Category: plans

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Questions: Gibson Firebird Plan

Questions: Gibson Firebird Plan

by David Riggs

Originally published in American Lutherie #76, 2003

 

See also,
Questions: Gibson Firebird Plan by Mike Doolin


David Riggs of Joplin, MO answers Marc Vermeiren's question regarding acquiring a plan of a Gibson Firebird:

I have several templates, having made a few Firebird-style instruments before Gibson started making reproductions in the ’70s. Anyone interested may e-mail me: titanicslim@yahoo.com.

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Questions: Dobro Plans

Questions: Dobro Plans

by Mike Dotson

Originally published in American Lutherie #87, 2006

 

Charlie S. from the Internet asks:

Can you give me a source for plans to build a Dobro?


Mike Dotson of Phoenix, AZ responds:

The only readily available plan for a resonator guitar I know of is the one by Paul Beard at Resophonic Outfitters. (www.beardguitars.com. Click “parts,” then “blueprints.”) They also supply all the parts needed. You can get the same plan as well as parts from Stewart-MacDonald (www.stewmac.com). ◆

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Questions: Requinto Plans

Questions: Requinto Plans

by William Cumpiano and Luis Alberto Paredes Rodríguez

Originally published in American Lutherie #87, 2006

 

Chip H. from the Internet asks:

I’ve been looking everywhere for a set of plans for a requinto. Any thoughts on where I might find one, or some generous soul that might send me the dimensions and scale length?


William Cumpiano of Northampton, MA responds:

I doubt anyone has ever produced plans for a requinto, or at least offered one for commercial distribution. For most Hispanic luthiers I know, sharing information with strangers is a low priority. I’m an exception.

Requintos are made just like a Spanish guitar, with a smaller template but full guitar-depth sides. They are tuned like a guitar capoed at the 5th fret, A to A, with the same intervals between the strings as a guitar. Scales vary from 21 5/8" to 22 1/8". Cutaways are very popular. Thicknesses of all the top, back and side plates are the same as the ones chosen for the larger Spanish guitar. Five fan braces with two cutoff bars on the bottom are most common. Strings chosen are the same as for full-size guitars, but understandably the gauges on the lightest-tension sets are preferred. All other full-size guitar dimensions and construction details apply.


Luis Alberto Paredes Rodríguez from Bogotá, Colombia responds:

Here are the basic dimensions of the requintos we make in our shop. The body measurements are similar to those of the Colombian tiple: upper bout = 25CM; waist = 21.4CM; lower bout = 32.5CM; body length = 42CM; body depth = 9CM–9.5CM. The scale length varies from 540MM to 560MM. But we find the ideal scale to be 550MM. The other neck dimensions are the same as the guitar and the neck joins the body at the 12th fret. Some have a body cutaway. The instruments invariably have a pickguard. (Editor’s note: GAL Instrument Plan #51, the Colombian Tiple, was drawn by Sr. Paredes. It may be ordered from the GAL website.) ◆

(See also our Instrument Plan #54, Mexican Requinto)

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Questions: Simple Instrument Plan

Questions: Simple Instrument Plan

by Tim Olsen

Originally published in American Lutherie #76, 2003

 

Russell Lee from cyberspace asks:

I have no lutherie experience and would like to purchase a plan for a simple instrument. (I know others who have experience and tools who can help.) Which of the bowed instruments for which you sell plans is the easiest to make? Or is some other plan (other than a bowed instrument) much easier?


Tim Olsen, our fearless leader, responds:

There is only one GAL plan that I would think of as easy to make. Many are simple instruments, but the plans may not include full instructions, or the subtleties of those instruments may not be apparent. So I'd draw your attention to GAL Plan #44, “True Companion” Travel Guitar by John Calkin. Fairly detailed how-to text is included along with several photos of the building process. No side bending is required. An article and reduced plan appear in AL#57. The plan can be ordered directly from our website at www.luth.org and an image of it can be seen at https://luth.org/instrument-plans/guitar-plans/steel-string-guitar-plans/#Plan44. ◆

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Questions: Where to Get Mandola Plans

Questions: Where to Get Mandola Plans

by Don MacRostie and Jim Hoover

Originally published in American Lutherie #77, 2004

 

Don MacRostie of Athens (aka Stew-Mac), Ohio responds to Thierry, Bernus Turner, and other's questions regarding where to get a mandola plan.

Although I don't know of a plan for a carved-top mandola, the following figures taken from a signed ``Loar'' mandola and a teen's H-1 serial# 75585 should be helpful in proportioning your own from a plan like the F-5 plan from Stew-Mac or GAL Plan #26.

Hoover-ques-01

Archings on these two instruments were very much like the companion mandolins, and plate thicknesses were essentially the same as for the mandolin. The H-1 had two transverse braces on the top, with the rear brace under the bridge. The Loar was tone-bar braced. The one slightly unusual point on the Loar mandola is that the peghead and the body scrolls were not scaled up with the rest of the instrument. They were basically the same size and shape as those details on the mandolin.

The book, The Mandolin Manual: The Art, Craft, and Science of the Mandolin and Mandola by John Troughton is available from Elderly Instruments (www.elderly.com/books/items/542-62.htm). Also, AL#51, Questions column gives some useful information and dimensions.

Several websites offer plans for flattop mandolas, though I have not actually seen them:
www.touchstonetonewoods.co.uk/ttwp2.html
secure.mimf.com/order.htm
www.art-robb.co.uk/plans.html


Jim Hoover of New Holland, PA adds:

The book Making Stringed Instruments — A Workshop Guide, by George Buchanan (Sterling Publishing) has a clean, scale drawing of a flat-top mandola as well as drawings of six other instruments, including violin, viola, cello, mandolin, and classical and archtop guitars with step-by-step do’s and don’ts.