Your videos are priceless Mark, so much good info thank you! I just finished building a Stratocaster style guitar today that I began building back in April, your videos gave me the confidence to buy the tools I needed and get started. Keep up your great work man! All the best to you, Ken :-)
i enjoy watching your videos a lot and like your attitude that people can do anything! i want to start building a guitar and these videos inspire me. all the best to you!!! and keep the videos coming!!!
Great Video! I'm slowly building up the courage to make my own acoustic. Something tells me that I should do a kit guitar first and see how that goes. :)
Cheers Dan! If you are 'going it alone' then a kit is not the worst place to start...but if you want to build from scratch then take a look at my course...it also works if you are using a kit - you just skip the bits that are pre-made...Go for it! You won't look back :) guitarmaking.co.uk/course/build-acoustic-guitar-online/
Another alternative to go-bar deck and cam clamps is a vacuum bag. I long ago went to vacuum clamping, it's so easy and I made my frame out of a 2x4. Talk about cheap!
Mark Bailey thats a good idea you have given me there, to make a video. I will do that on the next flat top i make. I use a piece of acrylic or plexiglass that's big enough to hold the radius dish and the square frame that goes around it. The square frame is just made by cutting down some two-by-fours and mitering them perfectly will and sealing the corners with epoxy or silicone. Then on the underside route out a channel for some surgical tubing and glue that in. On the top side I use vacuum film which stretches a lot and is very inexpensive because of the small amount that's needed, and it's secured with mastic along the top edge. Put a valve of some sort through the side and hook your choice of vacuum to it whether it's a vacuum cleaner adapted down to match the silicone tubing or an actual vacuum pump. The gasket will grab onto the acrylic and the bag will empty out and all braces will be clamped at once.. i know of someone that makes the manufactured version of this that's very very nice out of aluminum and such but the cost is $2,000. I estimate the cost of mine to be... $20? I have lots of pictures but I don't know how I could post pictures here. I think it's a great way to clamp and I've made other vacuum jigs for a fraction of the cost compared to what places like LMI charge for them.
Yes - the LMI (and similar) kits are very expensive - We had a huge vacuum table at the factory but since then I've been using more traditional methods. Wooden clamps are so versatile and cheap to make, I still think they are the way to go for a beginner...and you don't need a radius dish... It would be great to see a video of your setup - maybe you can make a slideshow and put it on RUclips?: ruclips.net/video/nFIgCMgVpWk/видео.html
Mark Bailey thanks for the slideshow link, that's cool. I think I'll just make a proper video because it will be better overall. Likely this month I'll get to that. Also, radius dishes are not required. I use flat ones in it often, for uke and sometimes guitar tops. But also I use a 52 ft radius for tops as well.
Thanks for getting back to me Mark,i have been interested in luthiery for years now but other than setting my guitars up never had chance to go into it properly 41 now and the session work is slowing down haha and looikng after my young daughter day to day is taking its toll so gonna get stuck in and with your help hopefully get the knowledge to set up on my own ,cheers gonna go to your website and message you if thats ok
I make guitars any shape you like :) What I do is start with a drawing. Then I live with it for a bit. Put the drawing at the end of your bed. Make adjustments until you like it and then GO for it!!
I feel your pain...I was in your position once...I started with nothing - it took some time but I did it, and if you really want to, so can you. Unfortunately making guitars is not a cheap hobby ...but it doesn't have to cost a fortune - I bet you could get all the tools you need cheaper than an ps4 with a handful of games? There's always Xmas and birthdays...you'd be surprised how much you can get for free - beg or borrow - people are generous! Put the word out and tell them what it is for. There are literally shed fulls of tools lying unused in every street. Folk will gladly give you old tools that they no longer need if they think you will make good use of them. Try it !
Thanks for asking! I am Mark Bailey from Bailey Guitars - You can see my guitars here: www.baileyguitars.co.uk/collection/ Besides making guitars I also enjoy teaching others how to do it - there are over 300 individual videos only available on my site (link in description)
I love the purpose of your video ! Building guitar with the minimum tools needed for. Hey ! smile man cause you are telling us that we can do it with nearly just our knife and dick !! (french expression is : avec ma bite et mon couteau) ! so it is wonderful ! Thanks a lot very useful !
Your videos are priceless Mark, so much good info thank you! I just finished building a Stratocaster style guitar today that I began building back in April, your videos gave me the confidence to buy the tools I needed and get started. Keep up your great work man! All the best to you, Ken :-)
Cheers Ken - that means a lot to me!
Great videos, really enjoyed them and have subscribed.
Hell yeah, man! Thanks for the resource
i enjoy watching your videos a lot and like your attitude that people can do anything! i want to start building a guitar and these videos inspire me. all the best to you!!! and keep the videos coming!!!
Thanks Simon - That means a lot to me :)
I'm not saying its easy - nothing worthwhile ever is - but I know anybody can do it ... best of luck to you!
great and simple tricks ,thanks 4 sharing .
