I have seen so many different guitar styles since joining this site. I dunno if its been asked before, but my question is this;

Other than a requested design, what makes you build that particular build? Do you ask for design ideas?

Do you build around box? Do you design and build your own box? Do you build the same ones over and over or do you build something different each time?

Here's my take. So far I built my first one with the idea of using an old doublehumbucker I had "laying" around. Having already purchased a random collection of ten boxes, I looked at each box and saw an idea.

Some became guitars, some amps. 

I personally build around an idea that pops into my head. Once there, I have to create it. 

The most recent is called Frog's Leg's (Blues Frog that is..) 

I had a build idea, which I decided to double and call the twins. 

The resulting long winded story, ends in me me coming up with what I call "Frog's Legs"  

When I get seriously into something, it doesn't shut off when I go to sleep. I have solved many an"issue" in my sleep. With this set of guitars, the design also came while I slept. Can't say its the best idea, but "Frogs Legs" became the design.

So this is what the idea became. I've finished the first one, and will finish the second one soon. It's a twin to the first, but each will have their own sound.

So, what makes you build what you build. Share the idea behind one of your designs, and how it came to be.

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Well, Frog, I can relate to going to sleep and waking up with an idea..."a plan". Not just with gits, either. When I pull down a box to start a build, I usually have 1/2 an idea of what I want to do, but this, of course, can change when I get tools in hand. Sometimes, the box and the neck sitting next to each other tells you what they want to be..what stain to use for the neck, what to do for the soundhole, tuner style/finish, bridge. Probably sounds lame to some, but I think git builders get it. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it.

Nope, makes sense... Every box has a Style that speaks to me... Some boxes sit around a long time waiting for their voice to be found...  

Lol Way. Creative insanity rocks.Tonight I'm gonna go to bed and think about dreaming of a creative build. Could turn into a nightmare. He he. Actually, I lack creative insight. Probably somethin you born with. Wonder what Einstein would have come up with if he got into backyard guitar makin. E=MC2. Energy, (yeh baby)= Music at the speed of light, no squares.

@Blues. That green machine has a friendly vibe. Love frogs. Don't hear em much these days, mind you I don't frequent the places frogs hangout like I did in my younger days. You know, drainage ditches etc.

Thanks Jonno,

This build is what inspired this thread. I started out with the idea of making an acoustic dulcimer/travel git and started constructing the bodies. Somewhere in there, things started to drift sideways.

I don't hang around frogs that often these days, but maybe once the granddaughter gets old enough to appreciate them, I will again.

I have an idea from the parts I have laying around and start to build from there. Sometimes I will get parts I need after I've started building.

I built a baritone uke once because I bought a door handle from eBay that turned out to be in inches when I thought it was centimetres.
It ended up being really nice and inspired me to carve better necks.

The original idea for the Frog's leg was from the 1/8" birch ply I had leftover from my last Cajon I built. I have designed gits around the parts that I have, and not necessarily the boxes that I use.

I have gits that I plan on building based on some pickups that I wound, and now have to build a git around them, just to see how they sound.

Its madness I say, MADNESS!

I find that the raw materials just sort of 'speak' to me, tell me what they should turn into...

For example, yesterday I bought a box at an auto jumble (you don't get many cigar boxes round where I live so it was a good find), and on the car journey home I started to contemplate what I could do with it. From somewhere deep in my mind the box said "I am a 3 string dulcimer with brass frets"...

So that's that then, decision made. Now, uh, where did I leave my medication/drink...

I leave my medicine/drink in the freezer. Bourbon taste great cold.....

No. It's like antifreeze.

alchohol doesn't freeze, just gets cold. Saves on ice!

-26C/-14F for most 80 proof inspirationals...

This is an interesting question.
I usually take cues from the box. Designing head and other elements that feel right to bring all the elements into unity. As for my gourd builds, I will plan the design by drawing it out. With all, I like to draw my designs before I build. I always leave room to improvise and flexibility with mistakes. It's pretty much how I approach all creative endeavors.

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