Cyr Custom Guitars started a new project to build an acoustic guitar in January 2005. The guitar was based on the traditional Martin D28 design, with some variations. In October 2004 we began accumulating parts for the guitar, as well as the tools that will be needed to build the thing. Rather than attempting to build all of the parts from scratch, we took the kit approach for the first one. The top and neck were already fabricated--both werre actually surplus items from the Martin factory. In addition, the back and sides were purchased already joined, sanded to thickness, and the sides bent to the Dreadnaught shape.

I started with two sets of Herringbone Guitar Plans, which I purchased from Luthier's Mercantile (LMII), one to cut the patterns from, and one to keep intact.

In parallel with the acquisition of the necessary parts and materials, I've been gathering together the tools and equipment that I'll need to put this guitar together.

In the sections below I'll show you these three things:

See also: Our 4-String Acoustic Bass Guitar Project

And: Our 5-String Acoustic Bass Guitar Project

I bought this top from an Ebay seller called Luthiersupplies, operated by Rich Altieri. He buys factory rejects from the Martin Guitar Company like this one. It had some grain irregularities across the lower part of it that I find rather attractive. This top has very nice fine grain, as well as a herringbone sound hole rosette already inlaid into it.

For my first project, this seemed like the best way to go--however, for the next project I'll use an uncut soundboard. This means I'll have to cut the soundhole and do the rosette inlay myself--that's why I got the soundhole/rosette cutter shown on the Tools Page.

 

The back is part of a set I bought from Luthier's Mercantile International (LMII), located in Healdsburg, CA. This company is an excellent source of tonewoods, tools, and supplies. The set consists of a two bookmatched pieces of Indian Rosewood, their "Second Grade." I chose this grade for two reasons:

  • The price
  • This grade has more character to it--the premium andf first grades have straighter grain and less color variation.

I had them glue the two halves of the back and sand it to finish thickness (about .110"). They also glued in the D28-style decorative strip into the back joint.

 

The sides are the other part of the set I bought from LMII. I had them sand them to thickness (about .095") and bend them to shape for me, since I don't have the equipment to do the bending. The sides are also bookmatched Indian Rosewood (Dalbergia Latifolia).

More of the parts I've collected for this guitar project. The neck is also from Luthiersupplies, while the inlaid fingerboard and bridges came from another Ebay Seller called inlaidartist, who is located in Taiwan. The truss rod, neck headblock and pickguard came from Stewart MacDonald, another supplier of guitar parts, tools, and supplies.

More of the guitar parts I have been accumulating for this and other projects that will follow. These are soundhole inlay rings and purflings that will be used in later projects.

Another shot of the various parts. Note the set of herringbone purfling strips that are already bent for the top of the guitar. These came from Stewart-MacDonald. 

This item arrived from StewMac yesterday as well. It's the binding I will use for this guitar. It's curly hard maple with a narrow band of Black/White/Black fiber purfling along the edge. Very nice!

One last piece that I ordered from Andy DePaule of LuthierSupply.com. This is a pair of mother-of-pearl and paua abalone inlays that he made up for the two acoustic instruments I'm working on:

  
   

 

 All Pictures and Text
(c) Copyright 2005 by Stephen Cyr
Last updated January 2, 2005

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