Great Video! I'm slowly building up the courage to make my own acoustic. Something tells me that I should do a kit guitar first and see how that goes. :)
Cheers Dan! If you are 'going it alone' then a kit is not the worst place to start...but if you want to build from scratch then take a look at my course...it also works if you are using a kit - you just skip the bits that are pre-made...Go for it! You won't look back :) guitarmaking.co.uk/course/build-acoustic-guitar-online/
Very good ideas thanks for posting
Very good information and thanks for the video.
Another alternative to go-bar deck and cam clamps is a vacuum bag. I long ago went to vacuum clamping, it's so easy and I made my frame out of a 2x4. Talk about cheap!
Do you have any video or photos of your set up? Are you using a standard vacuum cleaner? (I've seen pro setups but they are expensive!)
Mark Bailey thats a good idea you have given me there, to make a video. I will do that on the next flat top i make. I use a piece of acrylic or plexiglass that's big enough to hold the radius dish and the square frame that goes around it. The square frame is just made by cutting down some two-by-fours and mitering them perfectly will and sealing the corners with epoxy or silicone. Then on the underside route out a channel for some surgical tubing and glue that in. On the top side I use vacuum film which stretches a lot and is very inexpensive because of the small amount that's needed, and it's secured with mastic along the top edge. Put a valve of some sort through the side and hook your choice of vacuum to it whether it's a vacuum cleaner adapted down to match the silicone tubing or an actual vacuum pump. The gasket will grab onto the acrylic and the bag will empty out and all braces will be clamped at once.. i know of someone that makes the manufactured version of this that's very very nice out of aluminum and such but the cost is $2,000. I estimate the cost of mine to be... $20? I have lots of pictures but I don't know how I could post pictures here. I think it's a great way to clamp and I've made other vacuum jigs for a fraction of the cost compared to what places like LMI charge for them.
Yes - the LMI (and similar) kits are very expensive - We had a huge vacuum table at the factory but since then I've been using more traditional methods. Wooden clamps are so versatile and cheap to make, I still think they are the way to go for a beginner...and you don't need a radius dish...
It would be great to see a video of your setup - maybe you can make a slideshow and put it on RUclips?: ruclips.net/video/nFIgCMgVpWk/видео.html
Mark Bailey thanks for the slideshow link, that's cool. I think I'll just make a proper video because it will be better overall. Likely this month I'll get to that. Also, radius dishes are not required. I use flat ones in it often, for uke and sometimes guitar tops. But also I use a 52 ft radius for tops as well.
Excellent - I look forward to seeing that!
Brilliant video great advice and a blessing for me just subbed keep them coming
Thanks Kristian! - I have made over 300 videos but I am not planning to put them on youtube. You can find them on my website: www.guitarmaking.co.uk
Thanks for getting back to me Mark,i have been interested in luthiery for years now but other than setting my guitars up never had chance to go into it properly 41 now and the session work is slowing down haha and looikng after my young daughter day to day is taking its toll so gonna get stuck in and with your help hopefully get the knowledge to set up on my own ,cheers gonna go to your website and message you if thats ok
thanks for the information appreciated
Glad you found it useful - happy hunting!
nice video. do you ever use old growth douglas fir for guitar tops from Pacific NW USA?
Not yet Larry...be happy to give it go if I could get hold of some!
1:43 would plastic ones work
Yes - I don't see why not - You don't need a lot of clamping pressure...I haven't seen any though? Do you have a link?
thank you
good video Brother!
clothes springs are good, but an additiona rubber band around is needed for extra strenght
Great suggestion Simone - Thanks!
Great intro video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Your sides on your guitars do not seem to change shape like many other guitars, other that Archtops. How did you decide on that?
I make guitars any shape you like :) What I do is start with a drawing. Then I live with it for a bit. Put the drawing at the end of your bed. Make adjustments until you like it and then GO for it!!
Wish i have all of that tools 😢😢
I feel your pain...I was in your position once...I started with nothing - it took some time but I did it, and if you really want to, so can you.
Unfortunately making guitars is not a cheap hobby ...but it doesn't have to cost a fortune - I bet you could get all the tools you need cheaper than an ps4 with a handful of games? There's always Xmas and birthdays...you'd be surprised how much you can get for free - beg or borrow - people are generous! Put the word out and tell them what it is for. There are literally shed fulls of tools lying unused in every street. Folk will gladly give you old tools that they no longer need if they think you will make good use of them. Try it !
Right on man!
Ian Brown?
Mark Bailey?
What is the brand of your guitar
Thanks for asking!
I am Mark Bailey from Bailey Guitars - You can see my guitars here: www.baileyguitars.co.uk/collection/
Besides making guitars I also enjoy teaching others how to do it - there are over 300 individual videos only available on my site (link in description)
i thought this was timothy b schmid from the eagles :H
I love the purpose of your video ! Building guitar with the minimum tools needed for.
Hey ! smile man cause you are telling us that we can do it with nearly just our knife and dick !! (french expression is : avec ma bite et mon couteau) ! so it is wonderful !
Thanks a lot very useful !