The Making of Stringed Instruments: A Workshop Guide [Paperback]

George Buchanan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 2003

Experience the joy of making music in a whole new way—from choosing the wood to playing the last note. More than 500 illustrations and a straightforward text explain every stage of crafting stringed instruments, including detailed plans and instructions for constructing a violin, cello, jazz guitar, mandolin and more.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Experienced woodworkers who may be interested in making a stringed instrument such as a violin, guitar, or mandolin are the audience for this book, which is in no way a beginner's guide to instrument making. The author uses the old European approach to tasks like carving, gluing, bracing, and finishing, so much so that the book might better be titled "How To Make Instruments the Old-Fashioned Way." Times have changed, however, and instrument-making supply companies now offer a variety of purpose-built tools and woodworking supplies that greatly simplify and speed up the process described here. Books like Robert Benedetto's Making an Arch Top Guitar (Centerstream, 1996), William Cumpiano's Guitarmaking: Tradition and Technology (Chronicle, 1994), and Robert Alton's Violin and Cello Building and Repairing (1976) incorporate these newer approaches and would all be better choices for libraries.?Eric C. Shoaf, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, R.I.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Batsford (March 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713481404
• ISBN-13: 978-0713481402
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,421,128 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A clear, but lackadaisical approach, June 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Making of Stringed Instruments: A Workshop Guide (Paperback)

This book is the clearest on the subject that I have read in English. In that respect, it was excellent.

On the other hand, the author is clearly not a professional. The approach presented is that of a hobbyist. For example, the cello shown in the book is made of cherry. The author suggests that this doesn't make much difference. This is simply nonsense. Some of the construction details, such a multi-piece cello neck and the use of newspaper in the joint between the belly and the ribs, are also questionable.

My advice is that if you're prepared to spend several hundred hours making an instrument that you can be proud of, get the right materials and use the right methods. If you just want a fiddle, go get one at a pawnshop.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for aspiring stringed instrument makers, February 20, 1998

By 

S.L. di Lorenzo [e-mail] (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Making of Stringed Instruments: A Workshop Guide (Paperback)

Written primarly for those interested in making Violins & Cellos, the book also covers making Mandolins & Guitars. I believe that readers will find that although this book covers all areas of this subject the subect itself is so complex that the book will serve only as a starting point. But for anyone who has no experance making instruments this book is an excellant place to start learning. Highly recommended.