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Hi I am about to start an all mahogany 000 and am using the stewmac plans. Has anyone used these plans and if so do you suggest any alterations to bracing heights and thicknesses as they look a bit chunky to me.

Cheers, Bob

I suspect to avoid copy-right infringement complications Don MacRostie decided not to call his drawings Martin clones/copies/ or whatever. However, I for one am of the opinion that the details of his renderings are based off actual Martin components and I trust that the dimensions are correct. On the other hand --- I have zero faith in the guitar renderings of most others and in fact have found plenty mistakes and misrepresentation. The GAL drawings with info gathered from restoration projects are also very good.

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Ken Cierp

http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/

Not sure about the 000 plans but Mac Rostie's Dread plan is excellent and suspect the 000 plan to be likewise.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I used the McRostie plans to build a 000 with Sinker Redwood over Koa. Everyone who played it loved it. I did graduate the top on mine. If nothing else it is a great starting point to build a 000 and I would not hesitate to follow the plans again.

The first guitar that I built was the StewMac 000 kit using Don MacRostie's plan. It turned out to be a nice guitar (and loud). I have since been using Don's Dread plan with success.
I don't think you could go wrong using his plans.

Thanks for the input guys. Gives me the confidence to proceed as per plan.

Cheers, Bob

I have built a couple of guitars from the StewMac plans, both a spruce over rosewood 000 and an all mahogany 00. For the double ought I simply reduced the overall size slightly but more or less kept the bracing the same. Here are the two guitars (along with a single ought)



and here is a shot of the bracing on the mahogany guitar.



I basically follow the layout and sizes as shown on the plans but use my own judgement when it comes to scalloping. Both guitars are wonderful, full and loud. The triple ought is my go to, the double ought is the blues machine.

We definitely don't brace as heavily as the plans suggest. From the bracing section of the building guide:



Hope this helps...we have a Brazilian rosewood and Adirondack spruce 000 12 fret guitar in the mold right now...I will get a shot of the top and brace bracing before it is closed.

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A constellation only takes shape when one maps the whole.
- Beth Brower

Woody, who do you build for?

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Pat

Building with, as in 'student in construction and repair'...I work primary with one luthier from the DC/MD area, but get a chance to spend time in a couple other shops on a cooperative arrangement.

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A constellation only takes shape when one maps the whole.
- Beth Brower