Making an Archtop Guitar

If you aspire to being a LUTHIER, not merely a builder of instruments, this book is the best investment you could possibly make. A lot of the books on guitar construction out there are little more than construction manuals: 'Join part A to part B', 'Do this, then do that', 'Build an exact copy of MY guitar' etc.Bob Benedetto doesn't do this in his book.With this book he creates artisans. He goes through the minutiae of designing, crafting, and setting up an instrument of unparallelled quality in a way which even the most inept beginner could relate to.As someone who qualified as a musical instrument maker, I didn't think there'd be much I could learn from this book. Having purchased it to fill in some gaps in my knowledge (specifically regarding arch top guitars) I didn't expect a great deal, but a great deal was what I got.If you want to know the following, then buy this book:1: How wood choice TRULY affects tone and stability2: Why there is no such thing as a 'tonewood'3: The physics of stringed instruments4: How to craft a master grade instrument5: How to make your own jigs, clamps, and other labour saving devices6: Why a professional finish isn't as hard (or as easy) as you think7: Why marketing is importantIf you just want to make some functional knock-off of an existing guitar, you might want to buy a different book.'Making an Archtop Guitar' is beautifully laid out, with supporting photographs AND technical illustrations, PLUS! there are full size templates for virtually EVERYTHING except the body and the larger jigs in the book.Just click the buy now button - you really won't regret it.

This is a comprehensive work from one of, if not the greatest luthiers. It is very well written and well illustrated and Mr Benedetto imparts all of his secrets behind making the finest archtop guitars.Will it enable me to make a $25,000 guitar. No. I need a lot of training and experience and tools first, but this is something to aspire to!

Great book, a definite must have. Very informative with emphasis more so on sound at the influence construction has on it, as opposed to construction first working to a basic model. Most techniques described could be updated and some use of machinery could actually be done by hand but is skimmed over. Overall a great book, but you may need more to go the distance on a full build.

Excellent book revealing exactly how much work goes in to the creation of these masterpieces.As commented above it is almost essential reading for anyone who has an archtop (or even an acousti flattop) to understand the compexities.even if ,like me , you have no intention of ever making your own.Fabulous!

A useful reference for the serious instrument maker. This book isn't really for the total novice but if you have an understanding of instrument acoustics, a well equipped workshop and good woodworking skills, you'll find this book very useful indeed. Benedetto is a man who is always worth listening to.Paul Hayes