Handmade

[GGJaguar]

This ad is from 1975. Today, I think most large manufacturers have cut down on the amount of hand work for efficiency, safety, etc., but there's still a lot of manual labor that goes into making a guitar.

 

[dreadnut]

Many of the parts can be perfectly replicated by machines.

 

[richardp69]

Many of the parts can be perfectly replicated by machines.

Yeah, but there's just something about an actual hand built guitar made w/o the benefits/or detriments of a machine that just does it for me. My Custom Builder, Richie Crowder, is a one man show and pours his heart into every guitar he produces. That's worth something to me.

 

[fronobulax]

At New Hartford the belief was that there were things that machines could do better than people and a belief that for a manufacturing facility, consistency was worth striving for. So the factory (and not just the Guild portion) was looking for ways to improve. I seem to recall that using a CNC machine to cut braces had a huge impact because the bracing pieces were more consistent and thus easier to "install".

I also note the mystique about "handmade". What does it really mean? Is it still handmade if the builder uses a power saw or starts from a pre-fabricated part? Maybe the standard is that the only tools used are powered by human muscle? There are people who are saddened when a powered drill is used.

I think I am less interested in "handmade" for some definition of "handmade" as I am in the number of people who worked on it. I will pay for an instrument that was "made" by a single person who had a vision and used parts, tools and techniques to achieve that vison. My pride is that Chris made the mandolin (not mine) or Darryl made the bass (mine) and not how they did it.

 

[dreadnut]

Mayve "hand assembled. would be a better term."

 

[Westerly Wood]

I always like to think one of the 3 amigos had a hand on the BR, at some point in its construction run. NO doubt, this a pipe dream...maybe even just to move it out of the way as they were working on a more expensive, unique Guild acoustic...

 

[merlin6666]

At New Hartford the belief was that there were things that machines could do better than people and a belief that for a manufacturing facility, consistency was worth striving for. So the factory (and not just the Guild portion) was looking for ways to improve. I seem to recall that using a CNC machine to cut braces had a huge impact because the bracing pieces were more consistent and thus easier to "install".

I also note the mystique about "handmade". What does it really mean? Is it still handmade if the builder uses a power saw or starts from a pre-fabricated part? Maybe the standard is that the only tools used are powered by human muscle? There are people who are saddened when a powered drill is used.

I think I am less interested in "handmade" for some definition of "handmade" as I am in the number of people who worked on it. I will pay for an instrument that was "made" by a single person who had a vision and used parts, tools and techniques to achieve that vison. My pride is that Chris made the mandolin (not mine) or Darryl made the bass (mine) and not how they did it.

Yes I think Ovation in New Hartford was first to introduce CNC and bolt on necks to guitar manufacturing. On the other hand, they discontinued Adamas 1687 in the late 90s because it required much more manual labour than any other guitar and became way too expensive to make (much more than they were sold for).

I am always sceptical of Chinese companies that boldly state their instruments are "hand crafted" as this gives me visions of enslaved monkeys doing menial tasks.

 

[GAD]

After conversing with Bob Benedetto my opinion of build techniques evolved. All of the Benedetto Guild tops and backs were cut by a machine that copied an original that was carved by Bob. I’m sure someone will be along with the name if that machine which escapes me at the moment.

Then a luthier trained by Bob finish-carved those machine-cut pieces to perfection. At the end Bob inspected them and signed the sticker.

“Hand made” is a useless term IMO, and is nothing more than a marketing term. Look at the @AcornHouse build thread. That’s a hand made guitar! If you gave me the same tools and the same workshop and I hand-made a guitar, I guarantee you that it would not have the same wow-factor as his remarkable build. It might even be dangerous.

 

[GGJaguar]

If you gave me the same tools and the same workshop and I hand-made a guitar

I'd end up with a big pile of sawdust and splintered wood. I wouldn't even make it to the assembly phase let alone the finishing phase.

 

[chazmo]

Yes I think Ovation in New Hartford was first to introduce CNC and bolt on necks to guitar manufacturing. . . .

Hey, Merlin,

I'm pretty sure Bob Taylor would take issue with that. .

 

[Westerly Wood]

Hey, Merlin,

I'm pretty sure Bob Taylor would take issue with that. .

fronobulax said:
I'm not sure I follow your analogy since the federal Income tax goes back to Abraham Lincoln. Are you suggesting Taylor revitalized someone else's idea

 

[merlin6666]

Hey, Merlin,

I'm pretty sure Bob Taylor would take issue with that. .

Taylor did that roughly 20 years after Ovation!

 

[Westerly Wood]

Taylor did that roughly 20 years after Ovation!

kidding, I don't know, just thought my bit was funny...

 

[chazmo]

. Well, I saw something where he claimed to be the first with CNC machines, merlin. I don't think he claimed anything regarding bolt-ons as that clearly pre-dated him.

 

[Westerly Wood]

. Well, I saw something where he claimed to be the first with CNC machines, merlin. I don't think he claimed anything regarding bolt-ons as that clearly pre-dated him.

I know on the AGF back in day, the pre-NT neck Taylors were the most sought after. I don't know if that is "bolt-on", but I bought a 1996 712 and was really psyched cause it had a pre-NT neck. That was a great guitar.

If you can find Lemon Grove Taylors, those are really special.

 

[AcornHouse]

After conversing with Bob Benedetto my opinion of build techniques evolved. All of the Benedetto Guild tops and backs were cut by a machine that copied an original that was carved by Bob. I’m sure someone will be along with the name if that machine which escapes me at the moment.

Pantograph router, most likely.

Then a luthier trained by Bob finish-carved those machine-cut pieces to perfection. At the end Bob inspected them and signed the sticker.

“Hand made” is a useless term IMO, and is nothing more than a marketing term. Look at the @AcornHouse build thread. That’s a hand made guitar! If you gave me the same tools and the same workshop and I hand-made a guitar, I guarantee you that it would not have the same wow-factor as his remarkable build. It might even be dangerous.

I’m still learning too. It’s all about building skills. My builds have improved with each one, but still could be better.

 

[GAD]

I know it's not an acoustic, but as I recall the first CNC guitar was the Peavy T60 in the late '70s or early '80s:



I almost bought one at the time because I thought it was cool as hell, but it weighed probably 14 pounds so I ended up with a Guild S300AD, which I'd say was the better choice.

 

[GAD]

Pantograph router, most likely.

There it is! I can never remember that word.

 

[fronobulax]

Bob Taylor is to CNC as Woodrow Wilson is to Income Tax.

I'm not sure I follow your analogy since the federal Income tax goes back to Abraham Lincoln. Are you suggesting Taylor revitalized someone else's idea?

 

[Westerly Wood]

I'm not sure I follow your analogy since the federal Income tax goes back to Abraham Lincoln. Are you suggesting Taylor revitalized someone else's idea

Thanks Frono for this...I am now changing my intent to what you suggest here, it sounds way more visionary than my original reply.