Useful websites

[rudy4444]

McMaster-Carr's web site is a tremendously useful reference for me. Besides selling millions of industrial-related products and parts, their web site is full of technical reference pages. Very well written, accurate, and easy to understand. Screw thread sizes, hardware types, metal and plastic material specifications, plumbing fittings, electric motor specs, etc., etc. A big time saver.

And they are also a wonderful company to deal with. I've been buying from them for almost 40 years (!!!). I think I've heard that their web site is one of the largest commercial web sites in the world. And the company has been around for over 100 years.

McMaster-Carr

I can often find things there that I have difficulty locating elsewhere. They also hold a record for fast shipping in my case. I once ordered in the morning and UPS dropped off to me in late afternoon. I do live in the same state, but that's ridiculously fast delivery!

 

[Tom Bomb]

Guitar Design - Gore Guitars - Luthier & custom guitars
​

 

[Beej]

A great resource is Liutaio Mottola Lutherie Information Website @rmmottola is on TB as well

Any thread and the vast majority of posts on TB by @Bruce Johnson here are a treasure trove.

Build off threads also have fantastic step-by-steps, lists of suppliers, fruitful ideas and examples of what a great community the Luthier's Corner is. Search Winter Build Off and or WBO to find about a hundred detailed build threads.

Regarding suppliers, most of my faves have been listed, but I'd also include Allied Lutherie, Solo Music and Japarts.

 

[Gary_M]

Just browsing back through this thread, lots of great recommendations!

Here are a few more that I really like:
Gilmer Wood
Jescar
SportHiTech store on Reverb
Love My Switches

 

[Gary_M]

I was going to add this one and totally spaced it.

Tools for working wood - amazing resource for hand tools (chisels, scrapers, rasps, rifflers, you name it.)

 

[Phil Mastro]

A great resource is Liutaio Mottola Lutherie Information Website @rmmottola is on TB as well

Any thread and the vast majority of posts on TB by @Bruce Johnson here are a treasure trove.

Build off threads also have fantastic step-by-steps, lists of suppliers, fruitful ideas and examples of what a great community the Luthier's Corner is. Search Winter Build Off and or WBO to find about a hundred detailed build threads.

Regarding suppliers, most of my faves have been listed, but I'd also include Allied Lutherie, Solo Music and Japarts.

Have you (or anyone else) ordered from Japarts recently? I contacted them a couple of days ago and they still haven't responded. They were very responsive when I last ordered from them, so this seems a bit strange.

Back on topic, for Canadian folks, Nextgen Guitars and Wood to Works are worth mentioning. I've also ordered wood from A&M, and they have some instrument parts as well. Godin also sells parts, some of their prices are pretty good.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Be patient. The pandemic's thrown a spanner in the works, causing almost everything to slow down.
​

 

[taketwo]

Also good in Canada: Solo Music Gear.
SOLO Music Gear - Best DIY Guitar Kits, Guitar Store Near Me, Strat Kits & Services Canada
It's where I get most tools, parts, and supplies, though NextGen Guitars is better for electronic components.

 

[Beej]

Have you (or anyone else) ordered from Japarts recently? I contacted them a couple of days ago and they still haven't responded. They were very responsive when I last ordered from them, so this seems a bit strange.

Back on topic, for Canadian folks, Nextgen Guitars and Wood to Works are worth mentioning. I've also ordered wood from A&M, and they have some instrument parts as well. Godin also sells parts, some of their prices are pretty good.

Not since just before the pandemic. Once Wood to Works started doing custom Gotoh orders, I haven't ordered anything from Japarts. Same price, extra steps and longer wait time. No offense to Japarts, but W2W has been faster and more reliable for me.

 

[Jeff Siddall]

FWIW NextGen Guitars can also get Gotoh stuff, but they only seem to place an order ever few months so you will likely be in for a really long wait if they need to special order anything.

 

[Phil Mastro]

Not since just before the pandemic. Once Wood to Works started doing custom Gotoh orders, I haven't ordered anything from Japarts. Same price, extra steps and longer wait time. No offense to Japarts, but W2W has been faster and more reliable for me.

I did not realize they had moved to Japan, which explained some of the delay... last time I ordered was 2014

Edit: Actually they're still based in Vancouver, but a lot of stuff is ordered and shipped directly from Japan.