Building Guitars

Mark2229 · 12-05-2010 9:39pm #1

Hey lads,
After seeing the guitar that FruscianteFan built and after talking to him through PM I have decided to make a thread about building guitars. Its something that seems to have get a lot of attention around here and we could make this a knowledgeable place if we try

So if you have any links or tips or anything for somebody starting out i'm sure they would appreciate them

Or even say what tools you use or where you get paint, spare parts or wood.

Well heres mine,
A site with tutorials that touches just about everything from set ups to building bodies and necks.
http://www.projectguitar.com/menu/tutorial.htm

Heres a site that helps explain how to swirl guitar paint.
http://www.jemsite.com/forums/f21/swirling-is-an-art-tutorial-92318.html

Another that talks about refinishing the body.
http://www.reranch.com/basics.htm

Well thats all I have, but feel free to add to it

Dord · 12-05-2010 10:27pm

Probably been mentioned here before, but for wiring diagrams the Seymour Duncan website has an abundance of these and they're accurate.

http://www.seymourduncan.com

NoQuarter · 12-05-2010 10:41pm

Bits & Bobs

http://www.guitarfetish.com

FruscianteFan · 14-05-2010 6:37pm

FruscianteFan · 14-05-2010 7:02pm

There a lot of info there but its all good info!

Dont let all the info scare you its really a lot of fun. You dont need all the tools that the pros use you can make do with whatever you have!

Any questions post here and me or someone else will give you a hand!
Maybe this thread could be stickied?
If you are building a guitar make a new thread to post it though otherwise this one might end up be bits and bobs form a load of builds! Il post some builds here during the summer!!

And if you are thinking about building a guitar, DO IT!!!

68 lost souls · 14-05-2010 9:59pm

The most important book for any one to own if they are getting into this is Make Your Own Electric Guitar by Melvyn Hiscock.

Mentioned here already but reranch.com/reranch is a great forum for finishing guitars and projectguitar.com also have an excelellent forum.

There is also a great supply section full of links there. http://www.projectguitar.com/ref/supply.htm and a refernce ssection here http://www.projectguitar.com/menu/reference.htm

I would also advise people to sign up to the stewmac mailing list as they send a monthly newsletter with advice on building and repairs.

eoin5 · 16-05-2010 8:08pm

Worth a sticky?

Connavar · 11-08-2010 9:21am

Here's one I found for making a neck. Seems good to me but I have never built before
http://www.eguitarplans.com/making_a_guitar_neck.pdf

FruscianteFan · 11-08-2010 3:09pm

Yeah that look good all right! One of the very important bits in making neck is that the fret slots are cut right otherwise the whole neck will play out of tune. But you can get preslotted ones from stewmac.com which have all the fret slots done and the nut slot! They also do the 'Hotrod' truss rod which makes the neck so much easier as the rod just sits in a straight channel down the neck and there is no need to curve it like you have to do for traditional truss rods!

Owen · 12-08-2010 11:09am

This thread has me sorted for the winter nights. Project guitar ahoy!

FruscianteFan · 12-08-2010 7:30pm

Go for it PaintDoctor! I would love to see how you spray the finish seeing as you have all the equipment! Do you use poly or nitro?

Gaspode · 13-08-2010 10:15pm

Dont have the skills and/or tools to tackle anything big, so today I made a diddley bow from some spare bits 'n bobs lying around.

If I can coax a tune out of it I'll post that too, but I wouldn't count on it! This is what it can sound like, or look up Seasick Steve on youtube, he uses them a lot.

I went for 2 glass bottles for resonators/ bridge/nut. Millers of course, for that true US sound.
Didn't like the idea of nails as the plank is soft pine and could split easily, so I used an old tuning key at one end, and a nut&bolt with an eye in it at the other.

Came across a cheap acoustic pickup I bought about 20 yrs ago, did a quick repair job on it, and presed it into use. sorry now I didnt raise it higher and place it more centrally, but there you go, should have watched those vids before I started!

There's a low E guitar string on it, and I'm tuning it to D, seem to be holding so far.

KevArno · 16-08-2010 11:12pm

Hey guys,

just adding a few pics here of a build I began a couple of years back, and have forgotten about since. FruscianteFans thread has convinced me to go back and try finish this thing. I have to say I knew far more about it even a year ago, but the technical stuff is a bit hazy now. I was modelling it on a LP standard, but with a single volumn and tone.
I used american walnut for the body and neck, although beautiful it will not be light when finished.

I have to admit I cheated a huge amount. The body shape I drew free hand, after altering a tracing of my LP. Then I calculated all my curves and inputted into a CNC router and let it take care of the PUP routes, bridge, pot and PUP switch positions, and wiring cavity. Still a lot of calculating, but I was not responsible for any close contact had routing!

The neck was cut with a band saw, and then shaped with a disc sander. I had no jigs for the neck so it was all down to feel. (and it feels good! :cool:)

Anyway, apart from a dodgy neck pocket for the set neck, which will be shim-able, I think it will be fine. Here are pics....

The slight shaping on the top was also done with the disc sander. I have shaped on the inside/outside of the horns, and on the top (elbow side) of the body. Nothing drastic, but adds a nice depth to the body.

Any way, all very amature, but if i get anything resembling a guitar at the end I will be extremely happy!

Building Guitars

Comments