Anyone rebuild a classical as a steel string guitar?

[Matthew Lau]

Dear MIMF,

I'm back at my parents house, and staring at a failed classical guitar I built about 14 years ago when I was an unemployed, frustrated new dentist.

It's a Euro spruce on Camatillo rosewood kit from LMI, but I overthinned the neck, and under braced the top.

I'm thinking of cutting off the neck, fretboard, neck block, and re bracing the top. I'm thinking of doing a kif wood style neck, and adding a premade bridge.

I'm thinking of rebuilding this as a steel string for my friend to teach his kids guitar.

Would this be a horrible idea?
I hate to waste things, and am trying to save money on my hobbies to invest in my kids future.

[Randy Roberts]

Sounds like a nightmare and more work than starting from scratch.

I'd suggest the friend (you go with him) go buy an inexpensive new guitar and then you do a decent setup on it (so it isn't just a frustration for the kids to try to play) before he gives it to them. A good setup is probably the best gift you could give them...

[Bryan Bear]

What Randy said ^^^^^^

[Matthew Lau]

Makes sense.

It'd good to have the voice of reason. Yesterday, I was just chatting to my wife about a bass that I'm building...and she goes, "Why don't you build the bass you actually want to play?"

[Dave Rickard]

Interesting that I should come across this today.
I have a cheap classical that was given to me, it has some nice tulip wood sides. I’m sure it’s laminated.
I’ve been wanting to try to replace a top by routing it off and this looks like a good test piece.
I cut the neck off flush with the body and I’ll put a bolt on neck on it.
Probably will be more work than the guitar will be worth but what the heck.

[Matthew Lau]

I may still do this in the future....but probably for myself, and not my friend's kid.

Sometimes, self satisfaction is not very practical.