Conference napalm::guitar

    I don't know about Europe, but in the states and Canada there are
    books by "SLOANE" (I think it might be R.J. Sloane, but I don't
    remember). He has written at least two that I know of. "Classic
    Guitar Construction" (Nylon string - neck joins body at fret # 12),
    and another (same type book) for steel string acoustics - neck joins
    at 14th fret.
    
    Both are excellent books. Clearly written, with plenty of pictures,
    materials lists, tool lists, and plans for building some of the
    tools you'll need. Highly recommended.	dep
    tools

    Get ahold of Stewart McDonald's and get a catalog, they have books,
    they haev videos, they have tools, they have wood, they have kits
    etc...
    
    good luck
    
    dave

    who/where (address) is Stewart McDonald's?

    Stewart McDonald's is the shop that Dan Erlwine (sp?) repair collumist
    for Guitar Player works.
    
    1-800-848-2273 free catalogs!
    
    dbii

    re: .1
    
    That'd be Irving Sloane.  His books were the first to get any
    circulation and maybe the first published, but there are several
    more recent and more complete books by other, more successful luthiers.
    I don't recall the names, but I'll check with my luthier friends.
    
    Bob

    Another American company that offers kits for building guitars
    is Saga. They offer kits for acoustics, electrics, dobros, banjos,
    mandolins, as well as books, materials, etc. They advertise in
    Frets and GP magazine quite frequently. If I can find their address
    over the weekend, I will post it Monday.
    
    Is anyone in noteland familiar with Saga ? 
    
    Mark Jacques
    

    I met a guy who built a Saga mandolin.  It was a nice instrument
    and he was really happy with the kit.  Don't know about the guitars.
    
    Bob

    I bought one of thier Strat kits (you know the ultra cheap models with
    the plywood bodies) for $90.00, brand new, from a store that couldn't
    sell it at list price ($189.00). I never put it together, but sent it
    off to have left handed parts made, using the body as a template (my
    sister's husband has a computer controlled NC router, for wood
    products). We found that many of the holes were put in the wrong
    places, and things had to be worked a bit to get anything to fit right.
    This is not so bad, however, since it only took a bit of work with
    a chisel to fix the alignment & some sand paper (and filler) to work
    out the problem spots. I would never (repeat NEVER) use plywood for the
    body of any guitar that I planned to keep. Stuart McDonald does sell
    Lefty necks, but not Lefty Bodies (I'm not sure why not). It was a
    great deal for $90.00, but, it was never assembled for more than a day
    or 2 at a time. Thier higher end products are probably better chioces,
    but, for the price, you might find it more effective to compare with
    the other places. The advantage with SAGA is that all of the parts come
    in one complete package.

						Jens

    
    
    	I'm seriously thinking about building (converting my Mustang?)
    a guitar... and... here's what I think it will be like:
    
    1. Lots of fun
    2. Easy... I'll use tools I've already got
    3. I'll be really pleased with the guitar when I'm done
       it will be as good as "store bought"
    4. I'll wind up owning a strat for helf price..
    
    	Will it be like that? Are most of the books today about the
    same or are there better ones (this note has a few gray hairs)?
    
    	Did you know that Fender doesn't sell Mustang bridges any more?
    <grin>.. I didn't...
    
    
    Steve

    Well, I pretty much built my Strat from the ground up, basically
    putting pre-made parts together, and finishing and setting it up
    myself.  I had a good time making it, I came out *exactly* the way
    I wanted a/my guitar, and learned a lot about guitar
    repair/construction.
    
    I didn't run into many problems, but I also imagine I was lucky,
    and I have a basic knowledge of woodworking, and guitar stuff.
    
    So, go for it!  I ordered all my parts from Stewart-MacDonalds,
    and the address is somewhere in the notesfile(perhaps somebody could
    point this out?).  Always have had quality parts and great prices
    from them, in fact I'm ordering a straight strat bridge to replace
    my kahler, and that's the only place I'll go to.  
    
    Good luck!
    
    craig
    

    Steve if you'd like a look at the Stewart-MCDonalds catalog come
    by my office sometime and we'll chat...
    
    dbii

    re .10:
    
    by a 'straight strat bridge' do you mean the ones like they put
    on the American Standard Strats today, or is it more like the
    ones on the vintage re-issue? I'd love to get something like they
    have on the American Standard Strats.
    
    -Dave

    
    
    	Thanks, Craig, dbii, I guess my strategy will be to go with
    the non-tremolo strat body, buy a book (need to find out how they
    get the finishes so perfect... flat black under clear laquer??)
    and "move" the neck and two pick-ups from my beloved Mustang to
    the new strat body with an additional pick-up EMS select, at the
    bridge and the other strat hardware, jack plate, bridge, wire kit
    etc...  If I wind up turning my Mustang into a strat with decent
    action I will absolutely, ummmm... well you know what I mean..
    
    	dbii, if I do is the Mustang body and Rich bridge worth anything??
    
    
    Steve
    
    
    	Oh... yeah, is there any "everyday" substitution for nut files?
     I'd like to get my current brass nut a little lower on low E and
    A.....