Making an Archtop Guitar

by Robert Benedetto

(Guitar). The definitive work on the design and construction of an acoustic archtop guitar by one of the most talented luthiers of the twentieth century. Benedetto walks the reader through all aspects of construction through to marketing your finished work. Includes a list of suppliers to acquire all the tools and materials listed; a list of serial numbers for Benedetto guitars; full-color plates featuring the author's models; photos from the author's personal scrapbook of players who endorse his guitars; and fold-out templates for construction. 8-1/2 x 11 .

276 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1994

About the author

Acclaimed builder of archtop guitars.

Reviews

[Thomas Van reeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duidelijke uitleg, nu mijn praktijk nog :)

[Kai Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty great, not in depth, but then again he's a luthier, not a literary genius. love the design though, an awesome book to have for inspiration

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

As others have suggested, this is much more of an overview of the process, rather than an in-depth discussion of the construction steps. There is very little guidance regarding the detail of the processes or insight into the potential pitfalls etc.

It is a beautiful book, well written, and showcases Benedetto's life and work wonderfully. Some of the illustrations could have been a bit clearer, but on the most part is a good read.

If you are going to construct a guitar I would firmly recommend reading Making Master Guitars by Roy Courtnall as a companion to this book. I read Courtnall's book first which is superb and sets the bar extremely high. Benedetto's book is a bit of a disappointment in comparison. However, with the two books side by side, it should be possible to construct an arch top guitar of high quality.

Having said that I have the utmost respect for Benedetto, his guitars and his craftsmanship, and I will re-read this book.

[Peter Burrowes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book assumes you're not a beginning wood worker, so he's able to focus on essentials in a clear and concise manner, with a teaching style that guides you to acquire experience and a feel for what you're doing. There's much a flat-top luthier can pick up as well. Even if you never build an archtop, it's a great read.