Official Luthiers Forum!

Okay, after meeting an electric builder, it occurred to me that we do have quite a number who do build a few electrics. Just to encourage anyone out there building electrics, could you answer this poll? I'm in the None category, but I'd like to some day. Thanks IN ADVance....

I like building both. If forced to choose, I would pick flat top acoustics, but I do enjoy building electrics too.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I have built two LP's plan to build another but not really jiged up to do so from scratch. I bought pre carved flamed maple bodies and necks right now I don't remember from who but the were very nice

I built all electrics in "the good old days" when I played louder.
Lately, I have been playing in smaller groups where acoustics are more appropriate.
I am intrigued with the many options of amplifying an acoustic instrument. I have yet to hear a pickup system that seems faithful to the instrument's acoustic sound though.

Wade

_________________
Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

I still build more electrics than acoustics, although that's liable to shift somewhat. Acoustics are the bigger challenge, and the instruments that I enjoy listening to and playing most. Electrics are just a lot of fun to build, and you can get creative with carving, shaping, etc. without having to worry overmuch how that additional 1/8" you just removed is going to affect the resonance :-)

I've got wood stockpiled for a good 35-odd acoustics right now, as well as more or less enough for maybe 10 more electrics. I've got one acoustic waiting for binding, two electrics quasi-finished waiting for sanding+finishing, and after that I've got 3 acoustics scheduled, one, maybe two electric to build for others (a Tele and a Les Paulish thing, probably), and a doublecut carved top electric I want to build for myself. After that, well, I'll see who I can con into buying one of my instruments. But that's looking ahead about 5 years, given the current build rate.

I dabble in em

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I started building electrics, and have built 10 of them thus far. I am currently building my first acoustic, and I hope to graduate to archtops some day.

Guitar Ed

I've built the grand sum of one electric. Tele copy w/ 2 humbuckers, Adder Plus pickups. Someday I hope to post pix of said instrument.
Mattia inspired me on the pickup rings, to make them of curly maple, and I think that adds a good bit to the look. Thanks, Mattia!

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I have on LP-type and one Tele-type in various stages of construction. I'm hoping to have the Tele done in a month. I find that it's a good break from the acoustic and clears my mind.

_________________
JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

    I build electrics fairly regularly, but most have ended up in Japan. I think it's because as we establish a slot as acoustic builders or electric builders, it's difficult for the buying public here in the US to accept the crossover. Maybe it's the idea that the two are so different from one another that it would be difficult to do both well. t happened with Martin as they embarked on their endeavor to produce electrics in the '70s. The guitars were excellent playing and sounding as well as very versatile with electronics that were slightly ahead of their time. Bob Benedetto made his effort at the electric market and his status as the premier archtop builder in the world threw an ominous shadow over them even though their quality couldn;t be argued. Gibson has done it and their electric market has far exceeded their acoustic share. Fender has carved out a decent slice of the acoustic market for themselves, but there will never be a time when their acoustic models rival the electrics in popularity.

   I had Kevin Gallagher Guitarworks in NJ for years before ever going to work at Martin or making a move to full time acoustic building. With a crew of about 18 at the height of production, we were cranking out bodies and necks that were finished and ready for assembly by the buyer or for any of several other companies that sold them under their own names. Strat and Tele styles were our mainstay and everyone in the shop had a few custome pieces that they would buy right of of the line and I would assemble and wire them with their choice of electronics. Players from the New York and Philly areas were frequent visitors to the shop where they could actually pick a body and neck in progress and have it ready for them to pick up in just a few days. It's was sold to another company in the late '80s and has since been sold again and is producing bodies for some highly visible makers.

   I love building acoustics and enjoy the challenge of coaxing the woods to their tonal potential with much more sonically or acoustically obvious results than are thought of with electrics. The tonal nuances in an electric are much more subtle and I appreciate them too, but really enjoy matching the guitar and woods chosen for it with the perfect electronic components to bring it to that potential and get it to the speakers efficiently.

   I play electric 90% of the time that I play so I really love and use my collection of electrics, but have always looked forward to the completion of any acoustic that I start for myself. I don;t even currently own an Omega Acoustic since everything that I build for myself gets bought up within days of its completion by a potential customer who just can't resist the lure of the instant gratification instead of the nearly three year backlog lead time that I'm under.

    The fact that I play electric so much sort of alienates me from some of the acoustic community and the fact that I play carbon fiber Parker Fly models most of that time alienates me from a portion of the electric community. A man without a land...

I love 'em both when it comes to building and playing.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

I started out building electrics, and moved into acoustics but still build electric guitars. I have also built solid body mandolins, and I even built an electric solidbody banjo.
One thing I have doing a lot of lately is making "hybrid" guitars, ones that have elements of both instruments present. Hollow-body electrics, that have piezo pickups as well as magnetic. Part of the fun for me is in making the pickup systems. I know enough about electronics to be dangerous, so I like to make my own pickups and preamp systems.

_________________
Mark Swanson
Swanson Guitars
http://www.MarkSwansonMusic.com

I also take commisions on electrics. I rather acoutics and have not do any arch tops as of yet. I am thinking of taking a class though.
john hall

I build both with most of the electrics being solid body bouzoukis. If I had my druthers I'd be building all acoustics but people keep ordering the electrics.

GD Armstrong

If you mean by "electrics" solid body or non-acoustic electrics, then no I dont build electrics. I have built Archtops (2) of which they had Kent Armstrong pickups. I have built acoustic guitars to which pickups/preamps, et al) were added to but they couls stand on their own as acoustics.

I some ways it seems alot harder to build an electrified acoustic that sounds good as an electric than it does to build a straight electric where it is more the matching of electronics that is the challenge. Electrics have other advantages such as being much easier to adjust action and intonation. I am waiting for the day when I see an acoustic with a "whammy bar"...I have seen fingerstyle players treat necks like they were tremolo bars

I believe that Tommy Emanuel has an acoustic with a whammy bar!!

[QUOTE=GD Armstrong] ...with most of the electrics being solid body bouzoukis.[/QUOTE]

How interesting. Selling in the U.S.? Got any photos, GD?

I built one with a friend a long time ago. Copy of a Dan Electro using the Dan neck w/ Dimarzio pick ups. Horrible black plexiglass pick guard! Bad screws on the pick ups, etc. My friend actually got in some trouble and I aquired the guitar before he lost it. I have it now and plan on making it over to bring it up to what I think it should be like. He doesn't know I have it, and I want to surprise him with it when I'm done making it over for him. I think he believes it's lost! I'm also in the works with a custom of my own right now...it's taking forever! New wood from Bob Cef on the way, that should get my hiney in gear again!
MarkMark Laura38588.8470949074

This is a photo of the last electric I designed and built. It is currently in Pat Pend status. According to the Patent Office they are about 2 years behind so, could be a while.

My first guitar was a chambered LP flamed maple top, red dye with natural binding and KTM finish. It turned out pretty nice after refinishing it 7 times.