How Bob Allen built his first guitar with Norman Haight's help.
I started this project about a year ago, the spring of my Junior Year in high school. I had purchased Guitar Making: Tradition and Technology, by William Cumpiano and Jon Natelson, as my primary resource for how to build this guitar from scratch. I purchased all my wood from OregonWildWood.com and was blown away by how cool the myrtle wood back and sides were. Originally, my back was going to be birds-eye maple, but after joining the two halves of the back plate, I had yet to figure out how devastating humidity can be.
So with the seam splitting on my now U shaped back, I decided it was time to restart, hence the myrtle wood. By the end of the summer and the beginning of my Senior Year I had completed the plates, bent the sides and finished the inlay on the soundboard. As I ventured into the actual assembly process of the guitar, even with [the pictures of] Cumpiano and Natelson showing me their techniques, I still felt lost.
I first got into contact with Norman in the hopes my dad and I could get a tour of his guitar shop when we visited some of our friends in Scottsdale over Presidents Day. Norman was more than happy to show us around; unfortunately a bad snowstorm kept us from getting out of Pennsylvania. However, after working out an easy arrangement [for phone consultations], Norman was more than happy to answer any questions I had on my build. Let the fun begin!
Norman helped me to understand how crucial it is to have a constant humidity level in the shop. He gave me tips on how to brace the soundboard, encouraged experimenting with the tuners on the headstock, guided me through setting the neck angle correctly, recommended which kind of varnish to use, and how to calculate the proper airspace between the soundboard and the height of the neck at the bridge. These are only a few of the pieces of advice that Norman gave me that really made completing my guitar possible.
On April 30th I finally got to strum the first chord on my guitar (which was a G Chord by the way) and it sounded pretty good! I just wanted to thank Norman for his cheerful attitude and constant willingness to help me out with my guitar build. I couldn't have done it without him!
I first got into contact with Norman in the hopes my dad and I could get a tour of his guitar shop when we visited some of our friends in Scottsdale over Presidents Day. Norman was more than happy to show us around; unfortunately a bad snowstorm kept us from getting out of Pennsylvania. However, after working out an easy arrangement [for phone consultations], Norman was more than happy to answer any questions I had on my build. Let the fun begin!
Norman helped me to understand how crucial it is to have a constant humidity level in the shop. He gave me tips on how to brace the soundboard, encouraged experimenting with the tuners on the headstock, guided me through setting the neck angle correctly, recommended which kind of varnish to use, and how to calculate the proper airspace between the soundboard and the height of the neck at the bridge. These are only a few of the pieces of advice that Norman gave me that really made completing my guitar possible.
On April 30th I finally got to strum the first chord on my guitar (which was a G Chord by the way) and it sounded pretty good! I just wanted to thank Norman for his cheerful attitude and constant willingness to help me out with my guitar build. I couldn't have done it without him!
Haight Guitars building camps on hiatus
Norman & I, like many new empty-nesters, have been talking of what we can do to serve others now that our home is empty of Grandpa & son. We looked at doing mission work with our Lutheran Church, but we didn’t feel comfortable with leaving Topper, our dog, behind. Now we are very fortunate to have found the perfect fit for us: Holiday Retirement Communities. We were accepted for the shared position of live-in Associate Managers. We begin training on June 12th and will find out during training where our final location will be. The job allows us to serve the senior citizens who live at the community; to help them feel connected with the community and life. We will have an apartment right on the property, so we will be available for these seniors; and Topper is welcomed, too!
We will be spending the next three weeks selling off most of our furniture, art, antiques, appliances and stuff. Norm will also be selling some of his bulk wood and some of his equipment. However, he does plan to open a small shop wherever we land in about 18 months, so I'm guessing he'll keep the really good stuff.
Meanwhile we’ll be sending out a monthly newsletter with building and maintenance articles; so please send in any subjects you’d like to see him write about. We hope you’ll bear with us over the next three weeks as we send out multiple emails indicating items for sale, etc. Then we’ll be on to just our monthly emails.
We want to take a minute to thank all of you who have gone from being good customers to great friends. While our guitar building camps will be on long-term hiatus, our love of guitars and our friends will continue; and with the ability to easily communicate via cell phone, email and skype(tm), we look forward to staying in touch.
We will be spending the next three weeks selling off most of our furniture, art, antiques, appliances and stuff. Norm will also be selling some of his bulk wood and some of his equipment. However, he does plan to open a small shop wherever we land in about 18 months, so I'm guessing he'll keep the really good stuff.
Meanwhile we’ll be sending out a monthly newsletter with building and maintenance articles; so please send in any subjects you’d like to see him write about. We hope you’ll bear with us over the next three weeks as we send out multiple emails indicating items for sale, etc. Then we’ll be on to just our monthly emails.
We want to take a minute to thank all of you who have gone from being good customers to great friends. While our guitar building camps will be on long-term hiatus, our love of guitars and our friends will continue; and with the ability to easily communicate via cell phone, email and skype(tm), we look forward to staying in touch.