I'm building another guitar (this one is bringing in money!) and it got me to wondering. I have to get "inspired" when I look at a box. It has to say "do something with me" so I start working on it. No plans and no idea how it is going to turn out. I may sit for days thinking what do I want the neck out of, or the bridge, etc. Everything is done when it hits me that that is what I want to do at that moment. I have started bridges and than just left it sitting and started a different one that I think will work better. I try to plan ahead but i just can't.
What do you people do? Do you draw things out first? Plan it all out and than stick to the plan? My way I really waste a lot of time, but I can't hep it, it is the way I am.
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I too, fly by the seat of my pants, and I only build when I get inspired. I have always been that way with everything, no plans on paper, only in my head, and that leads to allot of mistakes, or forgotten tips and short cuts that I thought I was going to implement on the next build, but never wrote it down. The newness of CBG's has worn off, so I do think or plan in my head what I want to do, and when the time is right ,, it happens. When it was new and I was geeked, I built some gits that where just bla,, and thrown together, clunkers. Now I do put some thought and research into it, but not on paper. Some of us were meant to build with the soul, others need a step by step blueprint. I know of another guitar building site, where you are frowned upon if you do not use a blueprint. Where is the art in that? Sure you get a near perfect build with in depth detailed plans, but that is to much like work. I enjoy figuring it out as I go, it feeds me to overcome a obstacle, it challenges me to invent on my feet, it draws out of me my creativity, my need to build and enjoy what I have created out of nothing.
I start by doing a lot of daydreaming. So far I've only built guitars for myself so I build each one to serve a different purpose. I suppose that after I've built every variation for myself, I might start parting with them for a little cash. The only one I've parted with so far was a bass that I built as a gift for a friend. In retrospect I should have built two at the same time. Anyway, first I decided what I want that I don't have yet. Current projects are: 6-string lap steel (has been almost completed for a couple of months now), 6-string resonator (just build the sound well for that), and then after that I think I'll do a 5-string canjo in A and a CBFiddle. After I've decided on the instrument being built, I do some mental logistics, find a suitable box, and take some measurements to make sure that everything will be dandy. I don't normally draw things out because most of my "improvising" is just finding ways to solve the problems/mistakes I'm constantly coming across. I do write out the measurements though. I also like to have all of the essential materials together first so I can kinda lay it all out and make sure that everything is going according to the mental plan.
Yep i'm pretty much the same dont make drawings or anything like that , look at the box and it will tell you what to do - i think by making plans/drawings makes a build sterile , it's much better to go with the Flow and like you say just make it up as you go along
I get a mental picture, and work from that, improvise on it a bit...It all comes from the soul, anyway, just like music or art...I told another nation member that earlier this evening...Be true to your instrument, and it will be true to you. That is the ZEN of it. GOOD LUCK!
I can't work every night, so I do a lot of thinking about what I can do a little different to make the next one a little unique (excluding the box) compared to the other builds. I haven't drawn anything out yet. Not interested in building several in one week. I like each one to be its' own unique self.
I work with a set formula thats pretty much set for each instrument.All my 3 strings have the same basic set up,I just vary the colors and small items.
Because I have to build in numbers each week theres no time for real planning ahead for changes.
Most of the changes I Do make are purely cosmetic.I have a set amount of time I work on any given neck,box etc.
I dont do custom orders any more because the amount of time I invest in custom work is too hard to recoup on the sale.The same goes for a new color/neck etc combination.If it takes too long for it to move when it hits the floor I seldom will build another like it.
I've been building a Red Punch 3 string for myself for about 3 months now.Its now playable but still has no sound holes etc.I cant find the time to finish it due to production taking most any free time I get.Plus SLEEP now and then.
I just joined a partner in his shop in the MALL and have been redoing the outside to make the shop feel warmer and more customer friendly,PLUS keep up production.
Right now I'm working on getting boxes to keep me going.I've tapped out the resources in this area,yet the CBG's still have to be built to keep the shop stocked.The customers dont want to hear about our box crunch problems,they just want their CBG or DB when they want it.
If you've seen pics of my stuff in the PIC section you'll notice that their all basically the same.
its kinda strang but i work very simmilar to you one a lot of things. cars and bikes are the same way it sounds strange but if you listen they will tell you what to do and if you do that everything will work much smoother if you try to force your will it will fight you.
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juju.
Because I have to build in numbers each week theres no time for real planning ahead for changes.
Most of the changes I Do make are purely cosmetic.I have a set amount of time I work on any given neck,box etc.
I dont do custom orders any more because the amount of time I invest in custom work is too hard to recoup on the sale.The same goes for a new color/neck etc combination.If it takes too long for it to move when it hits the floor I seldom will build another like it.
I've been building a Red Punch 3 string for myself for about 3 months now.Its now playable but still has no sound holes etc.I cant find the time to finish it due to production taking most any free time I get.Plus SLEEP now and then.
I just joined a partner in his shop in the MALL and have been redoing the outside to make the shop feel warmer and more customer friendly,PLUS keep up production.
Right now I'm working on getting boxes to keep me going.I've tapped out the resources in this area,yet the CBG's still have to be built to keep the shop stocked.The customers dont want to hear about our box crunch problems,they just want their CBG or DB when they want it.
If you've seen pics of my stuff in the PIC section you'll notice that their all basically the same.