Making a Laminated HollowBody Electric Guitar

Dave Johnson once said to me, "Why don't you build one like that?"  My answer to him was "Are you crazy?  It takes a company full of magicians to do that!"  Well, that wasn't true at all, as I was to learn. My friend and I were talking in the shop one day several years ago, discussing his attempt to make a twelve string acoustic guitar.  I had no doubt that he could do it and I was trying my best to encourage him.  He is somewhat of a magician himself, being one of the best knife makers that I have ever met.  I was fortunate enough to have him teach me what he knew of knife making, and now I was to come under his tutelage and influence in the field of lutherie.  The very word conjures up an air of mystery!  Webster says of it "one who makes stringed musical instruments".  Boy, what an understatement!  There is so much more involved! I have always, it seems, used a variety of tools, both hand and power.  Early on, I had used files, hammers, saws, drills, etc.  I was always building something, even bird and doghouses.  When I worked in aircraft, as I got better jobs in assembly and inspection, I learned to use precision tools such as calipers, micrometers, height gauges, and surface plates.  On into knife making, I began to use grinders, drill presses and a whole new variety of tools and machinery.  All during that time, I used a variety of materials - bone, steel, wood, ivory, micarta, mother of pearl and many others. What I'm trying to say here is that when I decided to make a guitar it wasn't as if I was going to do something completely alien.  The guitar was, yes, but the materials and tools weren't.  The guitar, as an instrument, was not entirely new either, as I have been around the guitar since I was born.  I have been playing since I was twelve or so.  It may not be totally necessary to have a working background in tools and materials, but you can learn so much faster and do so much better at making your first few guitars if you have some experience with both. Having decided to make a guitar, I had to decide just what kind to make. 

There are so many different kinds of guitars out there - Spanish, classical, nylon string, western steel string, flat tops, arch tops, and so on.  I began playing along with Smokey's Valley Music Store on TV in the 50's.  I heard Merle Travis and thought it was wonderful.  Just as I had learned my first Travis tune, Fuller Blues, I heard a guy named Chet Atkins and knew I had found Heaven on Earth.  About this time I saw Jimmy Webster demonstrate his touch technique on a Gretsch White Falcon and thought that it was the most beautiful guitar I had ever seen.  Then, in 1956 I saw an orange Chet Atkins model 6120 Gretsch and bought it.  I still have it. It is as beautiful now as it was then. I discovered that Gretsch is no longer made in the US.  I went to several music stores.  Nobody had one.  Not even close.  Since that is the kind of guitar that I played and loved I decided to make a similar kind. What I went through for eighteen months searching for materials, buying books, videos, gathering tools and knowledge and dealing with the many different aspects of the project would fill several books.  What I have learned cannot be measured by any means that I know of.  I have learned much and made many new friends.  Separating the hype and other bad and useless information, I learned on my own.  Searching for books and information on how to make a laminated guitar, I found that nothing was available in print, film, pictures or anything else.  I discovered that getting certain information is like pulling hens' teeth.  Some of that is tradition, some of it is trade secrets, and some of it is just plain selfishness and fear.  But I have learned, in spite of that.  Hoping to pass this knowledge on is part of the reason I have undertaken the task of writing this book.  So join me now on a most incredible journey.