tools to begin. Bought my first bandsaw a few weeks ago.
Anyway, I've watched the OLF site for a long time now. Check it every day sometimes 2 or 3 times a day looking for tid bits of info! Feel like I know lot of you guys just from reading your posts here and the Main Discussion Forum. I just wish the "Resonator Forum" was as busy as the "Main Discussion Forum". For a while there I didn't think there was going to be anymore posts here!! It was kind of "dry spell" for a while.
So here are my questions. I want to build a Weissenborn. It would be my first attempt at really building an instrument. Have got plans from Stew/Mac. I've heard there are better plans. If so, where are they, and can they be obtained? Is the Weissenborn too big a project to tackle on a first try? It looks fairly simple as far as the instrument goes and not a lot of parts to go on like cones, spiders, etc. I love the sound. I've checked w/some of the Suppliers here for the wood long enough to build and narrowed my selection to Mahogany(I think), mostly because of the cost. Koa is out of my price range right now.
I got a ton of questions still, but better quit my "long winded" post for now.

Dave
   

Welcome to the world of building Dave! Carroll B.
sure makes a sweet guitar, you're a lucky man!

The Stew-Mac plans are probably the best ones
around. The MIMF used to have some and they are
only so-so in quality. Don't know of any others.

And not trying to become a vendor here but I have
several sets of Q-sawn and nicely colored, but not
highly figured Koa that I have no immediate plans
for. If you're interested I'll let one go pretty cheap, give
me a yell.

Mike,
Thanks for the comeback. I pm'd you on the Weissenborn.
I'm excited about starting this project. Want to get the bandsaw unpacked and working this weekend. Also bought a drill press 2 months ago and haven't even got that put together yet. My goal is to take photos along the way so some of you guys can tell me what I'm doing wrong.
Man, I wish there weren't so many wood choices!! A guy like me has brain overload because of the beauty in all the wood choices. It is very hard for me to make up my mind, and then it just gets put off. The photos of all these guys & gals first builds are awsome. Hope mine is half as good or should I say "just hope it plays!!!
Dave

   Dave

   If i am not mistaken,..I believe Stew Mac also has a DVD on building a Weissenborn . Check it out .
A visual DVD would be a huge tool on your first build.

                    JD Myers   Fishook Custom Guitars

J D
I've never seen a DVD for Weis. building before. I did check w/ Stew Mac and they do have one on building a electric "lap steel". A fellow by the name of Gary Anwyl has got some pics of one he built(Weissenborn) a while back . It's on the web w/a few other guys that have also. No in depth info that I've seen. It looks like a guy has to "wing" a lot of it. Gary's page has been the most information I've found. He's a nice guy too.

Dave

Hi Dave, i might be mistakung here but i think John Mayes has built one or someone else who had asked for a plan on the main forum a while ago, i'm pretty sure someone from the main forum would be willing to sell you their plan if you were to ask for it there, maybe our own sponsor John Hall ay Blues creek guitar has them, and usually has everything and he's a really nice guy to deal with BTW. I love them reso guitars too, they are one of the reasons i'm building guitars today!

Welcome aboard and most of all, we love to see pics of your build here!

PS I'm gonna check here from time to time but if you have any problems, don't hesitate to PM me or any of us for help, if we can't help right away, it'll be a pleasure to find someone who will be able to!

Serge