Official Luthiers Forum!

I just saw a Facebook notification that Cumpiano and Natelson are finishing up a revised edition of Guitarmaking Tradition and Technology, updating it to add information about many of the building methods in use today.

I built my first acoustic guitar in 1996 using their book. I used a store-bought truss rod, but the rest was right out of the book, including the pinned neck. I still have the pincers for pinning the neck. And that ugly-arse guitar still plays.

While my current building methods owe more to Gore and Gilet (and Robbie O’Brien and Charles Fox) than to Cumpiano and Natelson, I often refer to their book for guidance. It was the definitive guide at the time, and remains relevant (in my view). Frankly, a modern builder would learn an awful lot by going back and following that book to build a guitar.

I will be one of the first buyers of the new edition.

I bought my copy in the 80's during a Symposium, had Bill sign it. I haven't seen the book in a long time, I hope it's out in the garage in a book.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I still refer to my copy of the book, just about every build, if only to check a dimension. I’m sure you both have read the write up Bill put on his website about the experience of publishing the book. But in case someone else hasn’t - https://www.cumpiano.com/the-story-behind-the-book
And definitely, I’ll buy the new edition