I started building instruments about 12 years ago when I was attending Illinois Central College.  I checked books out of the library, and jumped in. My first instrument was a violin cut out of an old 2 by 4 and a shelf. Instead of ebony, I used walnut. It looked OK but sounded awful.  Looking at my latest instrument, I have to say that I have come a long way!

As a luthier, I would classify myself as “intermediate.” My 5th violin was appraised at “around $1000,” but the appraiser didn’t offer to buy it for that. That is OK, I didn’t want to sell.  After you have spent so many hours with a piece of wood, you may not want to sell it!  My plans are aimed at luthiers of about my skill level and below. They are good, solid plans, and will create wonderful instruments. However, they are NOT reproductions of particular instruments.  This is NOT the place to figure out how to get the Stradivarius sound. It is the place to find lots of interesting and exciting new projects and possibilities.

www.donsplans.com began with the jazz mandolin shown here.  I developed the plans for this instrument in the year 2000 for my own use, never expecting to distribute it. Due to demand, however, I began offering the plans to others, and designing additional plans.  Things snowballed from there, and now I have around 20 different musical instrument plans - some traditional and some unique. Feel free to browse and enjoy.  If you can’t find what you are looking for, email me and I may be able to draw it for you - this is how several of the plans I offer were developed.

All of these plans are painstakingly drawn on a computer, and printed on demand on a large format printer. Drawing a plan usually takes me from 5 to 20 hours.  Most of the plans are $5 each - some of the more complicated ones cost more. Compare that to other sites that claim to be not for profit, and charge $20 and more for their plans. Mine are simply a better value.

Please note that our plans are NOT instructions.  By and large, they are intended for use by individuals with musical instrument making experience.  Where instructions are included, they assume a reasonably high level of competency. In other words, this is probably not a good place for you to BEGIN your luthier career - although it is good place to develop it.

So what do others say about my plans?  Here is unsolicited feedback from customers.

• Good plans-Will make nice instrument!
• Beautiful Dulcimer/Great Job Thanks for the quick service.
• Great deal on very precise drawings, highly recommended!
• Excellent, seamless international trade. Highly recommended.
• The BEST designer of stringed instruments on the net. Thanks Don !
• Outstanding product! Recommended to any luthier Thanks!! A+A+A+A+

One customer wrote back the following:

... I received your plans and promptly built two teardrop dulcimers. ... I gave one to my wife for christmas, ( the original intent)  I gave the other to a good friend.  They both turned out beautiful and your plans were very easy to use.  The only thing missing, ( or I didn't find) was where to put the dots on the fretboard. They were so nice, and sounded so good I have let my son talk me into trying an acoustic guitar. (Wasn't hard) We are each building one. ...

I hope your experience will be just as good. Go to the violin page to download a copy of my violin plans. I offer them as a “free download” so that you can see what my plans are like.  I personally feel that most of my plans are better than the violin plan, but this gives you a fair idea of the quality of the plans.

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