Recommended classical reading?

[Nick]

Looks like I may be asked to knock up a classical guitar sometime this year & being a classical virgin I was wondering what everybodies preference for a good book would be. I have the Cumpiano/Natelson book & this forum of course but wonder if there's a really good "in depth" book focused solely on the classical guitar. Does anybody have comments on the John Brogdanovich book, good or bad?
I'd like the instrument to be playable and one that will help 'enhance' my reputation, or at least not lower it The few jazz steel stringers I've made so far have got me 'on the radar' I don't want to disappear off it in an almighty explosion already!
I notice too that Waddy uses a Romanillos bracing pattern whereas Martin uses the Torres style, just wondering why and any specific benefits for doing each style over the other?
Thanks for any input in advance :serg

[kiwigeo]

Nick,

Ive got a library full of classical references.....Campiano is a good starting point. Courtnall's "Making Master Guitars" is probablly one of the best for purely classicals...

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Master-Gui ... 0709048092


Courtnall briefly discusses a few of the major modern builders and there are pics and dimensions which are useful.

Ive got Bogdanovich's book but for some reason I dont seem to reach for it very much.

Why do I stick to Torres style bracing? Mainly because I havent yet got around to trying other bracing patterns.

Cheers Martin

[Nick]

Thanks Martin for that. Bracing can be very much a personal preference/ builder thing I know You may be getting bugged by me with more questions if this job comes through, hope you won't mind! Thanks for your opinion of the Bogdanovich book, I've only seen the advertising schlep for it but comes across as a 'bit light' some how. I could be wrong & won't mind being proven wrong either, but I'm the sort that likes to know some of the science behind things so at least I know why I'm getting a brace to a certain thickness and position on the soundboard or a bit of knowledge so that if I change it, what difference it will make.

[kiwigeo]

Nick, one of the biggest challenges building a classical is getting good volume. Less energy coming from nylon strings than with a steel string.

I was taught to build 'light and stiff" and thats what I do.

Questions welcome but Im off to work in an hours time so there might be delays in answering questions depending how busy work is.

Cheers Martin

[graham mcdonald]

I have just done a survey of all the guitar building books which will be published in American Lutherie sometime later in the year. The Courtnall book has to be the pick of the bunch. It is primarily hand building, with occasional use of power tools but is comprehensive in what it covers. A first timer could, I think build a guitar from the info presented.

The Cumpiano/Natelson book is an essential text to have, just because it is The Bogdanovitch book is just over complicated in many ways if gorgeously produced. I think it just does stuff which is unnecessary, like the incredibly complicated solera and laminating the sides. It would be a good book to refer to after building two or three classicals from Cumpiano/Natelson or Courtnall.

I keep coming back to Eugene Clark's article in American Lutherie a year or so ago. It is Eugene's take on a Spanish methodology from a century ago, which makes a lot of sense after a couple of reads. There is a simple logic in the way he puts a guitar together. There is also Rik Middleton's book (I think that is his name), an English builder who has some good ideas, if some very weird ones on compensation.

In terms of bracing patterns, most non-carbon fiber lattice patterns are variants on the Torres fan. The Coutnall book is good because it gives detailed plans of a number of different fan variants. It is really up to you to decide which to use, but I fully agree with Martin, the lighter and stiffer the better

cheers

graham

[WaddyT]

Not much of that kind of stuff in any of them. Courtnall comes close, as he has some discussion of many of the primary builders of the "Golden Era", Torres, Hauser, Fleta, Romanillos, Hernandez y Aguado, Bouichet, Friederich, and Santos Hernandez, and deals a bit with their build philosophy, though not much. Probably the most is from Romanillos, but it's pretty good. If you can find a copy of hte Evans Book, "Guitars, From the Renaissance to Rock", there is a pretty good chapter of that book where Romanillos talks more about his philosophy of building. He is much younger then, but was already an established builder on the rise.

[Allen]

I've gone through the Bogdonavich book several times, and in fact have it beside me right now, and while beautifully photographed, and produced, I'm with Martin and Graham on it not being the best reference for a first build. There are some good ideas in it on methodology if you are wanting to try double sides, laminated bindings etc, and he has an interesting way of assembly. But better as an addition to the library, rather than the start.

BTW, my local library carries the book, so yours may also. Much better value it getting a loan of it, and then deciding if you want to put down hard cash for a copy.

[Nick]

Thanks everybody for your thoughts so far, looks like Courtnall's book is on my immediate shopping list. Graham thanks for the American Luthiery connection, looks like an interesting read & I will order a back issue of it. I usually like to do abit of reading first so at least I can ask the right questions when the customer comes knocking and build something that they would be proud to own. Although through previous builds I know about achieving certain sounds e.t.c, the classical is a strange and mythical beast that I know very little about at this stage.
But no doubt I will be plaguing the forum with questions as I respect & admire the work all you guys produce & your combined knowledge will be most useful & gratefully accepted.