What do you think of Stew-Mac kit guitars?

The price is sure right - but are they any good? Do the live up to the company's claims? Is AAA good wood? Are any special (read expensive) tools needed? Have you built one? How'd it go?

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"Questions, questions, questions, flooding the minds of concerned youth of today. Where can I get my poodle clipped in Downey?" Frank Zappa

There's a thread here (http://www.acousticguitar.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=002478) at the Acoustic Guitar Forum. Hope it helps.

I know that building a quality banjo is different from building a quality guitar, but for whatever its worth, I built a 5-string banjo from a Stewart Macdonald kit back in the early 80's, and it is a wonderful banjo.

I would think that a guitar would be a lot trickier to build, and that the quality of the end result would be only partially dependent upon the quality of the kit. The skill of the person building the guitar from the kit would surely play a big role.

I agree with Wcap.

While I think anyone who's reasonably handy can complete an electric guitar kit and end up with a nice guitar, building an acoustic, even from a kit, takes a whole lot more skill.

Think of it as the difference between making brownies from a mix and chocolate mousse from a bag of groceries that someone supplied for you.

That said, I've heard the Stu Mac kits are generally good quality, but there are other sources as well--Guitar makers connection at C.F. Martin, Luthiers Mercantile, and a luthier named Steve Kovacik. All can be googled.

best
Allen

I agree with Wcap.

While I think anyone who's reasonably handy can complete an electric guitar kit and end up with a nice guitar, building an acoustic, even from a kit, takes a whole lot more skill.

Think of it as the difference between making brownies from a mix and chocolate mousse from a bag of groceries that someone supplied for you.

If you approach it as a learning experience, it'll probably be fun. But if you're looking at it as a cheap way to get a guitar, you'll probably be frustrated and disappointed.

That said, I've heard the Stu Mac kits are generally good quality, but there are other sources as well--Guitar makers connection at C.F. Martin, Luthiers Mercantile, and a luthier named Steve Kovacik. All can be googled.

best
Allen