Browse This Site. Major Areas Include:
- Lutherie Info Home PageHome page of the Liutaio Mottola Lutherie Information website.
- General InformationThis page includes FAQs, information for first time builders, book recommendations and links to other lutherie resources.
- Technical Information Formulae (some with javascript calculators) and data for instrument designers as well as articles on technical topics.
- Materials, Parts and Supplies Information on the materials used in lutherie.
- Construction TechniquesArticles on various aspects of instrument construction are in this section.
- Tools, Jigs and Shop TechniquesArticles on lutherie tools and jigs and shop techniques are here. There is also a section on CAD, CAM and CNC, which includes download-able CAD drawings of various parts and other CAD tools.
- Instruments and Plans Descriptions of my original instruments, some with download-able plans and details of their construction.
- Pickups and ElectronicsArticles on the construction of pickups, transducers and electronic circuits are here.
- Lutherie Myth/ScienceVarious articles on lutherie mythology and, in the cases where there is any, the science behind it.
- Contact How to contact the author of this site.
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Construction Techniques
On one hand lutherie is just like any other area of woodworking. But there are a number of techniques that are very specific to lutherie. Some of those are outlined here. This section does not offer complete instructions for building any one stringed instrument, but does offer detailed instructions for performing a number of typical lutherie tasks.
Last updated: Thursday, June 26, 2008
For Bowed Instruments
Violin family instruments use traditional pegboxes with scrolls. Here are step by step instructions for how to carve one. The example is of a scroll and pegbox for an Electric Upright Bass but the technique is the same for all instruments. Note: there are approximately 1 MB of pictures here so it may take some time to fully load this page over a dialup connection.
Installing Bass Bridge Adjuster Wheels
Step by step instructions for installing aluminum action adjuster wheels in the legs of a double bass.
For Plucked Instruments
The plates of modern so called flattop guitars are really domed and that means the depth of the sides of the instruments vary along their length. One method that can be used to calculate the depth of a guitar side at any point along its length makes use of a contour map. Contour maps for the standard guitar plate dome radii are available for download here, and some references to articles describing how these are used are also provided.
Building the Neck Blank for the Steel String Acoustic Guitar
Step by step instructions for building the neck blank for a steel string acoustic guitar, using a scarfed neck joint and built up heel. This is the first major step in the production of a neck.
Carving the Neck for the Steel String Acoustic Guitar
Step by step instructions for carving the neck. Also includes instructions for copying the neck profile from an existing instrument or designing your own profile, and for those that don't want to do either a general purpose neck profile is given.
Step by step instructions for installing frets in new fretted stringed musical instruments.
Bolt-on Neck Joint for Acoustic Instruments
Step by step instructions for implementing the simple and effective butted bolt-on neck joint, as used in Taylor, Seagull, and other guitars.
Step by step instructions for building the ribs, blocks and linings of a stringed instrument. The techniques outlined here are specifically for flat top guitars, but can be simplified for use with other instruments. Side bending is discussed in detail, as is shaping sides to fit instruments that feature a tapered body and domed plates.
Note: There are approximately 1 Meg of pictures here, so this page will load slowly over dialup connections.
For All Instruments
Guitar Finishing Using Wiping Varnish
Finishing a musical instrument with thinned varnish wiped on with a rag is probably the simplest way to go. Wiping varnish is not just for beginners. In fact most of what are commonly called “oil” finishes are really wiping varnish finishes. Detailed instructions for selecting, applying, and caring for wiped varnish finishes are included. I had the honor of collaborating with master electric bass builder Jack Read on this one.